The Word of Life

Philippians 2:14-16 “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

You may have heard before that the Bible is always the best commentary on itself—especially when the word or phrase is not frequent. I read that the term, “the word of life” is only used twice and might be interpreted in various ways without this qualifier: 

1 John 1:1-3 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

One commentary states that in the context of Philippians 2, the emphasis is obviously on the person and work of our Lord Jesus. We who bear His name are His “sons” or "daughters" and are charged with the responsibility of being “lights” to a world that is steeped in darkness. The light that we shine is the word of life—and that is, according to the Scriptures, the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

Thus, the word of life must certainly involve who Christ is (Creator, Lord, incarnate Word, King) as well as the “glorious gospel” of salvation by grace through faith. The Commentator declares that, charged with the responsibility of “holding fast the word of life,” we are to be “the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God”. Thus, we should be well-versed in the written Word of the Holy Bible, since Jesus specifically said in John 5:39: “Search the Scriptures . . . they are they which testify of me”.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Ultimately, of course, our “light” comes from “the Light.” Since we have been delivered “from the power of darkness” by our Lord’s substitutionary atonement, we who “were sometimes darkness” are now “light in the Lord: walk as children of light” –Ephesians

5:8. 

Blessings by the Light, to be a light for all the world in darkness to see the Word of Life.