We Are Reborn.

Beginning in verse three, Paul presents his first contrast: Light and Blindness. As he begins his argument, Paul hearkens back to two different illustrations from the Old Testament. First, Paul uses the word “hid,” literally “veiled,” referring to an illustration he had already introduced in chapter three. Paul uses the story of Moses’ face being covered with a veil (3:7, 13) to illustrate the spiritual blindness of the unsaved world. Paul specifically used this Old Testament illustration to show how the Jewish people had been blinded by the Law in chapter three, but now he expands the illustration to refer to anyone who has not been saved—anyone who has not been reborn.

In verse four, they are called “blinded” (3:14-15) because they have willfully rejected the Gospel and been blinded by Satan himself. But there is still hope. The Apostle John quoted a prophecy of Isaiah to describe His generation in the same way…

John 12:40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them…

But we can’t stop there! John continues in verse 42… “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him…” Yes, we live in a blinded generation, but there is still hope! The nation was blinded, but there were still those who believed. And such is the case today in our own nation.

In verse six, Paul then uses another Old Testament illustration—the Creation account in Genesis 1. God created light in a bleak, void world, according to Genesis 1:2, and in the same way, God shines light into our hearts.

Paul states in Ephesians 5:8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord…” Do you remember from science class? Light is the fastest moving entity in the universe. No matter can move faster than light… 186,282 miles per second. Light provides warmth and direction and life! The ancient Greeks viewed “light” as symbolizing order, clarity, knowledge, and reason. The Romans viewed “light” as glory, victory, triumph, and honor.

Maybe you’re thinking, “I could use some of that light in my life!” But where is that light found?

Spiritual warmth, direction, life, order, clarity, knowledge, reason, and victory… is only found in the face of Jesus! (v. 6)

Have you received that light? Have you been reborn by that light? If not, nothing else in this passage will matter. This is the first and most important decision to be rekindled in your life. You can’t squeeze light out of darkness. Darkness is just the absence of light. And you can’t be rekindled until you have been reborn by the light that is only found in Jesus.