“And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.”
— Genesis 1:3, AMP

The Light Before the Lights #

Day One of creation presents us with an astonishing truth: light existed before the sun, moon, and stars. This immediately informs us that the light of Genesis 1:3 is not natural light, but supernatural, divine, and eternal. This light shines before all created luminaries (Genesis 1:14–19), meaning it is not sourced from created things but from God Himself.

This Light is Christ Himself, the eternal Logos, shining forth from eternity into the chaos and formlessness of the deep. The apostle Paul confirms this:

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:6, AMP

The Hebrew word for “light” in this verse is אוֹר (’ôr), which refers to illumination or brightness, but in this context, it transcends the natural realm. It is the light of revelation, the presence of Christ, and the radiance of the Word.

The Divine Pattern: Word → Light → Spirit #

Day One unveils a prophetic blueprint for all spiritual creation and regeneration:

This sequence is not just an event in creation; it is a prototype for all redemptive work. God speaks — light shines — Spirit moves. This happens at new birth, in prophetic moments, and at the resurrection.

“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it.”
— John 1:4–5, AMP

The Word That Initiates Creation #

The first thing we encounter in the act of creation is not matter, but voice. “And God said…” The Hebrew here is אָמַר (’āmar) — to speak, declare, or call into being. God’s speech is not passive — it creates.

In the Hebrew worldview, words carry power and substance. When God speaks, it is done.

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.”
— Psalm 33:6, NASB

The Greek parallel in the New Testament is λόγος (Logos), found in John 1:1:

“In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.”
— John 1:1, AMP

Through Christ, the eternal Word, all things were made. In Him, God’s speech becomes visible, personal, and redemptive.

The Light of Revelation, Not Illumination #

The light of Day One is not illumination in the physical sense but revelation in the spiritual sense. It is Christ as the Light of God manifesting into the darkness of a formless world, just as He does into the formless hearts of men.

When Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:6 that the light shines “in our hearts,” he is echoing Genesis. The same God who said “Let there be light” in the cosmos has said it again in us. The Word still initiates. The light still breaks the darkness. The Spirit still hovers, waiting for the Word to release His movement.

This Light is not only illumination of truth, but also displacement of darkness:

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great Light, and for those who sat in the land and shadow of death, Light has dawned.”
— Matthew 4:16, ESV

The Pre-Incarnate Christ: Light of All Creation #

Christ did not begin in Bethlehem. He is the pre-existent Light, and Genesis 1:3 is one of His earliest revelations.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.”
— Colossians 1:15, AMP

Before He ever came in flesh, He shone as the Light of God’s glory, piercing the void. As John said:

“That was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every person.”
— John 1:9, AMP

Christ Still Speaks: The Word Still Initiates #

The pattern of Genesis 1:3 is not historical only — it is prophetic. Christ still speaks into the darkness. The Father still declares light where death reigns. And the Spirit still waits to act upon the Word.

• In creation, God said → Light came
• In salvation, God said → Christ came
• In our hearts, God said → Revelation came

He is still saying: “Let there be light!”

The Theology of Genesis 1:3 #

Genesis 1:3 is more than the story of light. It is the unveiling of Christ — the eternal Word and Light — initiating the first creation, just as He initiates the new creation. His voice still speaks. His light still shines. His Spirit still moves. And where His Word is declared, chaos gives way to cosmos, and darkness yields to glory.

Typology: Old Man and New Creation #

Just as the formless earth (tohu) was covered in darkness before the light came, so too is the soul of man—empty and veiled in ignorance before encountering Christ.

The “first day” represents the new beginning in every believer—the day the light of Christ dawns in their heart, marking the start of the new creation.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB)

Fulfilment in Christ #

Day One ultimately finds its fulfilment in Christ, who is:

• The Light of the World (John 8:12)
• The firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15)
• The Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
• The brightness of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3)

Thus, Genesis 1:3–5 is not about physical daylight. It is a cosmic proclamation of God’s redemptive order. Christ is not only the light that shines in the beginning, but the light that continues to shine in us unto the full day (Proverbs 4:18).

Summary #

• Day One begins with the Word bringing forth light, which is Christ Himself.
• The light/darkness division is a spiritual principle: God separates what is His from what is fallen.
• The first day prefigures our new birth experience: light shines in our hearts, beginning the divine work of the new creation.
• Christ is the fulfilment of this light—revealing, illuminating, dividing, and transforming.

In Christ,
Shaliach.