Featured Does "enlightened" mean saved?

The passages from John I'll be highlighting below were not received well (by some) in a previous thread. By that, I mean, they were virtually ignored and cast aside as irrelevant. This is amazing, as these passages hold they key to understanding the doctrine of enlightenment.

Here are the actual passages.

John 1:6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. (emphasis mine)

John 1:9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (emphasis mine)​

John 12:35 Jesus therefore said to them, “For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 “While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light.” (emphasis mine)​

Here are some of the truths about light and enlightenment we glean from these passages.

• Light and enlightenment are metaphors for knowledge.
• Jesus is the true light who enlightens.
• Enlightenment comes (in some way) to every man.
• Enlightenment comes before faith.
• Enlightenment must be responded to while it remains.
• Only those who respond to enlightenment with belief, become saved.
• Enlightenment itself, therefore, is not synonymous with salvation.

Very simple and straightforward. These passages are key in understanding the doctrine of enlightenment and should give us insight into other passages in the Bible which speak of individuals being once enlightened, such as Hebrews 6:4-9, Hebrews 10:26-39, 2Peter 2:20-22.

Heb. 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.​

So do these hypothetical individuals lose (fall away from) their salvation? No, as it doesn't appear any salvation terms are used here.

Do they keep their salvation? No, as there is no indication they ever responded to their enlightenment with belief, and were ever saved.

Then what did they fall away from? In a phrase, the truth! Jesus brought light (truth) to the world—to "every man." This is not to say that all men know the truth all the time, but it does seem to say all men (all adults), at some point, receive some kind of illumination from God, either about their need for Jesus or about their need to seek out further truth. When they receive this, they are obligated to respond with faith while it remains. If they respond in continual unbelief, they are in grave danger of losing this illumination, and by extension their opportunity to believe. Peter says it this way:

2Pet. 2:20 For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.​

To recap, John's Gospel tells us what happens to those who respond to enlightenment with belief. They become children of God, and sons of Light.

Hebrews 6, 10 and 2Peter 2, on the other hand, tell us what happens to those who don't respond in genuine belief. They become darkened to the truth with no other hope (which is quite terrifying). But they also let us know that this fate is not the fate of true believers.

Heb. 6:9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

Heb. 10:39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.​

I would submit, therefore, that it is impossible to have have an intelligent conversation about the meaning of enlightenment in Hebrews 6 and 10, apart from a discussion about John 1 and 12 (and many other verses in John).

So, tell me why I'm wrong.

 

Doctrine just means teaching. Of course there is teaching about enlightenment in Scripture.

 

It's something I've derived from Scripture. It's very common. I've cited several passages. You're welcome to tell me where I've gone wrong.

 

Enlightenment is not a common teaching in Scripture. Got it! Thanks for your contribution.

 

And definitely a parallel thought in Hebrews 10.

Heb. 10:32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly, by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. ​

The author contrasts the two response to enlightenment, the one who turns away and insults the Spirit, and the one who endures responding in faith.

39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. ​

 

I believe I agree with MH. The term, enlightenment, itself is a general term, meaning to show light or show knowledge. In Eps. 1:18, Paul prays for believers to become enlightened about the riches of the glory of their inheritance. It's definitely not a specific term for salvation.

I believe I agree with you also, that's it's an essential part of the salvation process. That seems to be evident in John 1 and 12. And it a strange way, it also seems to be part of the condemnation process, as in Hebrews 6.

 

Off topic. Really don't want to go there. We can argue the efficacious call vs. non-efficacious in another thread.