1. Darkness upon the Waters. "Darkness was upon the face of the deep" (Gen 1:2). This is typical of the state of the sinner in the darkness of sin, ignorance, and unbelief. The purpose of the Gospel, as Christ told Paul, is to "turn them from darkness to light" (Act 26:18).
2. The Spirit moving upon the Waters. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Gen 1:2). This shadows forth the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration; even as Peter, in reminding us of what the Lord has done for us, says, "Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" (1Pe 2:9).
3. The Light shining forth. "God said, Let there be light, and there was light" (Gen 1:3). This reminds us of the light shining into the heart by the Holy Spirit, through the Word; in fact, the apostle uses it as an illustration of this truth, "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Cr 4:6).
4. Life and growth. "Let the earth bring forth…and the earth brought forth grass…herb…tree yielding fruit" (Gen 1:11-12). God said, and then life and fruit followed. So it is with us who have heard the voice of God. We have eternal life, and the evidence of it is growth in grace, for the command of Christ is very clear. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Mat 5:16).
5. Blessing and fruit-bearing. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful," &c. (Gen 1:28). In and by Him we are blessed; in Him is our fruit found, and by Him we are fruitful. This is the result of fellowship with Him, for "if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another" (1Jo 1:7), that is, with the Father and the Son.
6. Union and power. "God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have dominion," &c. (Gen 1:26). This was lost by sin, but, in a spiritual sense, is restored by accepting Christ; as Paul reminded the Ephesians, in telling them what they were, are, and should be, "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Eph 5:8).
7. Sanctification (Gen 2:3). As God set apart the seventh day as a day of rest, so He has set apart the believer in Christ for Himself; and because he is thus set apart, he is to separate from all that is, and those who are not the Lord's. "For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2Cr 6:14).