16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
dwelling in unapproachable light,
The light of God is unapproachable for finite creatures. God’s immortality is underived from anything or anybody else; finite creatures cannot fully comprehend Him. He has immortality intrinsically in Himself. He is not subject to creation or time. God is unapproachable because He transcends creation; He is beyond the realm of creation.
We find the word “unapproachable” only here in the New Testament. No human being can expose himself to the full essence of God’s being. People cannot fully grasp concepts such as God’s being everywhere present, all knowing, immutable, omniscient, and so on.
whom no man has seen or can see,
No one can comprehend the range of God’s absoluteness; the problem is that the finite cannot comprehend the infinite. Even in eternity, the creature will still be finite and unable to grasp who and what God is entirely fully. God is invisible to finite creatures (Col 1:15).
to whom be honor and everlasting power.
God’s honor and power extend into eternity.
Amen.
“Amen” means agreement or endorsement. Paul endorsed this attribute of praise to Jesus Christ.
PRINCIPLE:
Because humans are finite, we can understand the essence of God only by revelation.
APPLICATION:
God is light (1 Jn 1:5); He essentially dwells in it (Ps 104:2; Dan 2:22). People cannot approach or grasp that kind of essence in their finite capacity. However, Christians have access to and the right to fellowship with Him (He 10:19, 20).
