Lessons in Light
1 John 1: 5-10
Introduction
Darkness and Light ; Truth and Error these concepts are under attack today and the church buys into the spirit of the age when it is more concerned about being politically correct than being faithful to the truth of God’s word.
John 1:14 says-
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
In this message we continue with looking at 1 John and the lesson to be found as we explore God as Light. We will observe that God is Light and key to this is TRUTH and perfect revelation. This in turn requires the believer to WALK in the Light and TALK the Truth.
1. Light, 1 John 1:5
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
John speaks about the essential being of God – and none is as comprehensive as Light. It is the property of light to shine. There is no lack in God – there is no darkness, no contradiction, no confusion, no doubt. Light is absolute perfect purity, supreme glory and matchless majesty. It conveys two great truths – God’s transcendence and God’s immanence.
Christ is the light of the world, John 1:4, 5; 3; 19, 20, 21.
Light includes revelation, self-revelation and exposure; righteousness (Eph 5:8-14), transparency, genuineness and openness.
‘All the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of one small candle’
2. Walk, 1 John 1: 6, 7
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
A key point that is made in these two verses is a warning about ‘saying one thing and doing another’. There is a crucial relationship between Life and Light. Light is tied to Life. ‘To walk’ is the biblical term for living and lifestyle. It is active. Light does not only give knowledge, it is life giving and will naturally result in action. The two must go together. In verses 6, 7 Fellowship with God must be demonstrated by walking in the light. Darkness and light cannot go together. To say one thing and to do another is a lie – the truth does not exist in that situation. There are only two walks – to walk in the light or to walk in darkness. Sin is at the centre of this deception. The world is trying to convince us to take the ‘S’ out of SIN so that we sit IN it. Take away the sting so you will stay. Satan is using all his efforts to sow doubt and confusion about this outdated concept called SIN. But sin is always a barrier to fellowship with God.
Part of the nature of Light is truth and like sin this is also being attacked by Satan. What is truth? Is there such a thing as absolute truth – such a claim is fundamentalism and or fanaticism.
By contrast to walk in the light results in: 1. fellowship with one another - thus with God; 2. secondly, we have the active work of Christ’s death, not only redeeming us but also keeping us, verse 7. The double cure for sin is walking in the light and having the cleansing power of the blood of Christ.
Sin and the child of God are incompatible. They may occasionally meet; they cannot live together in harmony. John Stott
3. Talk, 1 John 1: 8-10
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Here is a warning against saying ‘I am without sin’ and ‘I have not sinned’.
There is talk which is dangerous and runs contrary to truth and light.
1. Claim to be without sin – the truth is not in us. We are all tainted by sin and there is the continual remedy – confession – forgiveness – based on the covenant relationship with God ‘faithful and just’
2. Claim to have not sinned – we turn God into a liar – His word is not part of us.
Out of the heart the mouth speaks – our talk and our walk need to go hand in hand.
Sin is believing the lie that you are self-created, self-dependent and self-sustained. Augustine
One reason that sin flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff instead of a rattle snake. Billy Sunday
Conclusion:
Do we walk in the light?
Does our walk and talk line up?
Do we confess and engage in self-examination?
Do we apply the light of God’s word in reviewing our walk?
Do we apply the light and truth of God’s word to reveal what is sound teaching in order to inform both our walk and our talk?
Are we falling for the deceit of the world?
Fellowship needs to be bound by light, life and truth. These are three of the strand of a four-fold cord.
Those who know the truth to love it; those who love the truth learn to live it. Bob Proctor
There is no power on earth more formidable than truth. Margaret Lee Runbeck
