Walking in God's Light: Overcoming Daily Struggles with Sin and Confession
1John 1:5-10
Introduction: The Light Switch
Have you ever tried to navigate your house in complete darkness? Maybe the power went out, or you were trying not to wake someone up. You stub your toe on the coffee table, bump into walls, and feel completely disoriented. But the moment you flip that light switch, everything changes. You can see clearly, walk confidently, and move with purpose.
This morning, we're going to explore what it means to walk in God's light versus stumbling around in spiritual darkness. Turn with me to 1 John 1:5-10, where the apostle John gives us one of the clearest pictures in Scripture about authentic Christian living. John writes to believers who were struggling with the same issues many of us face today – issues like…
How do we live authentically as Christians when we still struggle with sin?
How do we maintain fellowship with God when we fail daily?
I believe we’ll find that John's answer is both challenging and comforting, informing us that we must walk in the light and practice honest confession.
Point 1: God's Nature: Pure Light
Let's begin with verse 5: 1Jn 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
John doesn't say God has light or gives light - he says God IS light. Now, this isn't talking about physical illumination, but about God's absolute moral purity, His holiness, His truth. When John declares there is "no darkness at all" in God, he's using the strongest possible language. Not a shadow, not a hint, not even the possibility of moral compromise exists in our heavenly Father.
This truth should both humble us and give us hope. It humbles us because it reveals the vast gap between God's perfect holiness and our daily reality. We wake up with good intentions, but by noon we've already had impure thoughts, spoken harsh words, or acted selfishly. The standard isn't just high - it's absolute perfection. God’s command for us is, 1Pe 1:16 …"YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." And the thought of achieving this level of perfection should humble us, but it should also give us hope, because this same perfectly holy God has made a way for us to have fellowship with Him through Jesus Christ, who is our holiness, our perfection. The light that exposes our darkness is the same light that cleanses us.
However, far too many who claim to be walking in the light have actually fallen into…
Point 2: The Deception: Claiming Fellowship While Walking in Darkness
Verse 6 confronts us with a sobering reality: 1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
John is addressing what I call "Sunday Christianity" - people who claim to know God but live as if He doesn't exist Monday through Saturday. This isn't about perfection; it's about direction. Walking in darkness means deliberately choosing sin, living with unconfessed rebellion, or maintaining patterns of behavior that contradict our faith.
Let me give you some practical examples. Walking in darkness might look like:
1) Claiming to love God while harboring unforgiveness toward someone who hurt you; saying you trust God while living in constant anxiety and worry;
2) Professing faith while engaging in business practices you know are dishonest; or
3) Declaring God's love while speaking harshly to your family behind closed doors.
John says when we live this way, we're lying - not just to others, but to ourselves. We're living in self-deception, thinking we can compartmentalize our faith. But God sees it all. He sees our hearts, our private moments, our secret thoughts. We cannot claim fellowship with perfect light while choosing to walk in darkness.
You know, I can’t help but think of a situation I found myself in as the pastor in Higgins. One of the church’s founding members displayed such open and public hostility to a young girl who wanted to participate in a Christmas program at the Church. I was appalled and flabbergasted at the display that I had to confront her privately about it. We had two people never return after that. The woman I confronted and the young girl that woman publicly embarrassed.
But friends, hypocrisy will reveal itself to everyone eventually, but God sees it as soon as it pops up in the heart. Don’t be deceived, you cannot serve two masters – you cannot claim fellowship with the light when you’re walking in darkness, which brings us to the next point, that…
Point 3: The Truth: Walking in Light Brings Fellowship
But verse 7 gives us the beautiful alternative: 1Jn 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Walking in the light doesn't mean sinless perfection – because friend, if it did, none of us would qualify. Notice that even while walking in the light, we still need cleansing from sin. Walking in the light means living with transparency before God, being honest about our struggles, and choosing obedience even when it's difficult.
What does this look like practically? Walking in the light means starting each day by acknowledging your need for God's grace. It means being quick to confess when you fail rather than making excuses. It means treating your spouse with kindness even when you don't feel like it. It means being honest in your business dealings even when it costs you money. It means forgiving others because you've been forgiven.
When we walk in the light, two beautiful things happen. First, we have fellowship with one another. Authentic Christian community is only possible when we're honest about our struggles. When we pretend to have it all together, we create barriers. But when we walk in the light, we can encourage each other, pray for each other, and bear each other's burdens.
The Second thing that happens is the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin. This is present tense - ongoing cleansing. As we walk in the light, confessing our sins and choosing obedience, Christ's sacrifice continues to purify us. But many of us find we have a problem with walking in the light…
Point 4: The Problem: Self-Deception About Sin
Verse 8 addresses one of our greatest spiritual dangers: 1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
This verse confronts our tendency to minimize, rationalize, or ignore our sin. Let me ask you – have you ever done something you knew was wrong, but you justified what you said or did in order to relieve some of the guilt you felt? And I have to say that if you say that you’ve never done such a thing, my money is on either self-deception or bald-faced lie.
Folks, we live in a culture that encourages us to think positively about ourselves, to focus on our good qualities, and to explain away our failures. It’s always someone or something else’s fault, never ours. But John says this kind of thinking is self-deception.
You know, some of us struggle with obvious sins - anger, gossip, dishonesty. But others of us have become experts at hiding our sin, even from ourselves. We call our pride "confidence," our selfishness "looking out for ourselves," our lack of love "being realistic about people." We compare ourselves to others and feel pretty good about our spiritual condition. But the Scripture tells us 2Co 10:12 …when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
God's standard isn't based on anyone or anything other than His own perfect holiness. When we honestly examine our hearts in the light of God's Word, we see attitudes, motives, and actions that fall short of His glory. The person who claims to have no sin isn't spiritually mature - they're spiritually blind. This self-deception is dangerous because it cuts us off from the very grace we desperately need. If we don't think we're sick, we won't seek the doctor. If we don't acknowledge our sin, we won't seek God's forgiveness.
And so, we must turn to…
Point 5: The Solution: Honest Confession
Verse 9 offers us one of the most beautiful promises in all of Scripture: 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The word "confess" means to agree with God about our sin - to call it what He calls it. To call it what it is. It's not making excuses, blaming circumstances, or minimizing the offense. It's saying, "God, You're right. What I did was wrong. I take full responsibility."
Notice what happens when we confess: God is faithful and just to forgive us. This isn't based on our emotions or feelings - it's based on God's character and Christ's finished work. When we confess, God doesn't grudgingly forgive us; He faithfully and justly forgives us because Jesus already paid the penalty for our sin.
Let me give you some practical steps for daily confession. First, set aside time each day to examine your heart before God. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas where you've fallen short. Second, be specific in your confession. Don't just say "forgive me for my sins" - name them. Third, receive God's forgiveness by faith. Don't keep beating yourself up after you've confessed. Fourth, make things right with others when your sin has affected them.
Folks, what we’re talking about here isn't a one-time event - it's a daily practice. Every day we need to walk in the light, and every day we need to confess our failures and receive God's cleansing.
Point 6: The Warning: Calling God a Liar
Verse 10 gives us a sobering warning: 1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
This is even stronger than verse 8. Here John addresses those who claim they've never sinned - that they don't have a sinful nature that needs ongoing grace. When we make this claim, John says we're calling God a liar. Why? Because God's Word clearly teaches that all have sinned and fall short of His glory.
When we deny our need for ongoing grace, we're contradicting Scripture itself. We're saying we know better than God about our spiritual condition. This attitude is particularly dangerous because it leads to spiritual pride and cuts us off from the very grace that could transform us. The person who thinks they've arrived spiritually stops growing. They stop confessing, stop seeking God's cleansing, and stop walking in humility.
The truth is, the closer we get to God, the more aware we become of our sin. The greatest saints in history were those who were most aware of their need for grace. They didn't claim sinless perfection - they claimed a perfect Savior.
Conclusion: Living in the Light Daily
Beloved, walking in God's light isn't about perfection - it's about direction. It's about choosing transparency over pretense, confession over cover-up, and humility over pride. Let me leave you with three practical applications for living in the light daily:
First, start each day by acknowledging your need for God's grace. Don't begin your day thinking you've got this figured out. Begin by saying, "Lord, I need You today."
Second, practice daily confession. Don't let sin accumulate in your heart. When the Holy Spirit convicts you, respond immediately with honest confession. Remember, God is faithful and just to forgive.
Third, live with the confidence that comes from knowing you're cleansed. Don't walk around in guilt and shame. When you've confessed your sin, believe God's promise of forgiveness. Walk in the freedom that comes from knowing your sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus.
The light of God's holiness doesn't condemn us - it cleanses us. The same light that exposes our darkness is the light that leads us to the cross, where we find forgiveness, cleansing, and the power to walk in newness of life.
Let's pray together, asking God to help us walk in His light this week, to be honest about our struggles, and to experience the joy of His ongoing cleansing and fellowship each and every day.
Heavenly Father, help us to walk in Your light every day. Many times we fail to be honest with You about the things we struggle with, thinking that maybe if we don’t mention them, You might not notice. Lord, we know the error in that way of thinking, but that doesn’t seem to stop us as it should. Open our hearts and minds to know You in truth and be honest with you in all things. Let us experience Your ongoing cleansing and the great joy that comes from our true fellowship with You every day. Amen.
