Walking in the Light
1 John 1:5-10
September 4, 2005
Evening Message
Introduction
Have you ever found yourself walking around in the dark? A few nights ago I found myself in that exact position. I was up getting a glass of water in the middle of the night. I didn’t turn the lights on because I didn’t want to disturb anyone. So, still half asleep, I made my way from the bedroom to the kitchen. Somewhere between the kitchen and the bedroom I discovered a doorknob with my hip. I walked right into one of the doors in the hallway as I made my way down the hall.
I must admit that this was not the most pleasant experience or one of my more graceful moments. I firmly believe that the whole incident was caused by walking in the dark. Things would have gone a lot differently if I had been walking in that hallway with the lights on. Life is so much easier when we walk in the light. Why?
Light dispels darkness: Where there is light, darkness cannot exist. It is impossible for darkness to overcome light. Have you ever seen darkness take over a room where the lights are on?
Light gives direction: Walking in the light tends to help you see where you are and where you are going. Walking in the light tends to give you direction on things to avoid.
Light offers discovery: Things are much easier to find with the lights on. Have you ever tried to search for something in the dark and not been able to find it?
Can you imagine having no light to live by? Just as light is vital to having an effective life, it is also vital to having an effective spiritual walk.
This evening if you have your Bibles with you open them to 1 John 1:5-10 as we look at the benefits of walking in the light.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
John writes this passage of his letter with a series of contrasts, comparisons and choices that are essential to developing an effective walk with Christ.
I. Where we live - The Choice between light and darkness
God is light
The deeper meaning of the Greek word for light is to illuminate or to reveal. The term light is often used to symbolize the need for spiritual illumination or to show the reality of divine truth.
John uses the term light many times in his writings
1. John describe the incarnation of Jesus (John 1:4-9)
John first calls Jesus the Word. Literally John is saying that Jesus is the power that holds everything else together. He then moves to Jesus being our source of both life and light.
2. John describes salvation as light (John 3:19-21)
John describes the power of Jesus to save as being light in the midst of darkness.
3. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12)
4. John describes the life of Jesus as being light (John 12:35)
God is the one who brings light into the world. It is God who has revealed Himself to us and opened our eyes to His truth. Just as with light, God shines the brightest where things are the darkest. God has the desire to bring divine direction to His people and to those who are lost.
The light of God makes an impact in three distinct ways.
1.) Character - Presence - Glory
2.) Conduct - Power - Goodness and Greatness
3.) Compassion - Purpose - Grace
Walking in the light gives us fellowship with Jesus. The word fellowship means to be partners or to have a common goal. It simply is not possible to have Jesus as your partner and to make the choice to walk in darkness. When we live in the light it opens our lives to God’s revelation.
• God reveals the reality of sin
• God reveals the truth of salvation
• God reveals our need for Him
The reality of darkness
Playing Ghost in the graveyard - version of hide and seek
The Greek word skotos literally means to be in complete or utter darkness. Often the New Testament uses this word to describe moral or spiritual darkness.
The implications of darkness
Darkness is void of God’s presence
John states that there is no darkness in God, what exactly does He mean?
• Darkness causes separation from God
• Darkness is a means of hiding evil behavior
• Darkness is a result of spiritual condition
• Darkness is a matter of personal choice
How can we say that we are walking with God and still make the choice to walk in sin? The two simply do not mix and there is no way of reconciling this fact. It is impossible to have light and darkness in the same space. The same needs to be true of our walk with Christ. We cannot livew in darkness where Jesus means for us to live in the light.
II. How we live - The choice between doing and saying
Living by doing
We have been called to serve Christ through an active work. We are to serve with a deep desire to make an impact for Him in this life.
John uses the word walk to describe this service. The word means to maintain a lifestyle or manner in which a person lives. Our lives need to be pleasing not to ourselves but to Christ. Christ gives the clear expectation that we are to follow Him. Christ expects us to live our lives in holiness.
The song I Have Decided to Follow Jesus is an excellent example of this. I have decided to Follow Jesus, no turning back.
We maintain our walk with Christ through our lifestyle
a.) Daily times of prayer
b.) Daily times in scripture
c.) Daily times in worship
Living by saying
There is a massive difference between serving Christ and just claiming to serve Christ. The word claim mean to speak or to say. John is clearly saying that our words and our actions need to match when we are serving Christ. Many people talk about serving or following Jesus but when the rubber meets the road they are not living it out.
How are you serving Christ? Do your words and actions match? Does your life show of a living example of Christ?
III. Who we live for - The choice between the Savior and Self
Living for the Savior
The fact is that we need Jesus
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Our understanding of sin needs to be stretched. Every single person has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There are two types of sin.
Original sin - This is the result of the Fall
Volitional sin - This is the result of personal actions. These are sins that are committed in the light of knowing God and His standards. Doing something even when you know it is wrong.
Jesus faithful when we confess our sin and go to Him in need of His grace. The key is confession. You cannot admit the fact that sin is wrong and then expect to go right back to it. There has to be a change of heart. There has to be a change of lifestyle.
Living for Self
The choice to stay in our sin
We are choosing sin over Jesus
IV. What we live by - The choice between Truth and lies
Living by the truth
1. Admits our sin
2. Surrender our lives
3. Make Christ our priority
Living by lies
1. Lie to others - Secret sins (6)
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
2. Lie to ourselves - Openly sin (8)
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
3. Lie to God - Justify sin (10)
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
