Walking in the Light and Truth
1 John: Walking in the Light • Sermon • Submitted
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Letter of 1 John
Letter of 1 John
The letter of 1 John was written to filter out errors and solidify truth within the Christian community. Every generation will have to prepare themselves to reaffirm what is truth and what is not because each place in time has its own set of efforts and movements that can undermine the foundation of the faith. May we take up the same cause of examining scriptures to keep our eyes, ears, hearts, and hands faithful to the truth in God’s Word. Any spiritual foundation not built upon Christ can not be considered Christian. As we study the opening section, look for the unchanging elements that are our foundation for the Christian faith and unite us with Christ and each other.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
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. 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. 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.
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
A Message of Life
A Message of Life
The opening of John and 1 John sound alike if you listen closely to the wording and topics. Although the letter does not identify the author as John, it is historically accepted by early church leaders of the 2nd and 3rd centuries. John is also the author of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. Both letters that bear his name open with the idea of the beginning. For John’s Gospel, the Word was in the beginning, was with God, and was God. 1 John also reflects this notion. John’s gospel speaks about Christ as the Light and Life, so too does 1 John.
These verses place John as a first-hand witness to the truth he is sharing. His message is not something he created but something he experienced. He experienced the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Because of this, John considered himself a messenger. He must share this message with others because it is about the word of life. The word of life is more than a set of words or ideas; it is the person of Jesus Christ. Christ is both the word and the life that come from God.
This message is also about eternal life. Too often, we may take the term “eternal life” to mean “living in the afterlife.” But this is only a portion of what it means. “Eternal” is often used to describe a period of time, age, or era. And it is contrasted from the current age and the age to come. The age to come is the promised reality of the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Those who asked Jesus, “what must I do to inherit eternal life” were focused on making sure that they did not miss God’s promises toward Israel through the Messiah. John’s message is fundamental to life so that those who do not receive it will miss out on what God has promised.
John has another motivation for proclaiming this message. It is the foundation for fellowship with God and others. “Fellowship” is another term that we may overlook because it describes Christian gatherings and time we spend together. The word is “koinonia.”
koinonia - fellowship, communion, sharing, participation. A term that conveys a sense of commonality, solidarity, and shared responsibility among households or individuals.
Davis, Derek Leigh. “Assembly, Religious.” Ed. Douglas Mangum et al. Lexham Theological Wordbook 2014: n. pag. Print. Lexham Bible Reference Series.
Fellowship with each other is based upon the message of Christ. He is our uniting element. Without Him, we remain separated from God because of sin. But in Christ, we have become members of a family that transcends all human characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, etc. When we come to church fellowship, we should recognize that we come to give and share with each other the grace of Jesus Christ. Therefore, our fellowship bears a mutual status and responsibility. We are brothers and sisters in Christ because we have placed our trust in him. We are also made responsible for owing each other a debt of love. Romans 13:8
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
This fellowship is also how we work together as partners in the proclamation of the gospel. God calls us together for unity, support, encouragement, and growth. But he also calls us to know him together by doing the work of the kingdom. So Christian Fellowship is also about doing the good works of God. Ephesians 2:10
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Our fellowship with God and each other has the blessed potential for complete joy. How do you view Christian Fellowship?
Would it make a difference if we did meet or gather together? Does Christian fellowship seem dead.
Illustration of Church Funeral
God is Light
God is Light
John focuses his attention on the main message, to which some offered sinful objections. The main message is this: God is Light and in him is no darkness at all. What does John mean by his statement that God is light? Let’s look at three descriptions of light in scripture.
First, we see God as light in the manifestation of his presence and guidance. God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush, and he later appeared as a pillar of fire by night to guide Israel in the wilderness. Second, we see God’s character of revelation through His holy word. It is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path. And thirdly, light describes God as a Savior. David praised God as “my light and my salvation.” And Isaiah prophesied that those who walked in darkness would see the light of God’s Messiah.
But John adds this important bit about God as light. God has no darkness in Him at all. God is holy and all who have fellowship with
Him must come to terms with this. In John’s time, some individuals were at work to alter the fundamental message of God’s holiness by suggesting alternatives not based in God’s revelation.
False Conclusion #1: We can walk in darkness and still claim that we have fellowship with Him.
A person’s walk is a symbolic way to describe how they live. John warns that refusing to make a break with sinful living and claim that one is good with God is a complete lie. Scripture is full of examples of God expressing judgment toward those who claim to have a relationship with Him but live in disobedience. Deuteronomy 8:20
20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.
We can not escape the fact that God is holy and calls those who claim to follow him (walk with him) to live a life that reflects obedience.
We may find it a mystery why some would find a way to come to this conclusion. Many people come to this concept because they do not know the Word of God. They form an understanding of God by using their own ideas about what God is like. Unfortunately, they reject the revelation that God already gives in His word.
John gives the correct thinking and action. We must walk (live) in God’s revelation of his holiness by first coming to the cleansing solution of Jesus Christ. And those cleansed from sin must submit their desires to God’s. Our repentance means not just a change of heart but a change of direction toward different living.
False Conclusion #2 :We have no sin.
They may have concluded that after being cleansed meant that they never needed to deal with sin. They misunderstood the difference between justification and sanctification. Justification is to be placed into the right standing with a holy God because of Christ’s righteousness. But sanctification recognizes that although we are saved from wrath and judgment, yet we are in the process of putting off sinful habits and desires. Like the first assumption, this too is false living. The truth of God’s word has not entered into the heart and mind to transform the understanding of the need to grow in maturity and obedience.
John gives the proper attitude for all believers. We must live our Christian life continually asking God to help us mature in obedience. A mature believer humbly recognizes their potential to fall and continually looks to God for strength when tempted. And believers comes back in repentance when they fall into sin. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
False Conclusion #3: We have not sinned.
This statement eliminates sin altogether by stating, “I have never sinned!” Today this same thought is expressed by claiming, “I am basically a good person. Sin is committed by those who do terrible things like murder or stealing.” This is very popular among people who consider themselves “spiritual but not religious”. Again this statement fails to recognize the revelation of God’s word that we all need a savior because of sin. But this time, the statement calls God a liar. Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
All Christians will struggle to some degree with sin. We will experience various circumstances that will be sources of temptation to wander back into sinful ways. That is part of the struggle to be in the world but not of it. The struggle is real, but we have the solution. We are to confess our sins because we have a faithful Saviour who has solved the sin problem upon the cross. And in Him, we can come back in repentance. Peter is the prime example of a believer whose spiritual life moved forwards and back. But God restored a humble and repentant Peter. God works in us so that we grow in obedience.
Christianity is a faith that uniquely identifies the holiness of God and the sinfulness of people but offers a solution through God’s loving actions of grace. If we take out sin from our faith, we deny the foundations of God’s revelation about Himself and us.
What is your view on sin?
What is your view on your sin?
What will you do about your sin?
When we recognize the power of sin and our flesh, the more we realize the greatness of our Saviour, the greatness of His mercy and grace, and the great dependence we must have upon Him.