10/30/S – In The Light

NT: “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 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. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5-10‬ ‭CSB)

Throughout the New Testament, the redeemed believer’s life of faith in Christ is called a walk. It is a progressive journey from one place to another in which we get closer to our destination and further from our point of origin the longer we walk. When we come to faith in Christ, the Bible teaches that we are transferred from darkness to light… from sin to righteousness… from deception to truth. However, from that point forward, there is a walk – a process – in which we are changed from glory to glory by the work of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God as we continue in faith.

The indwelling Holy Spirit and the grace of God comes into, and is maintained in our lives through fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the redeemed people of God. The Greek word for fellowship is ‘koinonia.’ Koinonia is more than mere friendship. It is an intimate partnership and communion in which everything is shared from and amongst all participating. John wrote that the key to walking in fellowship with God and the people of God is to walk in the light.

Light in this passage symbolizes truth… and John went on to talk about truth. On the other hand, darkness is symbolic of deception and falsehood. In the open light of day, there are no shadows where things can go unnoticed and hidden. God is light and God is truth. There is no darkness or deception in Him at all… this is not a yin/yang situation. God is pure light and truth, and darkness and deception cannot exist in His presence. Therefore, in order to fellowship with God, we must walk in light and truth… out in the open and completely honest, with no attempts to hide and deceive.

Sin is an intrinsic part of the human existence this side of heaven. We are born in sin and life in sin until we are saved from sin through faith in Christ. Yet, even after we are saved from sin, we still have to deal with sin as long as we inhabit our mortal bodies. Though we are free from the bondage to sin through Christ, we will still commit sins as we progressive walk from glory to glory. Many Christians will try to hide or deny the sins that they commit in order to appear righteous. That is not walking in the light. That is walking in darkness and deception. Walking in the light involves confessing the sins we commit so that we may be forgiven and cleansed of our sins and continue walking in fellowship with God and one another. The Gnostics of John’s day went ever further – denying that they were even affected by sin. They believed that their true spiritual selves were separated from their physical bodies and that any sin committed by their bodies had no affect on them. The truth is, we are tripartite beings, made up of spirit, soul, and body… all three linked parts of a whole being. Which is why, when our spirits are made alive in Christ, we offer our bodies of instruments of righteousness, and allow our thoughts to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Don’t hide your sins. Don’t deny your sins. Walk in the light and confess your sins in faith, knowing that God is faithful to forgive us of our confessed sins, and the blood of Jesus is able to cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness and keep us in life-giving, grace-flowing fellowship with God.

Psalms: “You are righteous, Lord, and your judgments are just. The decrees you issue are righteous and altogether trustworthy. My anger overwhelms me because my foes forget your words. Your word is completely pure, and your servant loves it. I am insignificant and despised, but I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your instruction is true. Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but your commands are my delight. Your decrees are righteous forever. Give me understanding, and I will live.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:137-144‬ ‭CSB)

The Lord is altogether righteous and just. His decrees (the words that testify to His goodness) are righteous and altogether trustworthy. His word (the full revelation of God) is completely pure. God and His word are light, and there is no darkness in them. Though we may fall short of God’s glory and righteousness, when we walk according to His word, will and ways, we walk in His light, righteousness, and purity. When we delight in Him and His word, He helps us, delivers us, and gives us all we need to walk in godliness.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You are light and that there is no darkness in You. I also thank You that as I walk in light, as You are light, then I am able to have deep and intimate communion with You and with those who also walk in the light. Help me, as I place my faith in You, to stay clean before You – confessing any and all sin that You bring to my attention, that I would not walk in darkness and would continue walking from glory to glory though Your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.