Scripture:
[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.
Observation:
John lets us know that this message came from God and is proclaimed through John. These are not simply John’s interpretation of his own thoughts.
Unlike anything of this world, there is no darkness in God. God is perfect, he has no sin, he is pure, he is light.
Continually baited by Satan and his minions through our sin nature, we will unfortunately sin and feel the results of our sin. We are not perfect like Jesus. But stepping off God’s path doesn’t necessarily mean we are walking in darkness. Walking in darkness means we are not walking in God’s light since God is pure light. Walking in darkness means a lifestyle of sin; continually walking outside where the Spirit would lead us. Walking outside pf God’s light means you cannot be in fellowship with him.
If we walk in his light, we are walking where the Spirit leads us within God’s will. We are then in fellowship with him. When we stray, and since we are not perfect we will stray, we must repent and will be cleansed by Jesus’ blood. The good news is that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from past, present, and future sins but we are to repent and walk in his light.
Application:
Being pure light, God has no room for my sin. Not even a little bit. I can’t take what I like from his Word and apply it when I want to. I can’t take new testament grace and leave old testament judgement behind. I must take it all as his truth, otherwise I am not in fellowship with him. God and his truth are the same today as they were yesterday and as they will be tomorrow.
My salvation is real. Through the blood of Jesus I am forgiven for sins I have committed and sins I have yet to commit. But that doesn’t mean I can walk in darkness living a life of sin. I need to first recognize sin and then repent of my sins in order to walk in his light.
But that’s only part of our required action. Combine those last two thoughts with this – We are commanded to love others as Jesus loves us. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12, ESV). So, if we abide by that commandment and really love others as Jesus loves us, we can’t sit back and let the darkness surround others without speaking up. We can’t sit back and let others think that they can take a little of God’s Word, the parts that feel good, and ignore the rest. We can’s sit back and let others think that it’s okay to give up some of our religious freedom (only a little poop in the brownie), succumbing Satan’s darkness. No, if we love them, we need to help them see the Truth and the Light, pointing biblically to their straying from God’s will. With all of Jesus’ truth, we did not sit back and let the darkness drive out the light. He spoke up.
What does that look like in your life – the action call to speak up and help others see the Truth and the Light while not ignoring God’s consistent judgement of sin?
Prayer:
Lord thank you for loving me. Thank you for showing me your light and guiding me with your Spirit. I pray that I have the strength to walk in your light even as I’m attacked through my weakness to waver from it. Lead me with your Spirit and give me words when I need them, to help others recognize when they’re giving in to sin and not seeing their paths slowly heading into deep darkness far from your will. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen.