Walk in the Light (1 John 1:1-7) *All verses in NKJV*
– Starting 1st John, This is the Apostle John’s 1st letter to the believers he has been ministering to.
– The apostles were pushed out of Jerusalem by Roman persecution about 68 AD, and John settled in Ephesus, modern day Turkey. This letter was written possibly 90 AD, before his exile to Patmos.
– Only about 50 years since Christ died on the cross, and already there have been rebellious factions of Christians who have split from the 1st Church and are preaching heresy about Jesus.
– The new ideas about Christ involved him not actually being God AND man, just a man that the Spirit of the Christ rested on for a time. No virgin birth either… among other things.
– John starts this letter with a basic appeal, “Who are you going to believe?” The apostles who physically walked beside Jesus, or the reasonings of the new age enlightened movement?
Read 1 John 1:1-7
Part #1. John reminds them of his credibility.
– John says, “We have seen Jesus with our own eyes, touched his flesh, and heard God speak over him. Jesus is the Word of Life! The eternal life of Jesus in us, and we want you to have it too!”
– John 1:1,4-5, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
– Who are you going to believe?! John and the apostles witnessed the death burial, AND resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were in the room when the Holy Spirit arrived. Is this not enough credibility??
– Example: Going to my Cardiologist. Based on my bloodwork and family history she wants me to take a cholesterol med. She has 14+ years college and a decade of experience, knows my extensive medical history… the first thing I did when I got home is Googled it… because some random person with a website who I’ve never met would know what is best for my health? …or a buddy?
– John is the Subject Matter Expert on Jesus, more so than anyone, even Paul! Who else are you going to trust with your spiritual health!
– The apostles bore witness to the life that was manifested in them. This is foundational for Part 2.
– John wants them to have the same understanding so that there can be fellowship among them.
– John is reminding the church of the gospel, it is that important. It is foundational to everything!
– Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
– John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
– Luke 5:31-32, Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
– Accept, believe, confess, repent… The Holy Spirit will enter in.
– Christ died to forgive your sin, and was raised to new life so you could have life eternal.
– There is not salvation without the cross!
– Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
– Only through the power of the Holy Spirit will you have victory over sin, you can’t do it on your own. This is very important for when we start talking about “Light and Darkness”.
– Overcoming sin, and walking in faith, is predicated on repentance and having the Holy Spirit.
– The heresy: Some were saying that Jesus was only a man, not God, no virgin birth, just a wise and great man. The dove that came down on his baptism was “Christ” who rested on him during his ministry, and left him on the cross. The “Christ” didn’t suffer on the cross, only the man did.
– I think this kind of stuff gets traction because people cannot wrap their mind around the mysteries of God. They have to reason out something that makes sense to them. Another explanation.
– The bible says that God is sovereign, all knowing, all powerful, etc… He is in ultimate control.
– The bible also says that Adam sinned in a perfect world, we have free will to choose life or choose death. We must choose Christ, accept and believe, to be saved.
– The bible says that we are saved by grace through faith alone, not works. We can’t earn it. But at the same time, we are called to obedience, and have consequences for disobedience.
– How can God’s sovereignty and free-will both exist at once? Where is the line between them?
– BOTH are true! God is in control, allows us free will, already knows our choice, knows who is going to be saved and who is not, but does not choose it for them, but already knows their choice.
– Isa. 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
– Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
– Think about this, if God has already picked winners and losers, why did Christ die on the cross? If our actions don’t disqualify us, why be obedient? What’s the purpose of the salvation story, why forgiveness, why any of it??
– That is where the rabbit hole goes… If this is true, then most of what the New Testament says can be at best incorrect, at worst a deceptive lie. Then why even believe the Bible?
– I’m sure we would feel better if we had all the answers. It would certainly absolve us from responsibility for our actions. Looking to yourself for understanding sounds a lot like pridefulness.
– Their heresy doctrine placed faith in their own experiences, enlightenment, and understanding, but completely disregards the experience of those apostles who directly walked with God in the flesh… **Are we going to make the same mistake by leaning on our own feelings, understanding, and spiritual experiences? Disregarding all that the apostles have said already in the New Testament?
Part #2: Walk in the Light.
– 1 John 1:5-7, This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1. As we walk in the light, God reveals our sins.
– The Light represents God’s holiness and revelation as displayed through Jesus.
– Example: CSI investigating with a flashlight, just turn on the light switch! See the whole room.
– Luke 12:2-3, For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
– To walk in fellowship with God, we must stay in His light, and let nothing grow in the darkness.
– We must confess our sins and receive forgiveness. Don’t let pride stop you from fellowship.
2. As we walk in the light, we have fellowship with each other.
– 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
– John is calling them to unity under the truth. As we share the pursuit of life in godliness, we walk this road together, and support each other, and hold each other accountable to the truth.
– Eph 4:1-3, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
3. As we walk in the light, God illuminates our path forward.
– In the New Testament, “walking in the light” directly relates to following Jesus. It means growing in holiness and maturing in the faith as we follow Jesus.
– John 8:12, Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
– “Walk” implies progress. It doesn’t say “stand in the light”. You have to move!
– Example: I don’t like it when all the lights are off, I like to see enough to feel oriented. Even when it is completely dark, I know my surroundings enough to picture it in my head, find my way.
– After boot camp, first night back, completely dark bedroom, woke up and just stood there in the middle of the room. No idea where the light or door was. Literally lost in a 10’x10’ room!
– I had been gone so long, I forgot where to turn to in the darkness. I had to call out for help.
– Sometimes you have moved so far away from the light that you cannot find your way back.
*How long are you going to stand there in the dark before you call out to the light?
– Let the Lord light your path. Take steps towards maturity. Don’t fool yourself!!
– Eph. 5:8, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
– God has called us to take that light he has placed inside us and be a light for others.
– Matt 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
– You live your Christian walk to bring God glory!
– Follow the light. Be a light to others. Get out of the darkness!
– prayer –
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