Walking in the Light

1 John 1:5-10

– John’s first Epistle was written so that we may have certainty about our standing with God (5:13), and this morning we discover the first of several ‘tests’ for genuine faith:  Walking in Light vs. Walking in Darkness

I. A Critical Distinction (v. 5)

1)  Light

• An essential characteristic of God
• God’s children are to walk in His light
  • Light of God’s revelation to us in and through His Word
  • Light of God’s moral character as revealed perfectly in Jesus Christ

2)  Darkness

• No darkness at all in God
• God’s children have been transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of His Son (Col 1:13)
• To walk in darkness is a contradiction for the true Christian – this is John’s first test for genuine faith

II. Walking in Darkness

1)  Telling lies about ourselves (v. 6)

• Our walk doesn’t match our talk
• The dangerous belief that sin in our lives does not affect our relationship with God or with others around us

2)  Telling lies to ourselves (v. 8)

• Foolishly claiming or pretending that we have reached a point of sinless perfection
• Rationalizing and justifying sin in our lives so that we can avoid getting real with God about our failures

3)  Telling lies about God (v. 10)

• Claiming that we have never committed any sins, or that sin doesn’t really exist
• Denying the Bible’s teaching about sin and it’s universal scope

Application Points:

– The Bible’s teaching about sin is an offense to those who are enslaved in darkness (John 3:19-20)

– To walk in darkness is to refuse to come clean about our problem with sin

– The gospel of Jesus Christ is only good news for those who see themselves as sinners in need of God’s salvation and cleansing

III. Walking in the Light

1)  Walking in the Light = Confession of sin

• ‘to confess’ = ‘homo/logeo’ = to say the same thing
• Confession at its root is agreeing with God concerning our sin – being honest with God and allowing His perfect light to expose and purify our darkness

2)  Outcome of Walking in the Light

• Fellowship with other Christians
• Ongoing purification of our sin

Application Points:

– God is perfectly ‘just’ to forgive us of sin because Jesus died for every sin and paid our sin debt in full

– Are you being honest with God?  Are you being honest with yourself?  Are you being honest with others?   God doesn’t demand sinless perfection, but He does demand honesty.   Let’s walk in the light!!