J Letters from John Part 2: Walk Exposed To Light 1 John 1:5-10
unknowable without the existence of light
God has given us all that s necessary to process light, in order that we can discern His glory! 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Psa 19:1 6 ESV)
God Creates Light 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. (Gen 1:1 3 ESV)
The Existence of Light From the very first day of creation, the presence of God has been identified with the existence of light. Light is the only visible expression of God. Radiating from Him, it is diffused through the universe as the principle of life, and is seen throughout scripture.
Old Testament Burning lamp that passed between the split sacrifices to Abraham Burning bush by Moses Pillar of fire and the burning mount Sinai to the children of Israel Luminous cloud that rested on the mercy-seat in the most holy place of the tabernacle.
New Testament Shepherds heard the announcement of our savior s birth from angels encased in God s glory. Jesus claimed that He was the light of the world, and was transfigured before Peter, James, and John as a blinding light. The apostle Paul was blinded by the light of the risen Christ and fell to the earth on his way to Damascus.
Bid Idea because God is light, God s children, therefore, must be those who walk exposed to and reflect that light!
J Letters from John 1 John 1:5-10 page 1207
J Letters from John In order to understand the significance of the light, we must look at The Essence of the Father 1 John 1:5
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5 NIV) John declares, or literally reports in the message handed down from the Son
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5 NIV) Light (phos), has no article preceding it, the rule of Greek grammar is that the absence of the definite article shows quality, nature, or essence. In other words, God is not a light, nor the light, but simply and absolutely God is light, in His very nature.
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5 NIV) The double negative in the Greek dispels any misunderstanding we might have concerning the purity of this light, its like saying God as to His nature is light, and darkness in Him does not exist, not even one bit.
Darkness 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Rom 13:11 14 ESV)
J Letters from John The essence of God s nature as light, defines our relationship with Him in The Essence of Our Fellowship 1 John 1:6-7
Antinomianism (no law) Abuses the doctrine of divine grace by teaching that since we are no longer under the law but under grace, a person may continue to live in sin and compromise with it, and at the same time have fellowship with God.
Grace Abused 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Rom 6:1 2 ESV)
1 John 5:6-7 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6 7 NIV) Fellowship (koinōnia) = to have joint-participation with someone else in things possessed in common by both.
1 John 5:6-7 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the To continue light, we in ahave lifestyle fellowship of sin and with say one you fellowship another, and withthe God, blood is an oxymoron! of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6 7 NIV) The grammatical structure of the verb, walk, speaks of intentional, habitual action.
1 John 5:6-7 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6 7 NIV)
1 John 5:6-7 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6 7 NIV) John reveals in the verb, cleanse (purify in the NIV) the constant Niagara Falls flow of Christ s blood, as it cascades over his sin, washing it away continually.
J Letters from John In order to understand how we maintain our fellowship with God, we must understand The Essence of His Forgiveness 1 John 1:8-10
Perfectionism Those who maintain that they are done with sin, have no more sinful propensities, and commit no more sinful acts.
1 John 5:8-10 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Apostle Paul and Sin 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothingso goodwhat dwellsis in me, the that answer is, in myto flesh. For I have the desire this to sinful do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 flesh? For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Rom 7:15 20 ESV)
1 John 5:8-10 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, Confess = we tomake say thehim same out thing to be as another, a liar and or, to his word has no place in our lives. agree with another. if we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself. (2 Tim 2:13 ESV)
1 John 5:8-10 8 The If fellowship we claimwetohave bewith without the Father sin, iswe not, nor deceive ever ourselves will be, maintainable and the by truth our effort. is not Weinwere us. not 9 If saved we confess by our effort our sins, nor does he is our faithful effort keep and just saved. and God will forgive alone is the us hero. our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
J Letters from John So What?
So What? Those of us who are truly redeemed will desire to walk where God walks. Though we will fall at times into the darkness of sin, we will not remain there but will desire to get back and walk exposed to God s light, reflecting His glory, agreeing with Him regarding our sin, and accepting His promised forgiveness.
Ask yourself Remember, that the Father is both faithful and 1. Do just you to forgive find that you, the and majority has promised of your desires to cleanse are towards you andgod s is committed light (or presence) to restoreoryou awaytofrom His it? fellowship. 2. If Ifyou have trusted Jesus Christ to save you, and Jesus theymade are away it known fromthat God s this light, is ourthe purpose, Bible desire commands continual fellowship with Him, but your sin wehas do not you to repent, or turn away from your sins, broken exist and trust that for ourselves fellowship, but your life to are for Jesus you Him, Christ ready and to who to confess make Him that known. sin and receive His forgiveness? died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and 3. Do rose you again understand from the your grave responsibility to give you to eternal reflect the light of Jesus Christ into the darkness of a life and access into the very presence of the world that is lost without Him? Holy God!
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matt 5:14 16 ESV)