1 John 1:5-10 (verse-by-verse)

Pastor Ray Bollas

1 John • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

1 John 1:5–10

0 ratings

· 2 views

Notes

Transcript

Passage: 1 John 1:5-10

Title: What is True in Your Life?

Summary: Sometimes we think we know truths about ourselves and about God, yet can be so far off and not truly see it. In our study today we will see God bringing truths into His light, and all of us will by the end of this study be seeing thing more clearly.

1 John 1:5–10 (NKJV) 5 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. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Reminder

Just a reminder, that “Perfect Love”, has written this letter to you, and is speaking to you today.

1 John 4:8 (NKJV) 8 …….., for God is love.

Introduction

Writings – Pastured Ephesus / Around 90AD

John wrote this epistle, as all early church writings agree upon. Early Church writings also say that John served as pastor of the church in Ephesus, which was founded by Paul (Acts 18-19). The writing of this epistle is dated somewhere around 90-100AD. John himself is close to 80 to 90 years old.

Situation

John tells us four reasons why he writes, and the ultimate reason he writes this letter, so that you may have fullness of joy (1:4).

You will never have fullness of joy, if you are insecure in your salvation, you will never have joy, if you are secure in your sin and unrepentant of it, you will never have fullness of joy if you are insecure in the finished work that Christ has done for you.

Theme:

That Your Joy may be Full:

(1 John 1:4 NKJV) And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

That You may not Sin / When you Do Sin

(1 John 2:1 NKJV) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

That You may not be Deceived

(1 John 2:26 NKJV) These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

That You may know you have Eternal Life

(1 John 5:13 NKJV) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Contrasts:

· Verse 5: Light versus Darkness

· Verse 6: Lie versus Truth

· Verse 8: Belief versus Deception

Outline 1 John 1:5-10 (What is True in Your Life?)

· What is True Light (1:5)

· What is True Fellowship (1:6)

· What is True Cleansing (1:7)

· What is True Deception (1:8)

· What is True Confession (1:9)

· What is True Word (1:10)

Truth

Truth is Freedom

John 8:32 (NKJV) 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:36 (NKJV) 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need

What is True Light (1:5)

(1 John 1:5 NKJV) 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.

Verse 5 - This is the Message- The speaking God sends us a message today, for all to hear!

You Can Hear Him Right Now

John says, we've heard him. The word even literally says, ringing in the ear, the things heard just ringing our ears. They're so amazing. The things we saw was like a theater. And we beheld his glory as the only begotten of God and watched him walk on water, watched him multiply loaves and fresh, watched him be willing to touch the untouchable. And he's telling us we heard him. And I'm telling you, you can too. And God gives every last man, woman, young, adult, teen child, youth in this room today, the ability to hear what the spirit says. He says that over and over in the seven churches that represent the church as a whole represents individual. He who has an ear, let him hear. I'll give you the ability to hear. And every last one of us have to ask ourselves right here and right now, can I hear him? Am I prepared to hear him? Am I willing to hear him? Why let his truth ring through to my ears?

1 John 1:1 (NKJV) 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

Revelation 2:7 (NKJV) 7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

Because the promise has extended. Now it's up to man. He who has an ear to decide if he will here. And John says, we touched him. They had intimacy, they had relations. They could relax with Jesus. John could so relax with Jesus. He didn't have to be stiff. Wonder if he was gonna be received by him. He could rest his head on his bosom and hear the heartbeat of God. That's how close these this disciples were to Jesus. That's how inviting, that's how relaxing we can be around him. How about you, beloved? Can you relax around him? If you can't, why can't you? What is it? What if it's something of sin, he's gonna address it and set you free. If it's something of misunderstanding, his goodness is mercy and his love that's unchanging and endured forever, he'll bring that to clarity too. That's what light does. Takes away all the shadows, the doubts, the things we don't understand brings them, makes them very clear. I pray that you relax with Jesus today in this study and rest upon his chest and hear his heartbeat for you. And let the word of God do what it was designed to do, penetrate you, become part of you. You very being your very fiber.

The Characteristics of Light

God is a person, but He has characteristics similar to the properties of light... Light invigorates and illuminates. Light warms. Light drives out the darkness. Light produces color and beauty.

God is not like the light of the moon - a reflected light. God is like the light of the sun - a radiant light.

He’s the source for all love, and purity, and truth, and beauty. He doesn’t just abide by the standard. God is the standard. He sets the standard. God is light!

God is Light - No Darkness / Speaks of Holiness / The Definition of Holiness / Angels 24x7

God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. God is light, not a light; this light speaks of His "holiness". Holiness, what does that mean? Holiness is perfection, purity, the absence of anything impure, spotless perfection. God is Holy, so Holy that 24X7 before the throne of God the four living creatures bathe heaven proclaiming, Holy, Holy, Holy are you Lord God Almighty:

(Revelation 4:8 NKJV) The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,Who was and is and is to come!"

(Revelation 4:9 NKJV) Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

(Revelation 4:10 NKJV) the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

(Revelation 4:11 NKJV) "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."

Moses begged to See His Glory

I am reminded of when Moses wanted to see His glory. Moses begged to see his glory (to see the full glory of God), but he could not, God would not allow it.

(Exodus 33:18 NKJV) And he said, "Please, show me Your glory."

(Exodus 33:19 NKJV) Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

(Exodus 33:20 NKJV) But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live."

Moses couldn't See Face / For Moses Protection / God's Holiness will Consume - Our Sin

God did not allow it for Moses' sake, to protect Moses from being consumed. No one can see his face (come into His presence, before His glory) and live, his holiness (His Purity) will immediately consume anything impure that comes into His presence. Man's sin, our impurity, would immediately be consumed by God's Holiness, thus we would be consumed along with our sin, and no more of us. Every moral imperfection, every selfish motive, every unkind thought and unloving action, melts in His presence like lead in a smelting furnace. That is why God would not allow Moses to come into His presence:

(Habakkuk 1:13 NKJV) You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?

Moses in Cleft of Rock / Placed Hand / See His Back - not Full Glory

What did God do? God placed him in the cleft of the rock, and he placed his hand (literal pierced hand) over Moses' face, and then after he had passed Moses could see His back, but not His face (full glory).

(Exodus 33:21 NKJV) And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.

(Exodus 33:22 NKJV) "So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.

(Exodus 33:23 NKJV) "Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."

Gen 1:1 - God starts with Light / Light Broke Through - Light Sustains Life / Warmth & Illumination

It is no coincidence that the first "in the beginning" starts with God saying, "let there be light". Darkness covered the face of the earth, but the light broke through the darkness. It was only through the light that life could happen and be sustained. The light brought life, warmth, and the illumination to see; all things that God is:

(Genesis 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

(Genesis 1:2 NKJV) The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

(Genesis 1:3 NKJV) Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

(Genesis 1:4 NKJV) And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

(John 8:12 NKJV) 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."

Source of Life / Satan Diminishes Holiness / ALL Meet Here / Understand - or Miss

God is Holy, perfect and pure, He is the source of all life, God is Light. Since Satan in the garden, and many of men since, there has been a constant attempt and attack to diminish the brilliance of God's Light, His Holiness. God is "light". Whether it is by a heretic leading people to hell, or a person teaching errant doctrine, they all meet at the same place, and that is to diminish the "light" of God, all that He is. Precious people understand the deceiving spirit that is behind this; if you miss this then you will miss the rest of this book. This is not an evangelistic message, although its message is vital for the understanding of eternal life; but this message of God's Holiness needs to be refreshed in every believer’s heart, mind, and soul - it is paramount to our walk.

People all Kinds Interpretations / Their Understanding / Bring Down - Go Up / He Never Changes

People have come up with all kinds of beliefs, special knowledge, and special interpretations, to make God out to who they want Him to be, or a God that fits their understanding. Man often tries to bring God down to his own level, because the alternative is that man will have to rise up to God’s level. God never changes as we have studied, so he always will be light, and in him will never be darkness, so man has to rise up to His level:

(Malachi 3:6 NKJV) "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

(Hebrews 13:8 NKJV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Man Attacks

Man has and continues to have all kinds of attacks to diminish His light:

Evolution just says He never was, so He cant be light. The Gnostic said he was just a spirit, he wasn't flesh, so then that would mean He didn't feel anything on the cross. Today the DaVinci Code tries to make Him no different than us (the book says that Jesus married, had sexual relations, and had kids). So He was just a common man like the rest of us, except He was God at the same time. The DaVinci Code is nothing new, the "Big Man Upstairs" has been around forever. Mormonism or Jehovah Witnesses try to make Jesus to not even be God, just the sacrifice by God. Or that professing Christian who says that you can live in sin and do what you want, you will always be saved.

All Diminish Light - Holiness / Reduce that - Reduce Perfection / Lessens Severity of Sin

What all of them do, is diminish His Light, diminish His Holiness. Here is what happens when man reduces the Holiness of God, making Him less than perfect, less than pure, less than no darkness at all; all of them diminishes the severity of sin.

Diminishes Severity of Sin / Brighter - Darker / Dimmer / Sin no big Deal / Whatever you Want

The greater God's Holiness is, the greater our sin appears. The Brighter His Light is, the darker our sin is. The dimmer His Light, the dimmer our sin; and the dimmer sin is, then sin is really no big deal. When sin is really no big deal, then you can say and do whatever you want.

Diminish the Cross / Central Event / Holy One became Lamb / 6 Brutal Hrs

Diminish His Holiness, attack His deity, make Him out to be just an ordinary common God, and then you diminish His work on the cross. The cross is the central event in the history of the universe. The one who holds the universe together, the one who holds our breath in His palm; that God would leave His throne, become man, who would become the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29), the God would be mocked, spit upon, beaten in the face, have His back shredded by a whip, then be nailed to a cross and suffer for 6 hours that Friday outside of Jerusalem; then it wasn't that big of a deal, because my sin isn't that big of a deal

Diminish His Love / No Common God / No Common Day - Central Event

For me, for you, He is no common God, and that day was no common day, it was the central event of the universe, and it became the central event in our lives, we were changed forever. But you know what else happens when a person, saved or unsaved, diminishes His holiness (His Light), diminishes the offense of sin before a Holy and Awesome God? A person diminishes His love for them. Until you see how Holy (pure) that He is, then you will never see how dark sin is to Him, and you will never grasp the magnitude of a Holy God taking on your sin, and my sin. A person never sees what an act of love the cross was and is.

Diminishes His Power / The Debt of Love / Grasp Price - Naturally Respond with Love

As we will see later in chapter one, it also diminishes the power of God in a person's life. When a person grasps the price that was paid for them, for their sin, then their life will change, it has to, for that kind of love requires a response, not just a profession. That kind of love will leave a person with "The Debt of Love", and it will move them to want to draw nearer to the source of life, that source of love, a life that lives for Him.

Glory Came Down / Love only Understood Backdrop of Holiness

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, glory came down to show us the greatest love of all. That love can only be fully understood with the backdrop of His Holiness:

(John 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(John 1:2 NKJV) He was in the beginning with God…………………………..

(John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

God became Man – False Religions

How interesting to consider all the false religions, all the special knowledge of the world, all the twisting. But there's one thing that Satan has not been able to infiltrate with his lie. And that is none of the other pagan religions, false religions, does God become a man? And the significance of it, why it's so untouchable is because it is central. The sacrifice is God. You have been redeemed by the sacrifice of God himself, who felt and absorbed every blow and every pain, and hence can sympathize with your pain and suffering in the fallen world. It provides the means that we can be redeemed.

1 John 1:1 (NKJV) 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

John 1:14 (NKJV) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Eternal Life – Not Plural

How interesting to consider all the false religions, all the special knowledge of the world, all the twisting. Notice that it is eternal life, not lives plural. Because eternal life is one way, and only one way, only through Jesus Christ. I am the way, the truth and the life. So many will come and say, there's many ways to life. There's many ways to heaven. There's many ways to God, but that's a lie, and that's being dispelled here as well. Jesus Christ is eternal life, the word of life.

1 John 1:1–2 (NKJV) 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

John 14:6 (NKJV) 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Sin Less - Repent More / Grow Knowledge - See More Holiness / More Indebted

I find that the older I get, the less I sin, but the more I repent. For the more I grow in the knowledge of him the more I see his holiness, and the more I see my sinfulness before the holy God, the more indebted to Him I become. The more every thought, denial to my flesh, ministry is just a response to His Love.

Special Calling / Live up to Calling.

We have a special calling upon our lives, and God is calling us to live up to that calling:

(1 Peter 2:9 NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

(1 Peter 2:10 NKJV) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

(1 Peter 1:15 NKJV) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

(1 Peter 1:16 NKJV) because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

What is True Fellowship (1:6)

(1 John 1:6 NKJV) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

We Deceive Ourselves

Verse 6 – If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth - here it says if we say we have fellowship with Him and we walk in darkness then we lie and do not practice the truth. Who are we lying to? A lie is to mislead someone from the truth by withholding all or some of the information. Verse 8 clearly tells us, we are lying to ourselves, deceiving ourselves:

(1 John 1:8 NKJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Spiritual Photosynthesis

Here’s how we grow as Christians - we walk in His light. Plants grow by a process called “photosynthesis.” A plant has cells that absorb the light; then transform it into the energy it needs to process food and grow. And Christians grow by “a spiritual photosynthesis.” Our spirits absorb God’s light. The presence of Jesus in my life causes me to become more godly, and good, and loving, and kind, and pure - more Christlike. Simply Abide!

John 15:4 (NKJV) 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Walking in the Light

So we see again, the core, a central vein, on how to walk in the Light, is back to our opening verses, which tie themselves back to the early churches power, we read of in Acts, this is how we fellowship (share life, and the common interest with Him), the Word, Communion/Worship, Fellowship, and Prayer.

1 John 1:1–4 (NKJV)1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Acts 2:40–47 (NKJV)40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Worship

Worship, means “to, towards, until”, and that is the intent of worship to draw us to, towards the Lord our God, until we connect have intimacy and fellowship (oneness – sharing life) with Him. Worship means “away, from, into, about”, and the intent of worship is to draw me out of, away from, my self-interest, self-absorption, and I become all “about” Him and His desires. The Word is a form of worship, as singing has become the definition of worship, but the Word is worship as well as it draws us to, towards, Him until we connect to His heart.

1 Chronicles 16:8–11 (NKJV)8 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 10 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! 11 Seek the Lordand His strength; Seek His face evermore!

1 Chronicles 16:23–25 (NKJV)23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 24 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. 25 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods.

1 Chronicles 16:29 (NKJV)29 Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!

Sharing His Interest

Lord I am ever so thankful that you are interested in me, and my things; but what are You interested in, where are you moving and working, and how can I have a mutual sharing of the things that interest You.

Lord what breaks Your heart? As John said “we saw Him and heard Him” therefore we know what broke His heart, by looking at what broke His heart.

Jesus wept:

Luke 19:41 (NKJV) 41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,

John 11:34–36 (NKJV) 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

Luke 22:44 (NKJV) 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Revelation 8:1–2 (NKJV) 1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

Jesus wept when, when it was about people, and when it was about being separated from the Father (the breaking of fellowship between He and the Father when He would go to the cross and be separated as He bore my sin and your sin).

What and where is Jesus involved, what moves His heart…..people!

Matthew 25:37–40 (NKJV) 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take Youin, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Sheep without a Shepherd, and He teaches and comforts them.

Mark 6:34 (NKJV) 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

Last study we talked of where fullness of joy may be found, and that is in His presence. Interestingly Paul speaks of the joy and glory, of bringing people into the presence of the Lord:

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 (NKJV) 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

The Need for Close Fellowship

Although 1,700 Levites served the ten tribes on the west side of the Jordan, 2,700 were needed to serve the two and one-half tribes on the east side because the two and one-half tribes were more susceptible to the pagan culture that surrounded them. That’s always the way it is. The closer we are to the center of God’s will, the more tightly we are in fellowship with His people, the more we are protected from the enemy that seeks to trip us up in our walk with Him.

1 Chronicles 26:30–32 (NKJV)30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, one thousand seven hundred able men, had the oversight of Israel on the west side of the Jordan for all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king. 31 Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was head of the Hebronites according to his genealogy of the fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought, and there were found among them capable men at Jazer of Gilead. 32And his brethren were two thousand seven hundred able men, heads of fathers’ houses,whom King David made officials over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.

What is True Cleansing (1:7)

(1 John 1:7 NKJV) 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.

Writes so we Walk in Light - No Grey / We are Sinners - Until last Breath

John is writing to us so that we will walk in the light for He is the light, and therefore there is no gray area, for there is no gray area in Him, nor does God want there to be any gray area in our lives. Now there will always be sin in the life of the Christian, there will always be the battle between the spirit in the flesh, that battle will continue until we take our last breath here on earth, but that is not what is being said here.

To Walk - Continual Action / A Way of Life - Habitual

Verse 7 - But if we walk in the light as He is in the light - It says we are to walk in the light, not walk in darkness. Walking is a continual action; it is part of our daily life. We walk every day, we walk to the bathroom, we walk to the kitchen, we walked to our cars, and everywhere we go we walk because it is a part of our life. That is what is spoken of here for those who walk in darkness, it is a way of life, it is a continual way a life, it is part of their daily life. It is a lifestyle of sin, habitual sin, and unrepentant sin.

People Justify

People can justify it and say we are saving money, it’s a matter of convenience, it’s only temporary, it’s a family disease, I am a victim, I am in the addict, all kinds of reasons that we can justify, but God calls all those things a lifestyle of darkness.

Jesus Showed us How

Jesus walked in the light when He walked this earth, and he shows every Christian how they you are to walk in the light. Jesus came to show us the way (John 14:6) When someone says to me, it is "once saved always saved", my mind immediately wonders what gray area they are living in.

It is not just what Jesus did, where He walked, where He went, what He said…… but equally so what He did not do, where He did not go, and what He did not say. We know what is light and dark, we know how to walk by watching (in the Gospels) where He walked, and where He did not walk!

We - John Tests Self / 100yrs Old Still Examines

Verse 6 - If we say - do you notice of the "we" here? John takes this test just like he is asking us to take this test. He’s been walking with the Lord now for 60 to 70 years, three years of walking with him side by side, he saw the revelation of Jesus Christ there on the island Patmos, yet here he is 100 years old still examining himself. It is an example for us to examine our self daily.

Cleanses - Assurance / Light - Revealing to Conform / Phil 1:6

Verse 7 and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. - These words here "cleanses us from all sin" are written for us for our assurance; if we are walking in the light, allowing His light to reveal things and conform us into His image, then we have assurance that we are His. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it:

(Philippians 1:5 NKJV) for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

(Philippians 1:6 NKJV) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

From All Sin / What Terrible Sin Past / Watch the Blood Cleanse

Verse 7 and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin: What terrible thing is in your past? The Word says the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin! Let you mind watch as the blood of the Lamb washes it away; it is gone and forgotten, no matter how bleak, no matter how black, washed away. What a glorious thing is the power of the blood.

No Assurance when in Darkness / You're Never Sure

But the Spirit makes the point to all; there is no assurance when you’re walking in darkness. You can never be sure of your salvation, you can never be sure of your relationship with the Lord. You can never know that you know when you walk in darkness.

Walking in Dark Room / Feeling Your Way / Same thing / Word Lights Path

Remember walking into a dark room, the light is out or the switch is on the other side of the room, or walking down dark hall in the middle of the night; you kinda just feel your way through the room. You know you put your hand out on the wall and you are feelings for the wall, you think to yourself, this feels right, I think I’m going in the right direction, even though I cannot see, it feels like I’m going in the right direction. That is what happens when people walk in darkness, it is all feeling, it is all emotion, it just feels right therefore I must be going in the right way. Christian do it God’s way, walking in the light, and you can be a sure that you are going in the right direction:

(Psalms 119:105 NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Cleanses Us - Verb Tense / Continual Light - Continual Cleansing / Freedom - Spring

Verse 7 and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin - Cleanses us – the verb tense here means a continual cleansing. Now Believer follow this through, walking in the light, brings cleansing from the Lord. That cleansing comes from the Son and His work on the cross, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Walking in the light releases the power of God in our lives because the more light, the more cleansing, and the more cleansing means the freer we are to enjoy our fellowship with Him and other brethren. For in His presence is fullness of joy. It is like those spring days after the long winter, you know the ones. You walk outside after a light rain, the sun is shining through, the air is so fresh you can taste it, your nose is breathing in all the new blossoms, everything just feels fresh, you breathe in fresh air, everything around you just looks and feels clean………..

Life Seem Bleak / Maybe Allowing Darkness In

But Christian does your life seemed bleak, gray, is it lacking joy, is it lacking power? Maybe you do not have a lifestyle of sin, maybe you are not living in a continual state of darkness, but maybe you are allowing darkness into your life by the things you watch or the things you think. Christian, walk in the light so that you may be cleansed of these things.

Cathode / Cleansing out Poison / Lust-Anger - Don't Justify - Got to Go / God will Cleanse

From this Greek word for "cleanse" is where we get the medical word "catheter" we use it today to cleanse a body of poison. Lust, anger, bitterness, confess all these things, agree that they have got to go, don’t justify them in your life, and God over time will cleanse those poisons from your body, and you will be experiencing greater joy, greater freedom in your life.

Fear of God - Beginning of Wisdom / Wisest Thing - Hate Sin

Psalms says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and that we should hate sin. The wisest thing you can do is to hate sin, for it brings darkness upon our lives:

(Psalms 111:10 NKJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

(Psalms 112:1 NKJV) Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

Sin Separates from the Father / Jesus Terrified to be Separated / Have Same Mind

Sin separates us from the father, how terrified was Jesus to be separated from his Father, our heavenly Father? So much so that on that night He sweat drops of blood over the thought of been separated from His Father. This is the heart and mind that each and every Christian must and should have, the fear of being separated from our Father. It was six long hours for Jesus, we can say just six hours? But what it happened during those six hours on that Friday? The world became dark, darkness surrounded the world. So too is it with us when we enter into sin, the darkness surrounds us, our world becomes bleak.

(Matthew 27:45 NKJV) Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.

(Matthew 27:46 NKJV) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Examine Self / Figure it Out / Don't Rob Self

If you are living in a lifestyle of sin, you need to examine yourself, and figure out am I just struggling, blowing it, I'm a new Christian, yet overtime God will cleanse these things from my being. He who began a good work………………. Or do I really know Him. In either case you are totally robbing yourself, He has so much better for you. The means for cleansing is there, let it flow and enjoy the freedom that comes with it.

You Can Be Completely Cleansed Today

He has the ability to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, all things that are unholy and unright with the relationship between you and him. And that's what's being offered to you right now, literally, that you can leave here totally and completely cleansed and washed anew

What is True Deception (1:8)

(1 John 1:8 NKJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Sin Singular - Sin Nature / 82yr Old Woman

Verse 8 – sin singular. In the Scripture when you see the word sin in singular form it speaks of sin nature. People who say they have no sin nature are deceiving them self. It is the ultimate in pride and self-righteousness. I once met an 82-year-old lady who said she had never sinned, ever. I looked at her Cadillac and a rock on the ground and thought to myself, I bet I can make her sin right now.

All Sin / Sin Nature - Locked & Loaded

Now we all sin, anybody that thinks you will quit sinning once you give your life to Christ is out of their mind. The sin nature is locked and loaded in us, it is ready to go off at any moment. Sometimes we wonder were did that come from.

Preacher & Lawn Mower

A preacher was making his rounds to his parishioners on a bicycle, when he came upon a little boy trying to sell a lawn mower. "How much do you want for the mower?" asked the preacher. "I just want enough money to go out and buy me a bicycle", said the little boy. After a moment of consideration, the preacher asked, "Will you take my bike in trade for it?" The little boy asked if he could try it out first, and after riding the bike around a little while said, "Mister, you've got yourself a deal." The preacher took the mower and began to try to crank it. He pulled on the string a few times with no response from the mower. The preacher called the little boy over and said, "I can't get this mower to start." The little boy said, "That's because you have to cuss at it to get it started." The preacher said, "I am a minister, and I cannot cuss. It has been so long since I have been saved that I do not even remember how to cuss." The little boy looked at him happily and said, "Just keep pulling on that string. It'll come back to ya!"

What is True Confession (1:9)

(1 John 1:9 NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God Affirms we Still Sin / But says Come to Me

God here affirms that we will still sin, we will still blow it, but He will be there, He doesn't give up on us. But when we do sin, He says come and confess it to me.

Not Bondage Verse - Not Every Sin / God wants to Help Us / Cleanse Us

Lets point out first, this is not a verse of bondage, that we have to remember and confess every thought, and every action for that day, and confess it to God otherwise we will be separated from him. No, God wants us to bring sins that are dogging us to Him, so that He can start working them out of us. Cleansing the poison form our bodies.

Wait a Minute / 1 Drop - Not Remember - No Fishing / Why Confess

Wait a minute you might say, I thought you said one drop of the precious blood of Jesus Christ is enough power to wash away all of our sins past, present, and future. You said that Jesus said I will remember their sin no more, and that God takes our sin and He throws it into the deepest ocean and then he puts a sign up that says no fishing. So them why do we confess our sin if it has been blotted out from his memory.

Forgiveness 2 Fold / Vert - Hort / Vert as a Child / Adopted / Holiness - Covered by Son

The forgiveness of sin is twofold, the horizontal and the vertical. The vertical (up and down) is our relationship with him as His children, as His children, nothing will separate us from being His children once we accept him as our Savior. He is Lord and Savior; Savior makes him our Father forever. Once we have been adopted into the family, we are in the family. Before God looked at us and saw our sin, and because of His holiness we could not come before Him; but once we receive Jesus, God no longer sees our sin, for it has been covered over by the blood of the Son.

Hort - Lord & King / Husband & Wife / Sin brings Tension / Sweet Fellowship

Our horizontal relationship makes him our Lord, the master and King of our life. In the horizontal (side to side) relationship it is the same as a relationship that we have together as a husband and wife, as a child and a parent. If someone has been wronged, if someone has done something to offend the other, then there will be a stress and tension in the relationship until that wrong has been worked through. So too it is with God and us. Now my wife and me may get into an argument, she is still my wife - always will be, but there is tension in the relationship. The problem between us separates us from that sweet fellowship, that oneness. Remember our last study, God wants to be your friend. Trample on Him, and we put tension and stress in our relationship.

Confess - Agree With

This word here for confess means "to agree with, to say the same thing", it is saying I agree that what I have done it is wrong. Your word says not to do this, yet I knowingly went against your word, Father I agree with you that what I have done is wrong.

Christian Bar of Soap / Sweet Fellowship - Nothing Hanging Over

This passage has been called the Christian bar of soap, for once I confess, agree that I have done wrong, then He cleanses me, and we come into that sweet fellowship again, the tension has been cleared away. Once that has been resolved, there is nothing hanging over us, I can now just come and have that sweet fellowship with the Lord. That is the way it is with our relationships with one another. Once the disagreement has been resolved then we enter into that sweet fellowship again.

(Amos 3:3 NKJV) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

People in Darkness - Devotion / Lord Constantly Saying - What about This

People who live in lifestyle darkness and they tell me that they pray and read the word every day. I have to greatly question the depth and intimacy of their time with the Lord. Because it is contrary to the principal we have just discussed. They deceive themselves, they cannot continue in a lifestyle of darkness and have sweet uninterrupted fellowship with the Lord. Because the Lord will always be saying to them, "what about this we are not in agreement about this, you were still my child, I still love you, the blood still cleanses you, our vertical relationship is still there, but there is tension in our relationship".

Feel bad - Spirit Upon You / Correct & Fix / Finger Upon - Before Hurt Bad

Christian you know the only reason you feel so bad is because the Spirit of God is upon you, praise Him for that, it is because He wants to correct this tension in the horizontal relationship, he wants to restore that sweet intimacy with him, and the reason He is putting His finger on that certain sin is because He wants to rid from our lives before it hurts us, or hurts us more.

App for That

So is your sin and guilt getting the better of you?

Well, now "There’s an app for that." CBS News reports (February 9, 2011) a new application for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch called the "Confession Booth app. All you do is confess to your iPhone! It sells for $1.99 and is described as the "perfect aid for the penitent." The program let users compile list of their sins. Users get taken through the Ten Commandments, with questions attached to each. The app displays the sins along with a written act of contrition for the penitent.

I am not making this up!

Vert - Hort - The Cross / Only Way

The vertical (up and down) and the horizontal (side to side) makes the cross; and it is only through the cross can man have this relationship with God.

Hs is Faithful One / Never Changing

Verse 9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness - Notice there in Verse 9, He is the faithful one; it is God, not us. In the beginning God…………., we can take comfort in that He will never change, He will always be the faithful one, not us. That is our salvation, for salvation is by grace, not of works:

(Ephesians 2:8 NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

(Ephesians 2:9 NKJV) not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The Struggle / Not Habitual - Transforming / He will be Faithful

Yes we will struggle; ohh I do good, then I blow it, start doing good again and then I blow it, I'm trying but I still blow it here and there. That is not habitual sin, that is called being transformed and conformed into His image. You keep agreeing, and He will keep cleansing, because he is the faithful One, and he will be faithful to complete the work He has begun in you:

(Philippians 1:5 NKJV) for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

(Philippians 1:6 NKJV) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Penalty of Sin

Why does the devil tempt you? Obviously to draw you away from the Lord. But, rarely do we think it beyond why he tempts us. The story of the king of the Moab hiring Balaam tells us much.

Three times Balaam is used in Scripture as an example of what not to be. In 2 Peter 2:15, he’s mentioned as one who loved the wages of unrighteousness. That is, he was a man given to coveting. In Jude 11, we read of the error of Balaam—his misunderstanding, because he failed to factor the Cross into the equation, that God wanted to curse His people for their rebelliousness. The third time he is mentioned is with regard to the doctrine of Balaam, which is compromise. In Revelation 2, Jesus brings up his name in connection with the stumbling block he placed in Israel’s path. Numbers 31 tells us that, knowing he couldn’t curse God’s people, Balaam told Balak he could get them to bring a curse on themselves by having his women seduce the Jewish men, incorporating idol worship in their seduction. (Courson)

Numbers 22:4–6 (NKJV) 4 So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! 6 Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Numbers 31:15–16 (NKJV) 15 And Moses said to them: “Have you kept all the women alive? 16 Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

In the end, Balaam knew this, that if God’s Children enter into sin and unrighteousness, like any good father, He would discipline them. So we see, a tactic of the enemy, as he would tempt and entice, he knows that if we partake and engage, God would have to discipline, and that discipline will stump and stifle blessings that were intended.

1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV) 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

What is True Word (1:10)

(1 John 1:10 NKJV) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Truth

Truth is Freedom

John 8:32 (NKJV) 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:36 (NKJV) 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

God is Light

Our Personal Genesis

In our passage today, we see our own personal Genesis, our own personal creation, our own personal new beginning. As our lives were without form and meeting, yet the spirit of God was hovering upon us and God said, and he spoke a world, a creation into existence. And God said, let there be light. And there was light in our life for no man, apart from the move of the Spirit of God, could and would ever understand what true light was, apart from the supernatural, divine revelation of God himself.

And then to make it manifest and make it known, to make it tangible, to make it real. That light became life in the life of Jesus Christ and walked among us. As we look at his life, we see light, we see perfection, we see beauty, we see holiness. And thus every one of us have our own creation, our new beginning, our own, let there be light. And so it was

Genesis 1:1–5 (NKJV) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

1 John 1:2 (NKJV) 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

Conclusion:

Outline 1 John 1:5-10