The Best Way to Start a New Year

Living in the Light

1 John 1:5

1 John 1:5 NIV84

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

God’s presence is pure undimmed light

1 John 1:6

1 John 1:6 NIV84

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

We step out of God’s light and into the darkness when we practice anything but the TRUTH

The problem is we can’t have partial fellowship with God.

1 John 1:7

1 John 1:7 NIV84

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.

The answer to that problem is simply to walk back into the light.

We do that by confessing our sins

The blood of Jesus has already covered that sin all we need to do is acknowledge it.

As an added perk we then are coming beside other believers who help us through the struggles and celebrate with us the joys of walking in God’s light.

Face the facts: Sin was, is and will always be a struggle in our lives.

1 John 1:8

1 John 1:8 NIV84

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Rather than deny our sin or make excuses why sin is not a sin, just admit it and move forward. I we don’t then we are not living in the truth and walking out of God’s presence(the light)

1 John 1:8

1 John 1:8 NIV84

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

We are in a society that works extra hard at never being wrong and never admitting we have sinned. When it should be so much easier to confess our sins, shortcomings, problems and claim the FREE GIFT of GRACE which Jesus hold out to us to cleanse us from it all.

1 John 1:9

1 John 1:9 NIV84

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

When we deny we have sinned or downplay what GOD’S WORD has labeled a sin into just a suggestion or re categorize sins based on current social trends, we have turned God’s tables around and are now calling HIM a liar.

That was what happened with the first sin in the Bible: In Genesis 3:1-5; Satan, the Fathers of Lies convinced Eve that God was only speaking 1/2 truths. God doesn’t do anything 1/2 way.

Sin is only a problem if we leave Christ out of it.

1 John 2:1

1 John 2:1 NIV84

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

The New Pilgrim Bible 1 John 2

An advocate is one who is called to help another; one who pleads the cause of another, as a lawyer may do in court. Because Jesus Christ made atonement (see Exodus 29:33 note, “Atonement”) for all sin on the cross of Calvary, He has the right to act as Advocate in the presence of God for any person who commits sin after he has received the Lord as Saviour. The same word which is translated “advocate” in this passage is used in John 14:16–17, 26; 15:26; 16:7, and is there translated “Comforter.” The Holy Spirit is our Helper on earth, while Jesus is our Helper in heaven.

1 John 2:2

1 John 2:2 NIV84

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Along with that there is NOBODY and NO SIN beyond Christ’s reach.

There is a standard(benchmark) that is the same for everyone.

1 John 2:3

1 John 2:3 NIV84

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.

Obedience to the commandments is the benchmark.

They were literally cut in stone and can be read in Exodus 20.

If you want a more expanded version then read Exodus-Leviticus.

Jesus gives us the condensed version in Matthew 22:36-40

Matthew 22:36–40 NIV84

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

1 John 2:4

1 John 2:4 NIV84

The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

We often wish or like to pretend that God lives in the “gray” but he only lives in the LIGHT. We were told above NO DARKNESS IS IN HIM. So when we live outside the commandments, we live outside of the truth, which is outside of the light and outside of God’s presence.

1 John 2:5

1 John 2:5 NIV84

But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:

OBEDIENCE to GOD leads us to GOD’s TRUTH. GOD’S TRUTH leads us to GOD’S LIGHT. GOD’S LIGHT leads us to GOD’S LOVE. GOD’S LOVE makes us the complete person HE wants us to be.

1 John 2:6

1 John 2:6 NIV84

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Follow these truths and we can walk with Jesus this coming year.

Understand that God is the only source of Pure Light, Pure Truth and Pure Love.

Admit that we have sinned. Admit when we do Sin. Accept the fact that we will sin.

Rather than find excuses for sin, confess it and let Christ take care of cleansing it from you.

Accept HIS forgiveness, forgive those who have sinned against you, go forward trying to live in truth not in sin. Understanding that when sin enters in, Jesus is just a confession away.

WALK WITH JESUS DOWN THE ROAD AHEAD>>>>>>>