Living in the Light

1 John was written to a troubled church

1 John was written:

after the Gospel of John

during a time of trouble and division

to mature well established Christian churches

There was an attack on the truth of the Gospel

We receive and maintain fellowship only through the Gospel

1 John 1:1–4 NIV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

John 15:9–11 NIV

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

We must walk in the light

1 John 1:5–7 NIV

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 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.

John 12:46 NIV

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

1 John 2:11 NIV

But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

We always have a path back into the light

1 John 1:8–10 NIV

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

What does it all mean?

light = fellowship

darkness = sin/world

fellowship = security

Conclusion

Do you understand the importance of fellowship?

Do you understand the importance of holiness in fellowship?

Do you need to return to the light?