1 John 1:1-2:2

Love is…WK1- Love is Light

1 John 1:1–2:2 NRSV

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

—> One of the worst things I’ve discovered about getting older is that you have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

—> and the worst part about getting up to go to the bathroom is that its dark.

—> and the worst part about it being dark is that you can’t see the things that are in your way.

—> the dark can be a rough place

—> it can be scary or spooky

—> It can make us feel alone

—> it can make us feel hopeless

—> It seems to me like the devil does some of his best work in the dark and that’s where he wants to keep us. In the dark…

—> not literally but spiritually

—> because its either/or and not both/and when it comes to darkness and light

—> 1 John 1:5-6

1 John 1:5–6 NRSV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;

—> so what is this darkness that John is talking about. Verse 7 tells us its sin.

1 John 1:7 NRSV

but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

—> our sin is what keeps us in the dark separating us from the light. Because the light isn’t a who or a what but a where.

—> the light is God’s presence

—> John is telling these early Christians to walk in the light! To be close to God and to do that they need to get rid of the sin in their lives.

1 John 1:8–2:2 NRSV

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

—> How do we get rid of the sin in our lives?

—> Acknowledge we have sin - verse 8

—> Confess our sin - verse 9

—> The hope is that by cleaning the slate and walking in the light, we will ultimately be less likely to sin.

—> But God knows that we aren’t yet perfect and that we all still make mistakes and missteps. That’s why John writes…

1 John 2:1–2 NRSV

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

—> last week we celebrated and rejoiced on Easter Sunday this very fact. That Jesus went to the cross and died for us. His death paid the price for what we never could and his resurrection gave us the power over sin, death, and the grave so that we are no longer prisoners to our fear, our hurt, our shame, or anything else that would keep us in the dark.

—> And not just for us, some elect group of people but for anyone who would call on the name of Jesus… “and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”