8. Walking in Darkness vs Walking in Light p1

Walking in Darkness vs Walking in Light p1

Last month we finished verse 5. There were 3 Pts made: the Centrality of the Message, the message proclaimed, and the message explained. Verse 5 stands as the thesis statement of the letter. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. There were three truths drawn from this statement: 1) Light refers to God’s holiness. In Him there is no sin, no temptation to sin; He is absolute purity and perfection. It is the attribute of God that clothes all other attributes. 2) God is light refers to all that God says and does is absolute truth. It is holy truth. 3) God is light refers to God’s revelation. We only must look to the beginning of verse 5 to see, ‘what we have received from Him’, Jesus. Jesus is the exact representation of His nature, the image of the invisible God. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit continuing the ministry of Christ on the earth inspired the writers of the Old and New Testament, so our Scripture is not the words of men but of God Himself. The Scriptures are authoritative over the church, not the church over the Scripture. The Word of God cannot be changed, abrogated, or re-interpreted by anyone let alone someone who claims to be the vicar of Christ on the earth.

2Pe 1:20-21  knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.  (21)  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

We have seen John establish the incarnation and the deity of Christ and now he has established that God, His Word, His revelation is the benchmark of truth. Any deviation from it is error and to proclaim and teach contrary to His Word and Revelation is heresy.

1Jn 1:5-2:11 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say we have fellowship with him while we 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 his Son cleanses us from all sin. (8) If we say 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 we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (2:1) 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.  (2)  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.  (3)  And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,  (5)  but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:  (6)  whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.  (7)  Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.  (8)  At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.  (9)  Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.  (10)  Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.  (11)  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

I. General Observations

General Observation #1

You will notice in the reading that John uses two phrases three times each.

1. “if we say” in verses 6, 8, 10

2. “Whoever says” in verses 2:4,6,9

In the first set John uses the first-person plural pronoun ‘we’ to be all inclusive leaving no one out. So, if in the future he or some other church leader fall into any of these statements the conclusion that follows applies. The word ‘if’ shows that these are hypothetical in nature. He isn’t saying that he or anyone in the church has said them but if they do his conclusions apply.

1Jn_1:6  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1Jn_1:8  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn_1:10  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

John attacks the heresy with the truth in the immediate verses that follow. 7, 9, and 2:1-3. Why is it heresy? Because it contradicts what God’s word explicitly teaches.

The second phrase ‘Whoever says’ denotes anyone without exception. It moves from hypothetical to actual.

1Jn 2:4  Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

1Jn 2:6  whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1Jn 2:9  Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

General Observation #2

You see the contrast of light versus darkness, truth versus the lie, obedience versus disobedience, love verses hate, false fellowship versus true fellowship.

The title of our sermon this morning is False Fellowship versus True Fellowship. Verses 6 and 7, “ If we say we have fellowship with him while we 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 his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

This morning we only get to the negative and not the positive. Point 1 is a positive assertion. Point 2 is a practical Denial.

I. There is a positive Assertion – we have fellowship with Him

If the letter is all about assurance of salvation, why does John mention fellowship? This verse is actually debated a good bit between two interpretations by commentators. The division is between those who feel that what John is saying does not relate to tests of one's salvation but relates to "tests" of fellowship in the sense of one's daily communion with God. In other words, the first group says that John is not describing criteria by which one can discriminate between professors of Christ and possessors of Christ, those who really do know Him and are truly born again and thus can be assured of their salvation (1Jn 5:13). The second, far more common (and older) interpretative position is that John is describing the difference in behavior of those who claim to be Christians (what they say) and those who are genuine followers of Christ (how they live). The proper interpretation is that John is describing the difference between false professors and true believers and is easily seen within the context of the letter. We see in these verses. You cannot be in Christ and be unrepentantly walking in darkness. You cannot be in Christ and not be cleansed by the blood of Jesus of our sin. We cannot be in Christ and not have His word in us.

Jer 31:33  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

You cannot be in Christ and hate your brother or sister. 1Jn 3:15  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

You cannot be in Christ without the Holy Spirit abiding in us. 1Jn 3:24  Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

What is Biblical fellowship? It means having a commonality in convictions and practice. There is a relational closeness and shared affection. It is communion, it is participating and sharing in Christian works. Fellowship with God in being in communion with Him. It is loving what He loves, hating what He hates. You mean God hates? Yes, He does. Proverbs 6:16-19 list 7 things the Lord hates and it is not an exhaustive list. To love what He loves and love how He loves we are to look to Christ. Eph 5:1-2  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  (2)  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Agreeing and submitting to His authoritative Word in doctrine and practice. It is pursuing Him in His word and in prayer. That brothers and sisters can only happen to a heart that has been washed, renewed, and regenerated by the Spirit of God being saved by His grace through faith which is not of ourselves being washed clean of all of our sins by His blood.

Tit 3:4-6  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  (5)  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  (6)  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Eph 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  (9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Without it Rom 8:7-8  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.  (8)  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

There is not only a lack of will to submit to the Law of God, there is a lack of ability to submit to the law of God. And we see from this verse that is hostile. It is not benign or neutral it is hostile. There is animosity and enmity to the Lord and the things of the Lord.

We see there was a positive assertion, but we see now there is not the practice to back up the assertion. There will always be positive fruit from a true salvation. Jas 2:18-19  But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  (19)  You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

A profession of faith without the accompanying credentials of walking in the light as He is in the light means nothing.

Ex: US Marshalls at the church.

II. A Practical Denial – While we walk in darkness

The verb walk is a present active verb. It is a continuous forward action without hesitation or pause on a specific path or to a specific destination. In the present context it is in the moral/ethical direction of one’s life. To walk in darkness, is to have it the central focus of your life. It means to be in the dominion and control of sin and Satan.

Act 26:18  to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Eph 2:1-2  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  (2)  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

To walk in darkness is to love evil.

Joh 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. And evil works flow from an evil heart.

And to fulfill all the lusts of the heart. Eph 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

To walk in darkness is be set actively against the people of God.

2Th 1:6-8  since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,  (7)  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels  (8)  in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Persecution comes not only from outside the church but from within. Paul told the Ephesian elders in Act 20:29-30  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;  (30)  and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

It is to love the world and the things of the world. 1 John 2:15, hate your brother 1 John 2:11,

To walk in darkness is completely antithetical to the God who is light and in Him is not darkness at all. There is no fellowship with God for the false professor. Many people sit in congregations having been sprinkled as an infant or baptized as a child with no more place in Christ than the unrepentant murderer on death row. 2Ti 3:5  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

False professors lie about their fellowship with God. Why? To be used to disrupt the brethren. This letter is to counter the disruption false believers had with in the church. Again Paul calls them wolves from among the flock. Jude says Jud 1:4  For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Application: What is your relationship to sin? Are you walking in darkness while professing to love Christ? Do you willfully reject the Word of God and it’s authority in every part of your life? Do you hate a brother or sister and are content in that without going to reconcile? Consider lest you come to the end of your days and find that you have run the race in vain. Husbands, wives, children are you content in an unbiblical relationship or is it your desire to honor God in your marriages, and by honoring your parents whom God has established over you? Are your studying the peace and the purity of the church and seeking to build up and edify it with the gifts the Lord has given you. Or do you disregard and count as nothing the church which the Lord has established and purchased with His own blood rather to pursue your own ends?

This is why this church evaluates visitors and brings them through the confession before admission into the fellowship. The fruit of faith must be seen in an active relationship to Christ as evidenced in keeping his commands. How many churches are more tares than wheat?

May God grant us grace to judge ourselves rightly before Him lest we be judged as false professors by Him.