1 John 1:5-2:2: Walking in the Light

Introduction

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/11/1043363760/thailand-cave-rescue-documentary-film -

Imagine what it’s like to be trapped in complete darkness, and then imagine the joy when the light finally breaks through and you can finally see you’re way out of the darkness.

Some of us feel stuck in the dark - unsure about how to move forward. Unsure if God cares for you or loves you. Unsure of your standing before Him. Scary part: Some of us don’t even realize how deep in the dark we really are.

1 John 1:5 - Good news! God is light. The darkness can trap you but the light can set you free. There is light. Light to rescue you. Light to give you clarity, confidence and freedom.

Are you walking in the light or in the darkness?

In 1 John, John answering the question, “How can you know that you are saved?” (1 John 5:13) This is the most significant question you can answer in your life.

How you deal with sin in your life says a lot whether you’re truly walking with Jesus or not.

How do you treat sin? Do you embrace it in your life? Do you ignore it? Do you hide it? Do you love it? Or, do you flee from it? Do you fight it? Do you confess it? How you deal with sin says a lot about your relationship with God, or your lack thereof.

This is an important passage because it helps us to know if we are walking in the light or the darkness. Three ways you can know you are walking in the light.

If you walk in the light you will not stay in sin.

vs. 5 - John already explained that Jesus is the eternal Word of God who gives life. Now, John explains that God is light. Light/darkness used often as metaphor in Scripture, and context determines how the metaphor is used. Jesus says we are the light of the world referring to our witness (Matt. 5:14) Luke calls Jesus the light to the Gentiles - He is the revelation of God to the Gentiles.

In this context, light refers to moral purity while darkness refers to absolute moral impurity or sin. There is absolutely no sin or moral impurity in God. He is perfect. God is light speaks to His character.

God is light - in Him our eyes are illuminated - we can see what is good and right. He exposes the darkness, what is evil. God is light - if we follow Him, He will lead us out of darkness.

If we say we have fellowship with God… Likely the false teachers claimed fellowship with God even though they had a distorted view of who Jesus was. They were in darkness.

To have fellowship with God is to have your identity changed - you believe the truth about God and you practice His truth. Being a follower of Jesus is to have your heart awakened to the truth in such a way that you turn from your sin and turn to Jesus by faith. To walk in the light is to pursue holiness.

Big statement: if you claim fellowship with God, yet walk in the darkness, you are a liar. You’re lying about your relationship with God. You don’t really have fellowship with God if you’re identifying with the sinful patterns of the world. You can’t at the same time claim allegiance to God while giving your allegiance to the sinful patterns of this world. Just like I can’t claim allegiance to my wife while at the same time live with another woman.

If you walk in the light, you will not stay in sin. You may STRUGGLE with sin, but you won’t continually EMBRACE sin as a lifestyle.

vs. 7 - Two results of walking in the light: 1. You have fellowship with other believers. To walk in darkness = constant turmoil in your relationships. To walk in the light = reconciliation in your relationships as we pursue God’s mission in unity.

2. You have the assurance that Jesus has cleansed you from all your sins. The light has shown you who you are and what you need - a relationship with Jesus.

Cleanse = present tense - or continual action. Every time you fall back into sin, you can run to Jesus who always forgives. Your sin is continually covered by the blood of Jesus. (Think of ritual cleanings in Judaism - continual reminder of dirty. Sin soils you - Jesus cleanses you of the guilt and shame.)

It’s a simple argument - if you walk in the light you will not stay (fellowship) in sin.

As a follower of Jesus here’s what you know:

You will not embrace sin as a lifestyle. Embracing sin as a lifestyle is to habitually and defiantly follow your sinful desires want instead of following God. When you embrace sin as a lifestyle, there’s no repentance, no sorrow over sin. You turn away from God rather than turn to God. You resist God. You don’t listen to His Word. You excuse sin and justify yourself. You might claim fellowship with God BUT the reality is your fellowship lies with the world.

You will struggle with sin. You will not be sinless in this life. BUT, you will struggle with sin. Struggling with sin is far different than embracing sin as a lifestyle. Followers of Jesus who struggle with sin acknowledge their sin, are convicted, repent, grieve their sin, and seek the Spirit’s help to overcome. People who struggle with sin want help and accountability. Struggling with sin is actually a sign of spiritual life - because you’re willing to go to war and fight the sin in your life (Romans 8:13).

Have you embraced sin as a lifestyle? If so, could be a sign that you do not have fellowship with God. If you are struggling with sin, keep fighting. Keep asking God for help. Your willingness to fight is evidence of your spiritual growth. Your unwillingness to fight calls into question whether you know God or not.

What’s your attitude: “God, I’m not changing?” Or, “God, please change me?”

Outlet - repulsive - you can tell by looking at it that there’s nothing there… I wish sin looked this way… We’d stay away… Sin is much more deceptive… It looks like Tanger… It takes everything you have…

If you walk in the light you will not deny your sin.

Apparently, the false teachers that were polluting the church practiced fellowship with the dark while claiming they were sinless (vs. 7).

Real simple: if you say you have no sin you are a liar and you are deceiving yourself. What keeps people from Jesus is an unwillingness to admit their problem. No one wants to say, “I’m a bad person…” We often say things like, “He’s a really good person.” We even say that about people who don’t know Jesus. If a man loves his wife, loves his kids, works hard, and is kind, we’ll say, “He’s a good man.” However, that’s not how the Bible describes us. Jesus said to the rich young ruler, there’s only One that’s good (Mark 10:17:22). Paul, quoting from Psalm, said there is none good, not even one (Romans 3:10).

We know we have sin. We know our guilt, and we know we deserve death.

Light exposes darkness - when you see God for who He is, you can’t help but see who you are. When you see what God desires for His people (e.g., the Ten Commands), you can’t help but see how you miss the mark repeatedly. Seeing yourself for who you are is what drives you to Christ. You will not see your need for a Savior if you don’t first see the seriousness of your sin.

You don’t want to see yourself as an evil or bad person, but if you don’t see the truth about yourself, you’ll never embrace the truth about Jesus.

Beware of modern denials of sin. Our culture might not say, “I don’t sin.” But, our culture says things like, “Don’t judge me.” Or, “I’m going to live my truth.” Or, “What’s right for me might not be right for you.” Or, “This is the way I was born.” Or, “This is just who I am.” Or, “A loving God wouldn’t judge anyone.” Or, “Accept me for who I am.” “Nobody’s perfect.” If you make any of these kinds of statements, you are in danger of denying your reality; that you are a sinner separated from God and in need of His grace.

Be willing to regularly confess your sin.

If you deny your sin, the truth is not in you. However, instead of denying your sin, confess it. God is faithful and just to forgive your sins.

Sin does not PREVENT fellowship with God if you are willing to confess it to the Lord. Think about it: in a court of law, if you confess your guilt, you receive a penalty. BUT, at the throne of God, if you confess your sins and cry out for your need for a Savior, you receive forgiveness.

Confession = agreeing with God about your sin. It’s acknowledging to God that you have sinned against Him (Psalm 51:4).

Notice - sins is plural. Your sins are too many to remember or confess individually, but you need to get specific with God.

Confess your sin to enter the Kingdom of God. The way to have a relationship with God is by confessing your sin and repenting (turning to God) by faith. You cannot be saved until you know what you need to be saved from.

Confess your sin to continue to enjoy fellowship with God. Unconfessed sin hinders your relationship with God. (Similar to what happens in my marriage - covenant doesn’t change, but our fellowship does…) Falling into sin as a believer does not change your standing before God (positional forgiveness), but falling back into sin does affect your day to day communion with God. When you sin, God hasn’t stopped loving you, but you have hindered your walk with Him. You need ongoing confession to remind yourself of your ongoing need of the grace of God. Unconfessed sin affects your relationship with God and others and your usefulness in the Kingdom.

Get specific - You might wonder, “Why am I stagnate in my relationship with God?” Could it be because of unconfessed sins? Sins of attitude? Sinful speech? Sinful thoughts? Sinful ways you’ve treated others? Sinful actions? What are the sins right now that are hindering your relationship with God and others? Confess to God - confess to those your sin affects. There’s healing in confession (James 5:16).

Ask those you love to help you identify sin. (Proverbs 12:1)

John Wesley accountability questions - Get specific….

If you walk in the light you know that Jesus has atoned for your sins.

2:1-2 - A wonderful reminder for believers. When you sin, remember what Jesus has done. Verses of assurance.

My little children - John not condoning sin at all in this passage. He’s earnest in his desire to help us to NOT sin. John doesn’t want us to think our sin is no big deal.

He wants us to know that Jesus is our advocate - courtroom language. He is your defender who has gone before the Father to plead your case by shedding His blood for you. He has said to the Father “my life for their lives.” When tempted to sin remember that He stood before the Father pleading your case.

vs. 2 - John wants us to know that Jesus Christ himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

ESV = propitiation. Jesus’ sacrifice satisfied the wrath of God. Our righteous God had to punish sin, and our Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son as an appropriate sacrifice to cover all our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). At the cross, wrath, love, justice, and holiness met together in such a way that your sin was paid for and the penalty you deserved has been removed. This is atoning sacrifice is available to all who would believe. When you’re tempted to sin, remember that Jesus suffered immensely for your salvation.

Why would you as a Christian overlook sin or act as if it is no big deal? Your sin is such a big deal that it cost Jesus His life. Therefore, do not let sin reign in you. Let Christ reign! (Romans 6:12)

If you embrace Jesus as your advocate and your atoning sacrifice INSTEAD of embracing sin, think about how it fuels your confidence before God.

You don’t have to say “I hope so…” Question I often ask: “If you were to die tonight would you go to heaven?” Answer I often receive: “I hope so.” That’s not how followers of Jesus who have fellowship with God respond.

You can say, “I know so…” Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, and I’ve experienced it! I’ve trusted Him by faith, I’ve been set free, I’ve been given new desires. I KNOW I belong to Him because He has set me free from sin and death.

This morning, you can know so. You can turn by faith to the One who died the death you deserve and rose again three days later to give you the gift of eternal life.

If you’re a believer, how is your attitude toward sin affecting your daily communion with the Lord? What sins do you need to confess?