Walking in the Light
1 John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsChrist is the light. He invites us to walk in the light. But how can we do so? And what if we want the darkness?
Notes
Transcript
Walking down half dome in dark.
Hiking in the dark
can be scary
the lights were welcome sign.
We were out of darkness.
Continue series 1 John
expository sermons
few verses at a time.
The Message
The Message
Pick up at:
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you...
Review from last week:
See same words:
Message - ἀγγελία
Message - ἀγγελία
Proclaim - ἀναγγέλλω
Proclaim - ἀναγγέλλω
ἀγγελία - message
ἄγγελος - messenger/angel
εὐαγγέλιον - gospel
ἀπαγγέλλω - proclaim/ preach
εὐαγγελίζω - evangelize
We have a message.
So we are messengers.
Our message is:
the gospel.
We share the gospel by
proclaiming it.
evangelizing.
... we have heard from him and proclaim to you...
Last week,
talked about
seen
heard
experienced.
We must each
have experience
with God.
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (5901 Hayes’ Red-Light Exhibit)
Evangelistic worker James Hayes didn’t stand on a box and preach hellfire-and-damnation at the fair in Carroll County, Maryland, but he got the point across anyway—through modern technology. Hayes, who managed an evangelistic booth at the fair, administered an electronic test to the curious who visited the booth. The test consisted of five questions on the New Testament. If all were answered correctly, sky-blue lights came on spelling “Heaven.” If there was one wrong answer, fiery, red lights flashed the word “Hell,” ending the test.
Only twenty out of 220 persons passed the test, Hayes told Washington Star reporter William F. Willoughby. That means a lot of people are going to hell, he commented. Willoughby suggested that maybe God isn’t using the same computer.
God’s measurement is
knowing him.
“eternal life is to know him”.
Natural result
of experiencing Christ
is to share it.
... we have heard from him and proclaim to you...
That was review.
Let’s see what
is new.
The verse continues:
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.
What is the message?
What are we proclaiming?
What is this good news?
God is Light
God is Light
God is...
many things...
“God is love” (1 John 4:8)
“God is Spirit” (John 4:24)
“God is God” (Deut 7:9)
“God is a consuming fire” (Deut 4:24)
“God is a refuge” (Ps 62:8)
“God is merciful (Deut 4:31)
“God is witness” (Gen 31:50)
“God is with you” (Gen 21:22)
“God is jealous” (Deut 4:24)
“God is mighty” (Job 36:5)
“God is great” (Job 36:26)
“God is God of gods and Lord of lords” (Deut 10:17)
“God is not man” (Num 23:19)
Let us ponder:
God is Light
God is Light
Light...
This word light:
φῶς φωτός
φῶς φωτός
We have words:
photos
photograph
photosynthesis
photocopier
This metaphor of
light vs. darkness
abundant in scripture.
71 times in NT!
37 times by John
52% of time!!!
I’ll give you a sample:
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Few verses down.
Speaking of John the Baptist:
He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
2 chapters later...
Words of Jesus:
Right after
John 3:16-17:
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. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Light...
To John,
not just central theme.
not just common metaphor.
it is everything!
It is the:
“light of life!”
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (2690 That Speck of Light)
An artist once drew a picture of a winter twilight—the trees heavily laden with snow, and a dreary, dark house, lonely and desolate in the midst of the storm. It was a sad picture. Then, with a quick stroke of yellow crayon, he put a light in one window. The effect was magical. The entire scene was transformed into a vision of comfort and cheer.
Let’s go back
to our key passage:
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. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 cleanses us from all sin.
John’s powerful metaphor
metaphor of
comparison
contrast.
Light
God
truth
fellowship
righteousness
Darkness
lies
sin
separation
Perhaps the most
clear lesson from
metaphor is:
Light vs. Darkness
Opposites
Can’t have both
One or the other.
You can’t
walk in darkness
walk in light.
You can’t
live lies
practice truth.
You can’t
have fellowship
be separate.
You can’t
live in sin
be cleansed.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
With God,
no sliver of darkness.
100% light.
There is a tale told of the great English actor, Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: “I wish you would explain to me something.”
“Well, what is it? I don’t know that I can explain anything to a preacher.”
“What is the difference between you and me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all.”
Macready replied: “This is quite simple. I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction.”
Question:
Do you believe
light of life?
Is it life to you?
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
The word
Fellowship - κοινωνία
Fellowship - κοινωνία
It means:
close association involving mutual interests and sharing, communion, fellowship, close relationship, experience of altruism
If we say,
that we have
a close relationship
with Jesus Christ
we cannot also
walk in darkness.
The two are incompatible.
That would not
make us Christians
but liars.
(Taking the Lord’s
name in vain).
This is not speaking
of the occasional
good or bad actions.
Notice words:
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Again,
Next verse:
But if we walk in the light...
There is a difference
between making a mistake
and walking in darkness.
What does that word
“walking suggest?
Share a quote with you:
The Signs of the Times March 27, 1884: Erroneous Doctrines Dangerous
The character is revealed by the works, not by
To walk in the light,
is not something that
can be a part-time job!
It is a way of life.
As the wiseman wrote:
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice...
To walk in something
means it is your usual
means of behavior.
customary attitude.
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (979 “Light the Night” Campaign)
In the late 90’s the mayor of Toronto launched a “Light the Night” campaign. The idea was for residents to leave their lights burning overnight in order to discourage crime. A similar campaign was carried out in the Oakland, California, area, and reports show that crime was greatly reduced—in fact, reduced fantastically.
Light dispels darkness
even crime itself!
How can we
develop the practice
of walking in the light?
John seems to indicate
it is somewhat natural:
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
You cannot have
deep relationship with God
and walk in darkness.
So,
How do we
walk in the light?
Have deep fellowship
with God!
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jesus is the light
if we follow Him
we walk in the light.
But He goes further.
Later Jesus says:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Apparently,
if we walk with God
deeply enough
His light becomes
a part of us.
So much so....
that it is no longer
Jesus being the light
but we are the light.
What a tremendous
privilege and
responsibility.
To be partners with God
in lighting the world!!!!
... you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
We shine as lights
in a dark world.
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (2338 The 50-Year Light)
At a seaport in Maine, a young woman promised her sailor-lover one night that she would keep a light burning in her window every night until he returned. He sailed next day, and his vessel was never heard of afterwards; yet she kept the light burning in her window for 50 years until her death.
—W. F. Allan
We shine as lights
in a dark world.
But we must remember
with great power comes
great responsibility.
It reminds me of the
quote shared by
Nathan Kraus
from IT IS Written
last week:
In Heavenly Places “What Manner of Persons?”, November 21
In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in this world as watchmen and light bearers.
We are assigned
as light bearers.
Why?
Because we are better?
No.
We have special
message
truth
for last days.
Wow,
what a privilege...
We must take it
very seriously!
But if we don’t...
What if we
neglect
mistreat
de-value
special light???
Jesus says:
Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.
Walk from darkness
into bright room
feels uncomfortable
at first.
You get used to light.
Walk out of bright room
into dark room.
The darkness is
darker than before!!!
The same is true
spiritually for those
who leave the light.
Look at this quote:
Maranatha Former Brethren Worst Persecutors, July 7
As the storm approaches, a large class who have
Maranatha Former Brethren Worst Persecutors, July 7
By
Maranatha Former Brethren Worst Persecutors, July 7
Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness.
We must hold on
to the truth with
all of our strength.
Just like this story:
In April of 2011, a line of deadly tornadoes ripped across the state of Alabama, leaving some 250 people dead in its wake. Near Wellington, Alabama, the Hardy family realized the storm was coming too late to find a permanent shelter. They considered trying to take shelter in a metal clubhouse, but it had already been turned on its side by the strong winds. So in desperation, they took shelter in a small stand of trees. They tied a rope around the children and huddled around them in the trees as the storm passed. A family member said that while they had been scratched by flying dirt and debris, none suffered any serious injuries.
Imagine how tightly you would cling to the trees and rope in such a situation. Knowing that your life or the life of your child might depend on your grip would give you all the motivation you needed to hang on with every ounce of power you could muster!
Although there are no warning sirens or news alerts, each of us is living in the path of destructive storms. There are temptations and destructive philosophies abounding around us, and if we do not have a secure place of protection, we will be destroyed.
Because the Word of God is so readily available to us, we often take it for granted rather than treasuring it as the precious resource it is. When you view the Bible as a lifeline designed to keep you safe through the storms of life, you begin to take it more seriously.
We must hold on
to the truth with
all of our strength.
Continuing our study...
More Fellowship
More Fellowship
So far we learned
if we fellowship with God
we walk in the light
not in darkness.
Be John speaks of
additionally fellowship:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another...
Walking in the light
is fellowship with God
“but wait”
“there is more”
“for the low price”
of walking in the light
We’ll throw in
double the fellowship
“order now.”
As a pastor
I see a lot
lonely people!
In Christianity
“walking in the light”
God solves that problem.
Not only do we
greatest communion in world
(fellowship with God)
but also,
deepest friendships
available on planet Earth.
fellowship with one another…
God does not promise
life is easy
ceaseless blessings
without trials.
He does promise
meaningful community
to share life with.
If you feel alone...
May I suggest,
You are not churching right.
WE are not churching right.
The word church
compound word.
ἐκκλησία
ἐκκλησία
Root
κλητός
means “called”
Ek -
prefix
means “out.”
Church is:
group of people
“called out”
of the world.
I admit that
first stage
can be lonely.
When you are called out
you lose friends.
Drinking buddies
Drug Friends.
But that is incomplete
meaning of the word.
Yes we are
called out
of something.
But we are also,
called into
something else.
to be called or invited to something.
Church is,
the fellowship of
the called ones.
God intends that
the power of this
new fellowship will be
more rewarding that
what we lost
in the world.
I have visited
many churches.
Somehow most feel
they are really friendly.
50% of them
are not very welcoming.
For many,
people have been connected
been there long time
have lots of friends.
But for
guests
visitors
new members
church is lonely.
The long-timer
with all the friends
many connections
doesn’t feel that sense.
What happens,
few people talk to
the new ones.
Let’s not be that way!
Let other into
gift that you have.
Don’t hoard fellowship!
Cleansing
Cleansing
Let’s finish
our key passage.
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.
If we
walk in the light
fellowship with god
fellowship with each other
we are cleansed.
John is explicit
as to the meaning
of the cleansing.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
What cleanses us?
the blood of Jesus.
What is cleaned?
All sin.
I suggest that this is more
than ritual forgiveness.
Cleansing indicates
removal of
not just the guilt
not just the punishment
but the
item
thing
that caused defilement:
sin!
When God cleanses us
he doesn’t just say,
“Don’t worry about it.”
“You are forgiven.”
He separates the sin
from the sinner.
If I spill jam
on my counter
I don’t clean it
by saying,
“it’s okay counter,
“I forgive you.”
No!
I get a sponge
clean the jam off!
God’s cleansing
is both
declarative.
creative.
When He cleanses us.
We are declared clean.
Meaning: we are exonerated.
Declared not guilty!
But he does not only
call us something
that we are not.
“Righteous”
Within His forgiving grace
within the declaration
of exoneration
is creative power.
He re-creates our
sinful
broken self
into His image.
He takes not just
our guilt and punishment
but our sin and defilement!
This is the cleansing
of our God.
This is
walking in the light!
Story of Shackleton
August 1914: The expedition departed England.
Ship Endurance
December 5, 1914: They left South Georgia Island.
January 1915: The Endurance became trapped in pack ice.
November 21, 1915: The ship was crushed and sank.
Stuck on Elephant Island
800 miles to South Georgia Island
Tiny life boat
James Caird
Whaling Station - Stromness
When he saw the lights
Appeal
Appeal
Shine
Walk in the Light
Fellowship with God
Fellowship with each other
Cleansing from Sin.
Experience the Light
Then become the Light.
Give it away.
