Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Opening Prayer

Introduction

Today’s passage begins with a profound theological statement that introduces a theme that will carry on throughout the book.

Then, following this statement there are 5 conditional or “if” statements, the first 2 and second 2 are paired to contrast followed by the fifth and final statement in v. 10..

Review

You might recall from last week that, though the book of 1 John is not really a letter in the traditional format, the opening portion still serves to establish John’s credentials as an apostle who knows Jesus quite well and who saw the true life manifested in him....

Exposition 1 (5) - The Theological Statement

Now that this authority is established, the author begins his primary portion of the book by making a statement about the message that he heard from Jesus.

Let’s read it in the verse...

We? John in his Apostolic role

So this is the message, God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.

What does that mean?

Obviously we are not simply talking brightness but what are we talking about?

First, let’s talk about the illustration, then we will get to what is being illustrated.

Light and dark...

Not opposites

Light is presence of light

Darkness is absence of light.

Light is needed for life

energy

warmth

visibility

Darkness leads to death

They are mutually exclusive

Meaning of the metaphor

It is a Metaphor (God does not = photons)

Light and dark is and always has been, a common religious metaphor for Goodness and Wickedness and here it comes as no surprise that this is in thought here but it can be helpful to examine John’s thoughts on the matter.

(23 occurences in the Gospel of John)

Light is associated with Jesus, life

Become a “son of light”

Back to our verse

So in light of what we have talked about, our first point is...

I. God is light, the source of all goodness and life (5)

Implications

God is creator of life and the one who decides what is “good”

Jesus has manifested the light of God to us.

Pursuing “christlikeness” is pursuing the light and shining a light on our darkness

Since God is free from all “darkness” He is trustworthy and blameless

Regarding darkness, one commentator calls it “all that defeats life”

in other words, its the opposite of goodness and life, it is sin and death, it is all that is not of God.

The implication that will ultimately be fleshed out in the verses to follow is God expects Christians to be “children of light”

Opposition of light and dark

Exposition 2 (6-7) - The First 2 Contrasting Conditional Clauses

Walk = “way of life” “manner of living”

“To walk in the light” means allowing God’s revealed will to motivate and guide one’s actions and decisions.

II.

Fellowship with God and God’s people is characterized by faithfully living right (6-7)

Exposition 3 (8-9) - The Second 2 Contrasting Conditional Clauses

A

III.

The life in the light is manifested in the fleeing and repenting of sin (8-9)

God is faithful to forgive

Christians must be the people to “own up” to their shortcomings.

Exposition 4 (10) - The Final Conditional Clause

A

IV.

If your life is not characterized by the repentant pursuit of God’s righteousness, you are yet lost (10)

or God is a liar

Conclusion