Why I Write (Part II) Worship

Sunday we saw that there are some very specific reasons that John is writing to the churches, the first being that our joy may be complete. And we agreed that their is a dual joy in being in fellowship Jesus and proclaiming to others that they can have fellowship with God. Now it is important to remember that John is speaking to believers, they have heard this message, so why is he writing to them?

What is the message that leads us to fellowship with God? How can I know I am in fellowship? What is the message I can share with others that they might know this fellowship?

What I want to do now is expand to the 2nd reason which is “So you may not sin!”

…So That You May Not Sin

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 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.

Now as with last week we need to see that John is penning this sentence in reference to something he has already said. And in this case it is verses 5-10 of chapter 1. But before we dig into those verses let us ponder the first part of this verse for a minute.

I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.

John is writing so that believers may not sin. Why does he take time to pen something so obvious in the life of a believer?

Because the obvious needs restating/repetition

Because your vices harden your heart and choke out the Word of God

Because you can agree with a statement theoretically without it being applied daily.

Now that is a profound statement! Take a minute and let it sink into your brain. Let it sink into your life. Let it sink into the rest of your day. Because if we don’t ponder this rightly we will simply dismiss it as something impossible allowing us to excuse ourselves or we will run straight to the next part of the verse which I will discuss towards the end of part 2

John has been talking about sin for the last 5 verses, and now he wants his readers to know the intent behind those 5 verses, that they may not sin.

v. 5

English Standard Version Chapter 1

5 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.

So what will keep me from sin?

Know that God is light, that is, God is Holy!

And in him is no darkness at all.

What does it mean that God is light?

Some people can tend to get really mystical here, I can be one of them, but let’s just take it at face value, with light you see and it exposes any dark areas. Which makes sense that there would be no darkness in God because He IS light.

Notice also this is an “is” statement concerning God, later on in the letter John will make another “is” statement that is well known, “God is love.”

This is why God can see and know our hearts because He is light, there is no dark areas, no shadows, everything is fully exposed.

This of course leads us to verse 6:

v. 6

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

Now after making a statement about the nature of God, John moves on to a little test, a pop quiz if you will, about whether or not we are in fellowship with God!

If you say you have fellowship with God there are certain things that will be true about you as there are certain things that are true about God. And the first is that it is impossible for darkness to be in close proximity with light, because light always vanquishes the darkness.

John aims two things at those who say they have fellowship with God but walk in darkness:

he is a liar

he is not practicing the truth

This means merely saying that you have fellowship with Jesus is not enough. The image John paints here is meant to help us, that a man who is walking in the darkness is clearly not in proximity to God, because God is always in the light. We see in Genesis that God separated day from night, and so we must separate ourselves from the night in order to dwell in the day.

The fruit of fellowship is walking in the light with Jesus, it does not earn a person fellowship, but it will be an evidence none the less.

v. 7

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

It is not enough to just not walk in darkness, one must walk in the light. John is stating the positive in verse 7 because it means there is a certain way which believers are to live. There are certain things they are to be doing. John is saying that Christians are a peculiar people, who are living out their lives in the light of God’s presence. Let’s bring this home practically:

If you shame people instead of encouraging people you are not walking in the light.

If you are cowardly in representing the Kingdom instead of courageous you are not walking in the light.

If you are stingy instead of generous you are not walking in the light.

If you are arrogant instead of confident you are not walking in the light.

If you are indifferent (which may be greater than hate) instead of loving you are not walking in the light.

Q: Are we walking in the light in our marriages?

Q: Are we walking in the light on social media, one of the things I have been observing with corona is a shaming those who do not hold their particular view. Be careful what you post, are you walking in the light?

v. 8

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

v. 9

English Standard Version Chapter 1

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

English Standard Version Chapter 28

13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

v. 10

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.