Light and Darkness

Introduction

Hook: Lexi surprised me last week with a pretty substantial gift whether she realizes it or not. But something about me thats super quirky but I enjoy, is I listen to my favorite TV and Movie soundtracks while I work during the day. There is a really long season that I listened to the Stanger Things soundtrack so much that I was in the top percentile n the US on Spotify for listening to that one. And one soundtrack in paritcular I do love is the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. Its so stinking good. And anyways, we we were snowed in last week, I played it while I would write…and I played it enough to where it implanted a desire in her subconcsious to go, Ethan, let’s watch the hobbit this week. And I’m like, awww man. So we watched all three of those in two days and it was quite the experience.

In the hobbit, one of the main elements of the story, and yes I’m going to spoil it because shame on you if you have not seen these movies… Is a guy named Bilbo who finds this one ring of power to essential rule all things, including the person that holds it. His life and journey is forever changed. Because Bilbo begins to descend into darkness the longer he holds the ring and he has to make decisions on whether or not to walk in the light or walk in the dark. It changes his actions, his behaviors, and ultimately he gives it away in part to its power.

In this life, we make active choices on whether or not to walk in the light or whether we walk in the darkness, where its on obedience to Jesus or in darkness and in its pathway to sin.

This next section in 1st John is going to talk about the differences we oberve between those walking in the light and those walking in darkness, and see John’s heart to run from sin and run to Christ and the light that is himself. And that despite where you are in your journey with Christ, you will see from this passage the heart of Jesus and overflowing fountain of love and grace he has toward your sin.

Proposition : My goal for you today is that I want you to run from sin and run to Christ so that you walk in the light and fellowship with him and others in Christ.

Walking in the Light

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. 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.

Truth: God is light.

God is light. We see described as this and many other characterstics all throughout the New Testament. But its a picture of his glory, his holiness shining upon all things. No sin, no evil, no darkness dwells within the Father. But he is perfectly righteouss. He is the exact opposite of darkness.

Now in this passage… John lists out three lies that come from the dark. 3 lies that we must be careful to observe because they have significant implications for our lives.

Lie #1 - If we say we fellowship with God while walking in sin, we are lying.

Illustration: When you are walking, you are literally walking in one direction. It is impossible to walk both backward and forward and the same time. The same is true for our journey with Jesus. We are either walking towards him in light or we are walking away from him in darkness.

. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 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.

Lie #2 - If we say we are without sin, we lie about ourselves.

This is important to note, we all to recognize this. Across the board, we are all sinners. We have all fallen short. No one is perfect.

LIe #3 - If we say we are without sin, we make God out to be a liar.

This is severe in its own way, but if we claim to be without sin, not only is it a lie about us but its a lie about God, but we are suggesting that who is he is and what he says is not true. By saying you are saying he is not the only perfect one. By saying you are righteouss on your own, you are saying he is not the only truly righteouss one. It is elevating you to a position that you cannot actually bear.

Now here is the deal. I know what you might be thinking right now. Like, we want to read this passage and put the Word down and be like...I’m good! I’m not a liar. I’m not a hypocrite. I don’t walk in darkness. I don’t lie. I don’t break fellowship with God.

But if we really think about it...what if you and I actually and realistically do those things? Because we do.

What if you still sin against the Father? What if you still mess up? What if you still fall short of the glory of God? What if you still have brokededness that feels like it can’t be shaken? You have an addiction that haunts you. You have weaknesses where you fall. You have temptations you give into. Are you destined to fail, destined for shame, destined for abandonment by God? The answer is....NO.

You may be thinking, you can’t be serious. I’m in Christ, but I do x, y, z. I know. But listen to what he says next.

Christ Our Advocate

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. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

What? The words we just read, reflect the deepest well of grace for the person in Christ. We know we sin. We are not perfect. But, God. Please, hear these two truths.

#1 - Jesus is our advocate.

Sometimes you may wonder, what is Jesus doing now? Right? Since he has died, resurrected, and ascended into Heaven…what is he doing? Is he simply chilling up there? No, he is up there interceding on our behalf as our advocate.

Illustration: Think of a young family whose little teenage girl is trying to advocate for the boy she wants to introduce to her family. I think about this because someday its gonna happen to me and I’m trying to think of every reason why Heidi can’t do it ...16-18 years ahead of time. But they go in and say, look how great so and so is, he does this and this, and he lives sent,

But consider what Christ does for you...

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. - Romans 8

How amazing it is that right now, in this very moment, Christ is advocating to the Father on your behalf, the righteous one, who is taking his righteousness and placing it over you. Saying, this is no sinner, this is my son. This my daughter.

#2 - Jesus is our atonement.

Christ is the propitiation for our sins. He satisfied the wrath of God.

Illustration: A spotter lifting the weight off of something we cannot carry.

Old Testament: Blood of the Lamb. Jesus is that sacrifice for us.

The heart of Christ is to not to run from your sin, but to run towards it. He forgives you. He interceds for you. He is an atonement for you. Because he loves you.

Walking Points

#1 - Confess your sins.

Notice what he says in verse 9.

#2 - Trust in Christ, the advocate and atonement.

Conclusion

Yes, the road is dark. But Christ is light of life. He lights our path. He lights our way. We are to follow him and trust him. As he advocates for us before the Father, as he atones our sin past, present, future. And when we do this, we have fellowship with him and others.