First John 1:5-10: God is Light

Fellowship with One Another

1 John 1:5–10 “5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that 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 that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

God is Light

This whole statement is not made by Jesus, but certainly John could/would be privy to more that just what was spoken.

I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)

I am the Door (John 10:9)

I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)

I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)

I am the Vine (John 15:1,5)

Ex 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ””

I AM = the revelation of Yahweh of the OT

I Am that I AM = “To Be” or relatign to His self existentence

But it is also, in relation to His people - I AM, “your God”

Clearly there is a connection between Jesus’ I AM statements and Ex 3:14

John is giving a revelation of God

Light = revealer and exposer

Walking in Darkness with God is a contradiction

If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves

Being honest is the way out of sin

Honesty is always the way out of sin

Sin thrives in the dark, in secrecy.

John 3:18–21 “18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.””

Eternal Security comes from the light

Eternal Security = once saved always saved

John 10:28-30 “28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.””

The way you achieve “security” is by walking in the light

God doesn’t kick you out of His grace after one misstep

Your “walk” with God is a lifestyle

Walk implies a journey or path

mt 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

if we are expected to forgive this many times… how times do you think God will forgive us

We have fellowship with one another

This is discussing our fellowship with God.

When we have fellowship with God, we can enjoy the benefits of Grace and forgiveness from Sin

Forgiveness = happens when we confess our sins, basically admit we are wrong

How hard is it to just admit you’re wrong

His word is not in us

By rejecting God’s word in one area of our life, we make it void in all our life

There can be no contradiction with God

He is either God of everything, not at all.

Acts 20:17–30 (NKJV)

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

It is the Pastors job to communicate everything that is needed to be saved.

This is the whole counsel of God

This is why we go verse by verse