Walking in the Light

MEMORY VERSE: “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” —I John 1:7

I JOHN 1:5 – 2:6

“LIGHT” is a symbol of truth and of all that which is right, and good, and pure; whereas “darkness” in the Bible stands for error, evil, selfishness, and alienation from God. “God is light,” John wrote, “and in him is no darkness at all.” God is wholly unselfish in all that he does, therefore God is love as well as light.

John puts it very understandably when he writes, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” On the other hand, as our memory verse states, “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

It cannot he said of those who walk in Jesus’ steps that there is no darkness in them. But God in his love has provided the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse them from the darkness of sin so that they may have fellowship with him and with his people. But we need a continuous application of this blood.

Seemingly there were some in the Early Church, even as now, who claimed that they could live without sin. But John explains that those who claim this deceive themselves, and that the truth is not in them. However, he continues, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We can depend upon God’s faithfulness and justice.

The fact that we have our sins cleansed away through the blood of Christ does not give us liberty to presume upon the grace of God: John admonishes us not to sin; to strive against it with all our might. But when we do sin, John reminds us, “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Christ represents us at the throne of heavenly grace, and because of this we can approach that throne “boldly,” or with assurance, knowing that we will obtain mercy and find grace to help in our every time of need.—Heb. 4:16

Jesus, in his death, was a “propitiation [satisfaction) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Essentially all Christians accept the fact that Jesus became a satisfaction for their sins; but many fail to realize that he also is a “propitiation … for the sins of the whole world.”

True, the world of unbelievers as yet knows little or nothing about the real purpose of Jesus’ sacrificial death. They do not yet understand that Jesus came to earth as a provision of the Creator’s love, and that those who accept him and obey the laws of the kingdom will receive everlasting life. Many who themselves believe in Jesus hold the erroneous idea that the opportunity to accept Jesus, and through him receive life, is limited to the present short span of life.

But this is making God’s love too narrow by restricted human philosophy. The Scriptures reveal that an entire thousand years has been set aside in the plan of God for the resurrection and enlightenment of all who have died in unbelief. Then they will all know that by his death Jesus provided propitiation for their sins as well as for the believers of the present age.

John lays great stress upon the importance of keeping God’s commandments. We cannot truly know God, and know his beloved Son, unless we obey the precepts of the divine Word. Jesus said to his Heavenly Father, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) And, as John emphasizes, the only way we can truly know the Father is through obedience to his will.

John further wrote, “Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” The precepts and admonitions of the Word of God are designed to develop godlike love within our hearts that we may be more and more like Him.

QUESTIONS

Of what are light and darkness symbols?

Can followers of Jesus live without sin?

How are we cleansed from sin?

Did Jesus die for the world as well as for his church?

Can we walk in the light apart from obedience to God’s Word?

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