WALKING WITH THE LIGHT ON
1 John 1:5-2:2
“Elephant in the living room”
Everyone knows it’s there.
Nobody wants to talk about it.
There’s an elephant in OUR living room!
There’s sin in our lives.
Everyone wants to keep it a secret.
People are struggling with the secrets they’re hiding!
We’re afraid people will find out what we’re really like!
Because if you could see what’s on the inside, you wouldn’t like me!
Hidden sin gets in the way of fellowship–both with God and with each other.
From Adam and Eve to the present (Achan, Saul, David)
People are hiding (pastors and others!)!
We know it’s not supposed to be like this!
John writes his first letter to tell us how to enjoy life more,
through fellowship –with God and with one another.
Written to Christians who weren’t enjoying life.
Frustrated because life wasn’t the way it’s supposed to be.
John has observed many professing believers who claim to know God but whose lives don’t give evidence of what they profess.
He seems to believe most are truly saved but not enjoying fellowship.
They’re not living holy lives
They’re imitating the world and its patterns
They’re criticizing and attacking one another
Sound like anybody YOU know?
We will never experience the true joy that comes from fellowship with God while we continue in this pattern.
TWO MAIN PURPOSES
1. That we might enjoy real (genuine/authentic) fellowship 1:3
—with other Christians —with God Himself
2. (The result of such fellowship): That we might have complete JOY 1:4
JOHN’S MESSAGE:
Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together unless they agree?”
If two people want to go somewhere together they must be heading the same direction!
To have fellowship with one another, people must be going the same way!
To enjoy fellowship with God, we must be like Him!
What is God like?
1:5 (5-7) God is light
God is HOLY =>
to enjoy fellowship with God, WE must be HOLY
Introduction 1:1-4
Basis of the message 1:1-2
John’s personal experience–what he has seen and heard.
Purpose of the message 1:3-4 [fellowship & joy–together!]
GOD’S HOLINESS 1:5-3:10
Description of God 1:5
What is God like? God is light => holy
There’s no darkness in Him.
Implications for believers 1:6-3:10
Our need to walk in holiness 1:6-7
If we want to enjoy fellowship with a holy God, what must we be like?
Fellowship with a God Who is light requires that WE walk in light!
When can we know that we’re lying about our spiritual condition?
We can’t walk in darkness
and enjoy fellowship with God at the same time!
Basic principle of light and darkness:
They can’t co-exist in the same space!
Simple science experiment:
When you turn on the light, the darkness vanishes.
Child screams out in the night from a bad dream.
Daddy goes in and turns on the light.
I’ve never heard a child respond, “But daddy, I’M still in the dark!”
When you turn on the light, the darkness vanishes.
When you walk in the light, the light dispels the darkness.
Sin gets in the way of fellowship–
It separates us from God. –it makes us want to hide!
John 3:20“Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear his deeds will be exposed.”
It separates us from one another.
We even avoid each other!
When we’re walking in the light,
we ENJOY being with other people who are walking in the light.
When we’re NOT walking in the light,
we don’t want to be around people who are walking in the light!
Two benefits of walking in light: (of living a holy life)
1. We enjoy fellowship with each other. 7a
2. We enjoy God’s cleansing of our sin. 7b
Underline the word “ENJOY” in those two benefits.
This takes us back to 1:4.
When we are walking in the light, “our JOY is complete!”
It’s like a long, soaking bath, or a hot shower
–it feels good to just sit and soak in it!
Problem of our failure 1:8-10
Back to reality! One whale of an enigma!
1:5-3:10 GOD IS HOLY!
1:5-7 To enjoy fellowship with Him, I must be holy!
How can I ever make it?
Our problem: How do we measure up against that standard?
We all come up short. We all fail!
1:8-10 I am a sinner 1:8
If we claimwe never sin, were deceiving ourselves!
ALL people sin, even children of God (pres.) 1:8
When we’re sinning, we can’t enjoy fellowship with God 1:6
What do people tell themselves (or others) that’s self-deception?
If we claim we don’t have a struggle with sin, we’re kidding ourselves.
We have to isolate ourselves–not let people get too close.
They might find out what we’re really like!
When we come face to face with the reality of our sin is when we need each other most! Yet that’s precisely when we withdraw from others!
What’s the difference between the statement in verse 8 and verse 10?
If we claim that we haven’t ever sinned, we make God a liar. 1:10
Rom. 3:9-12, 23 “All people have sinned” 1:10
You’d think that would block everyone from fellowship with God!
What’s the solution for that kind of lie? 1:9“Confess it.”
God has provided a means of restoration through Christ 1:9
If we confess our sin, God cleanses and forgives us.
What does it mean to “confess” our sin?
I agree with God about my sinful condition, so He can cleanse me
We “Agree with God” concerning our sin.
We acknowledge our sin.
We acknowledge that it’s wrong.
We realize that it has to go–decide to get rid of it.
Only the Holy Spirit can give us the power to change.
I must live a holy life to enjoy fellowship with a holy God!
God’s solution for our problem–How has God resolved it? 2:1-2
John’s desire for us 2:1a
What’s the best solution for our problem? 2:1a
Don’t sin! Period!
How can we accomplish that solution in our lives?
John 15:4-5; 1 John 2:6, 10, 14, 27, 28; 3:6, 24
When we abide in Him–draw from Him what we need to sustain our life.
HE changes us–from the inside out!
How well do we do at taking advantage of that solution?
None of us succeed 100% of the time!
Therefore God has provided a solution for our problem . . .
What’s God’s solution when we fail to take advantage of the best solution? 2:1b-2
God’s provision for our failure today 2:1b-2
God has provided a good defense attorney
who pleads our case on our behalf.
He is totally righteous! He NEVER comes up short on righteousness!
His righteousness has been applied to our account.
He’s the same One Who PAID for our salvation.
His sacrifice was sufficient to cover ALL the sin, EVERYONE ever committed–Even OURS–and for everyone else in the world too!
HE CAN HANDLE IT!
How does having a good “defense attorney” affect the way we live?
Does it give us the feeling we can “get off the hook?–so we live it up?
Or, does knowing what He has done for us make us grateful and motivate to holy living?
What’s the solution? To put it another way, and to summarize the whole passage:
God’s solution for our sin problem:
(1) Acknowledge our sin 1:8-10
(2) Call on our defender 2:1
(3) Abide in Him I John 2-3; John 15:4-5
2:6, 10, 14, 24 (NAB = “Mutually”) 27, 28; 3:6, 24
=Draw from Him what we need to sustain our life.
HOW SHOULD AN AWARENESS OF THIS PASSAGE AFFECT MY LIFE TODAY?
Ps. 119“How can a young man cleanse his way?”
By taking heed to God’s Word.
“Your Word is a light to my path”
Turn on the light! Meditate on God’s Word.
Abide in Him–Draw from Him all that we need to enjoy life–to fill the emptiness down inside.
Then we WILL walk in the light and we WILL ENJOY fellowship,
both with God, and with those who are walking in His light.
Then we won’t need to hide, hoping no one will find out about the elephant in OUR living room!
We can really ENJOY fellowship with God and with one another!