We must walk in the light
1 John 1:5-10(MSG) This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin. If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.
There are 3 points that stand out from this passage:
God is light (verse 5), this is the foundation. We must walk in the Light (verses 6–7), the application, and we have all sinned (verses 8–10) the clarification.
- God is light
1 John 5:20(ESV) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life
God is light means that God is the source and measure of all that is true. God’s Word is often described as a lamp or light that guides Believers’ paths.
Psalm 119:105(TLB) Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling.
John 8:12(NLT) Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
- We must walk in the light
The metaphor of light is used to represent truth, holiness, and the righteous path that God sets before Believers. It emphasises the importance of living a life that reflects God’s character, adheres to His teachings, and avoids the darkness of sin and unbelief.
1 John 1:7(NIV) 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, purifies us from all sin.
Ephesians 5:8(NIV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
John 8:12(NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- We have all sinned
Romans 5:12(NIV) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
Romans 3:23-24(NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
It’s important to recognise our sinful nature, not to remain in sin, but to appreciate the depth of God’s grace and the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Confession and repentance lead to restoration and a closer relationship with God.
I conclude with 2 Corinthians 5:17(NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.