1 John 1:5-7 (Week 2)

Text: 1 John 1:5-7 (Week 2)

Title: Are you walking in darkness or in the light?

Series: 1John

I. Introduction:

A. Background:

Biblical Context

1. Basis of fellowship (1:1-2:27)

A. Introduction and Purpose of the Letter (1:1-4)

B. Conditions Vital for Fellowship (1:5-2:2)

2. Tests of True Fellowship: Part 1 (1:1-2:17)

A. Test of Doctrine (1:1-2:2)

1. biblical view of Christ (1:1-4)

2. biblical view of sin (1:5-2:2)

John wrote about what he personally saw and experienced in the life of Jesus. He was fully convinced who Jesus was. He personally saw with his eyes and mind and believed Jesus to be the Messiah-Savior. John and the others did not make up crafty devised or created fables, myths. Jesus was born physically, He was with God the Father and was always fully God.

He wrote so that believers may know that they have eternal life and that they may continue to believe or trust in Christ.

John now describes the results of living in darkness and in light

B. Proposition: Are we walking in darkness or in the light?

C. Main Divisions:

1. The Good News (v.5)

2. Walking In Darkness (v.6)

3. Walking in Light (v. 7)

II. Exposition:

The Good News (v.5)

A. 1Jn 1:5 NKJV

(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.

1) “message”—Gospel

2) “light”

a) physical; emitting

b) metaphor

1) purity, holiness, goodness

2) of truth and knowledge

3) reason, mind, understanding

4) generally: true knowledge of God and spiritual things

5) nature of God (1John 1:5)

c) moral

1) holiness or purity (Rom 13:11-14; 1Thess 5:4-7)

d) intellectual

1) biblical truth (Psa 119:105; Prov 6:23; John 1:4; 8:12; John 3:19-11)

3) “darkness”

a) morally: sin or wrongdoing

b) intellectually: error or falsehood

B. The Content

1) God is light

a) John says “this is the message or gospel that we heard from God and declare or proclaim to you”

1) the proclamation of the eyewitness testimony about Jesus

2) the content of the message is that God is light

3) the purpose of the message is to bring them into fellowship with God and with the apostolic witnesses (1Jo_1:3). (NET)

b) God is morally holy, pure, right and good

c) He is also intellectually true having supreme knowledge of all things

2) In Him There is no darkness

a) He is prefect

b) there is no evil or falsehood in His character

C. Summary

1. God is light: morally holy, pure, right and good

2. there is no evil or falsehood in His character

Walking In Darkness (v.6)

A. The Claim: if we say we have fellowship with God and keep on living in darkness

1. 1Jn 1:6 NKJV

(6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

a) “fellowship” G2842

1) association, community, communion, joint participation; partnership

2) spiritual union with God (NASB-SB)

b) “walk” G 4043-- keep on walking

1) describes continuous actions

2) lifestyle, conduct

c) “practice” G 4160 —live according to

1) carry out; to do

2) habitual, repeated action (WSD)

d) “truth” G225

1) Spoken of what is true in itself, purity from all error or falsehood (Mar_12:32; Act_26:25; Rom_2:20; (WSD)

2) Truth as evidenced in relation to facts (WSD)

3) Eph_5:9; Eph_6:14; Php_1:18; 1Jn_1:6, we do not act in sincerity, equivalent to pseudómetha [G5547], we are lying, behaving in a hypocritical way, 1Jn_1:8; 1Jn_2:4; 1Jn_3:18-19; 1Jn_5:6 (WSD)

2. What is Walking in Darkness

a) Col 3:4-10 NKJV

(4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

(5) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

(6) Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

(7) in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

(8) But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

(9) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

(10) and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

1) we are called to put to death any worldliness in our life (v.5)

2) God’s wrath will come upon the wicked (v.6-7)

3) we are to put aside what remains of our old sinful life (v.8-9)

4) we were given a new nature when we believed (v.10-11)

a) we are being renewed and made more like Christ

b) Eph 5:1-4 NKJV

(1) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

(2) And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

(3) But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

(4) neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

a) our response to what God had done for us

1) becoming imitators of God (v.1)

2) walking in love (v.2)

3) not living like the unsaved (v.3-4)

c) To obey God is to walk or live in the light; to disobey Him is to walk in darkness (Warren Wiersbe)

3. If one says or claims that they have fellowship or communion with God but keeps on walking or living in a lifestyle of darkness, impurity, falsehood, wrongdoing, sin in rebellion against God two things are true:

B. The Consequences

a) we are lying to ourselves, others and God

1) “lie” G5574

a) to cheat, defraud, falsify. To lie, to speak falsely or deceitfully

2) we cheat themselves; we are really not right with God

3) So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness (NLT)

4) these people are lying about their fellowship with God

b) we do not practice the truth

1) we do not live according to the truth, to purity from all error and honesty

2) we are lying and are hypocrites, pretending to be someone we are not.

a) hypocrite

1) one who has the form of godliness without the power, or who assumes an appearance of godliness and virtue, when he is destitute of true relationship with God (Webster)

b) we give a false appearance

3) 1Jn 1:6 AMP

(6) [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents].

4) these type of people are spiritually blind

a) they are really not in fellowship with God

b) they deny the reality and fact of sin in their life

C. John describes the biblical view of sin

D. anyone can claim to be a Christian, to have fellowship with God but their lifestyle proves if it is true or not.

1. one can’t have fellowship with God and live in darkness because God is pure, holy and there can be no darkness in His presence

a) Joh 8:12 NKJV

(12) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

1) “follows” G190

a) here a continuous action

b) to join as an attendant; disciple

c) to follow a teacher which includes:

1) trust and obedience (WSD)

2) follow their example (Joh 10:4-5, 27)

3) self denial (Matt 8:19-20, 22; 10:38-39)

4) to pursue without hostility

5) outward, moral, spiritual fellowship (WSD)

d) includes the idea of commitment (JMSB)

b) Jesus declares that He is the light of the world—representing true knowledge, goodness, purity and holiness

1) He directs people to the truth about God and themselves and to purity, morality

c) anyone who follows or joins Him will never walk or live a lifestyle in darkness, of falsehood, sin, wrongdoing, impurity, ungodliness, spiritual darkness but will have the light (purity and truth) of life.

d) Jesus coming into the world provokes judgment: A choosing up of sides becomes necessary. (NET)

e) following Jesus involves commitment, self-denial, trust, obedience, imitation or copying His life and character.

2. if we knowingly remain in sin our relationship with God will be affected:

a) Psa 66:18 NKJV

(18) If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.

b) Isa 59:1-2 NKJV

(1) Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

(2) But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

b) Believers loose the enjoyment of fellowship until confession (1 John 1:9). Surv man and sin ; PCT pg. 314, 556

a. it also hinders the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives

b. slows down our spiritual growth

c. brings God’s corrective discipline (Rev 3:19)

d. brings loss of reward in heaven

e. brings the domination of sin on us

f. brings premature removal or death if one hates God’s corrective discipline, refusing to repent

c) Sin prevents the unsaved from having fellowship or a personal relationship with God until they are reborn. Surv man and sin

1) if they never repent and accept Jesus as their Savior they will experience eternal separation from God—hell

d) We are saved from the penalty of sin by Jesus’ death (Warren W)

1) Rom 5:6-9 NKJV

(6) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

(7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

e) we are saved daily from the power of sin by Jesus’ life (Warren W)

1) Rom 5:10 NKJV

(10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

3. If we truly love God, we will obey Him and do whatever it takes to stop our lifestyle of sin that greatly displeases God (Joh 14:15-23)

E. Summary

1) we are called to put to death any worldliness in our life

2) we were given a new nature when we believed

3) we are lying to ourselves, others and God and we do not practice the truth

if we claim that we have fellowship with God but keep on living a lifestyle of darkness and sin.

4) anyone can claim to be a Christian, to have fellowship with God but their lifestyle proves if it is true or not.

5) we can’t have fellowship with God and live in darkness because God is pure, holy and there can be no darkness in His presence

6) if we knowingly remain in sin our relationship with God will be affected:

F. Application

1. How do you view God? Is He perfect, holy, pure, righteous?

2. Do you have a right biblical view of sin or

3. do you deny it and live a lifestyle of darkness?

4. Are you practicing the truth about sin and fellowship with God?

5. Is Jesus your light, guide and source of divine truth?

6. If you desire to follow Jesus, are you willing to do what it takes? To live in the light, pursuing purity, holiness, and truth?

7. If you want to have a life that is real, active, full, devoted to God, you must follow Jesus.

Walking in Light (v. 7)

A. The Lifestyle

a) walking in the light

1) 1Jn 1:7 NKJV

(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.

a) “blood of Christ” (PCT 169)

1) literally

2) figuratively: represents His atoning work (sacrificial death)

a) blood offered on an altar was required to deal with man’s sin—atonement (Lk 17:11)

b) animal blood sacrifice could not take away sins (Heb 10:4,11)

but pointed to Christ (John 1:29; Heb 9:14, 23-26)

c) blood is the animating force of the body

d) did not cause Jesus’ death (John 20:18) but assured it and fulfilled OT typology

e) Jesus died as a substitute and offered His blood (Joh

6:53-56)

f) the value of what Jesus did is applied at salvation when we were forgiven, cleansed of sin and redeemed and through our lifetime as we sin and repent (sanctification)

1) judicial and parental forgiveness

b) “cleanse” G2511

1) purifies

2) free from sin, defilement, guilt

3) to consecrate

4) keeps cleansing or is able to cleans (WSD)

5) describes a continuous action

c) “sin” G266

1) miss the mark

2) to wonder from the right path

3) to disobey God; violate His laws

2) Eph 5:8-11 NKJV

(8) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

(9) (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

(10) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

(11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

a) “fruit”

1) of trees

2) that which comes from something; an effect; result; profit; product

3) Metaphor: deeds, works, conduct (Matt 3:8; 7:16, 20,21:43) (WSD)

b) “finding out” G1381

1) “trying to learn”

2) to test

3) to approve

4) to prove, examine to see if something is genuine or not (Thayer)

5) to recognize as genuine after examination (Thayer)

6) used in Rom 12:2

c) “expose”

1) to find fault with, expose by word and deed

2) to show to be wrong

3) rebuke, reprove

d) Paul says because they were once, formerly living in darkness, in falsehood, impurity, and wickedness but now they are light in the Lord, so they are to walk or live a lifestyle as children of light producing the fruit of light, goodness, righteousness, truth and as they do that they will be finding out or learning what is pleasing to God.

1) only in Christ can we be Light

e) he tells them to have no participation with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose, show them as being wrong and rebuke them by word and action

3) Our Past life of Darkness

a) 1Co 6:9-11 NKJV

(9) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

(10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

(11) And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

1) context: Paul is writing to those who are suing each other, cheating and doing wrong in the church of Corinth

2) “washed”

a) to wash oneself clean from, to be freed from sin (Act 22:16) WSD

3) “sanctified” G37

a) to separate from profane things and dedicate to God

1) things or people

b) to purify

1) to free from the guilt of sin

2) internally by renewing of the soul

4) “justified” G1344

a) to make righteous (Thayer)

b) to declare, one to be just, righteous (Thayer)

c) Judicial act where God clears the believer of the condemnation of their sin and declares them in right relationship in Christ (PCT)

d) our sins our put to Jesus’ account and His righteousness is put in our account.

5) “in the name of”

a) by the power, authority, reputation, character

b) Paul reminds his readers who they used to be before God saved them:

1) fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves…

2) But when they responded to the Gospel, God washed, cleansed and freed them from their sin, sanctified or separated them from sin to Himself, purified them and justified them, making them right before Him by the power, authority and character of Christ and through the working (agent) of the Holy Spirit.

a) the same is true for us when we believed

3) we still can and do sin, but we are no longer identified by a lifestyle of sin

a) if someone does then they are not probably not genuinely saved (2Cor 5:17; 1John 3:9-10)

4) if one says they know God but continues to live in darkness, practicing constantly the very things Paul addresses (v.9-10) then they are lying and not practicing the truth for they are not really saved.

5. those who live in the Light, in the truth and purity constantly have fellowship with God and do not practice their former lifestyle of darkness because they have been washed, sanctified and justified by God

6. when we do sin on occasion, the blood of Jesus cleanses us.

4) How do we Walk in the Light: in the truth and purity

a) Col 3:12-14 NKJV

(12) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

(13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

(14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

1) we are new people being renewed into the image of Christ (v.10-11)

2) we are the elect of God (v.12)

3) so we are to put on Christ-like behavior, character, and attitudes (v.12-14)

b) Eph 4:20-24 NKJV

(20) But you have not so learned Christ,

(21) if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

(22) that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

(23) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

(24) and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

1) we are called to put off the old self, who we were before God saved us (v.22)

a) the old sinful behavior, attitudes, conduct, thoughts, desires

b) at salvation, our old self died and was buried and we were resurrected to new life

c) we no longer have to be bound to do what our sinful nature urges us to do (Rom 8:12-16)

2) to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word (v.23)

3) to put on the new self (v.24)

a) our old self no longer exists if we are saved

b) we share with God righteousness, purity, virtue, and holiness

c) we are now have the power to stop sinning and to live to please God

c) Rom 13:12-14 NKJV

(12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

(13) Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

(14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

1) because Christ’s return is near, Paul wants the Romans to repent of any known sins (v.12)

2) Paul describes sanctification (being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ) as taking off and putting on clothing: thoughts and behaviors (JMSB)

Rom 13:12-14 NLT

(12) The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

(13) Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.

(14) Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

b) John says that if someone walks or lives habitually in the light, in truth, holiness and purity, as God is in the light two things are true:

B. The Consequences

1) fellowship with one another

a) we have communion with God and with other believers

b) 1Jn 1:7 AMP

(7) But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another

2) cleansing from sin

a) AMP

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

b) the blood of Christ representing His atoning work and the value of it, continually cleanses, purifies and frees us from each and every type of sin

c) sin, doing what God forbids and not doing what He commands, results in 1) separation from God

a) 1Jn 2:15 NKJV

(15) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

2) spiritual death (1John 3:14)

d) genuine believers live habitually in holiness and light not in darkness

1) God continually cleanses and forgives us as we deal with sin

a) every sin has already been taken care of at the Cross

(Warren W)

1) does not mean we have the freedom to sin

2) apart from the blood of Christ there can be no forgiveness of sin

e) Col 1:12-14 NKJV

(12) giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

(13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

(14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

1) “qualified”

a) to make sufficient

b) to equip with adequate power to perform duties

c) to help; to empower or enable (JMSB)

2) “partakers”: to share

a) a part assigned (WSD)

3) “inheritance”

a) allotted portion

b) eternal salvation (Tit 3:7 from Rom 8:17 JMSB)

c) God Himself is (Lam 3:24…)

d) universe is (Heb1:2)

4) “redemption” G629

a) a releasing effected by payment of ransom

b) releasing sinners (captives) from sin (captivity) through

Christ’s death (John 8:34; Rom 6:17-21; John 8:33) WSD

c) deliverance from the power and consequences of sin made by a ransomed paid (Rom 3:24; 1Cor 1:30; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14… WSD)

5) “forgiveness of sins”

a) forgiveness: “to release from bondage or imprisonment, letting go as if they had never been committed”

b) sins: “to miss the mark, to wander from God’s law, the right path

6) Paul and Timothy are praying for the believers in Colosse that they would give thanks to God the Father because He has enabled them to share in the inheritance of being saints in the light, in purity, holiness, truth.

7) God has rescued them and us from the power of darkness, deception and wickedness and transferred them into the kingdom (realm) of Jesus

a) in Jesus we have redemption, freedom from the slavery, power and penalty of sin, made possible by His blood, by the ransom He paid with His life and the forgiveness or freedom from sins.

C. Summary

1. we were once living in darkness: in falsehood, impurity, and wickedness

2. now we are light in the Lord, so we are called to live a lifestyle as children of light producing the fruit of light: goodness, righteousness, truth

3. when we responded to the Gospel, God washed, cleansed and freed us from our sin, He sanctified or separated us from sin to Himself and purified us

4. if one says they know God but continues to live in darkness then they are lying and not practicing the truth for they are not really saved.

5. when we on occasion do sin, the blood of Jesus cleanses us.

6. How to walk in the Light

7. we are called to put off the old self, who we were before God saved us

8. if we walk habitually in the light, in truth, holiness and purity, we will experience fellowship with one another and cleansing from sin

9. only in Jesus can we have redemption, freedom from the slavery, power and penalty of sin,

D. Application

1. Are you living constantly in light, truth, purity and holiness? Or in darkness?

2. The value of Jesus’ sacrifice, the cleansing and forgiveness can only be applied to someone who agrees with God about their sin and trusts that Jesus died to pay for it.

3. Have you applied the value of Jesus’ blood to your life?

4. When we sin, remember that God is ready to cleanse us from it when we confess and repent.

5. Is there some sin in your life that you need to deal with and turn from?

6. Are you producing the fruit of Light: goodness, righteousness and truth?

7. living as a child of Light, producing fruit of light pleases God

8. Are you participating in the works of darkness: falsehood, impurity, wickedness? Or Do you expose them?

9. Do you thank God for what He has done for you?

10. Do you thank Him for your salvation and for knowing Him?

11. Do you recognize that He has rescued you from the power of darkness and Satan’s rule and has placed you in His kingdom.?

12. Have you allowed Jesus to free you from slavery, from the power and penalty of sin?

13. IF you were to die today, are you certain that you would go to heaven because your sins are forgiven?

III. Summation:

John described the consequences of living in darkness and in light.

We learned that God is light and how that affects us, the contrast of living in darkness and in the light, that anyone can claim to be a Christian, to have fellowship with God but their lifestyle proves if it is true or not, that we can’t have fellowship with God and live in darkness, that If we say we have fellowship with God but keep on living in sin, we lie and do not practice the truth, that if we walk habitually in the light we will experience fellowship with one another and cleansing from sin.

IV. Invitation:

Are you walking in darkness or in the light? Are you staying away from drugs, sexual immorality, filthy language, lying, selfishness, jealousy, hatred, gossip, lust?

The value of Jesus’ sacrifice, the cleansing and forgiveness can only be applied to someone who agrees with God about their sin and trusts that Jesus died to pay for it. Is there some sin in your life that you need to confess to God about and turn from?

IF you were to die today, are you certain that you would go to heaven because your sins are forgiven?