In my small group at church we’re studying the book of I John. I’m just gonna touch base with part of I John 1. So I guess it’s not really an explication. Just a little of my thoughts on the passage. a? a? yeah?
I John 1:5-10 :: (5)This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (6) If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (8) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Verse five is really a ground laying verse for the next 4 verses to follow. “God is light” this first part of the verse is kinda funny but very necessary. For some reason us humans have a hard time understanding that God is Light, and he doesn’t have a speck of darkness (sin) in Him at all. It’s like saying, “That is a car, not a horse.” Duh! You can’t have half car half horse. God is light, he can’t be darkness or contain darkness. If He did contain darkness, he could no longer be light.
The next verse shows us why this combination of light and darkness is not possible. Basically, “if we(I) claim to have fellowship with him” (if I claim to be in God’s light) and am living in sin, I am the best example of an oxymoron. It’s just not possible. You’re either in or out. If you’re not saved you’re out. If you are saved then you’re in. You can’t be a glow in the dark sticker. You’re either all light or all dark. Then John proceeds to tell us what we’re really doing when we claim such things: “we lie and do not live by the truth.” Thats pretty sobbering stuff right there. I’m picturing something like, we’re walking around with all this sin inside us and going up to people and saying, I’m walking in God’s light, and then that person whips out a big poster from his back pack that says “YOU LIAR.”
But John doesn’t stop there. He gives us the best part of the message. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.” Let’s stop right here first. Ok, this is the part where I picture myself being part of some really cool snowboarders club. So I pay my dues and my membership fees and I’m finally in the “Cool Snowboarder’s Lounge” sipping my soda. All the snowboarders are walking around talking about the huge kickers over on the west face. Now, the question is, How can we become members? John says by walking in the light. The same light he told us about in verse 6. Then he goes on and says “AND the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from ALL sin.” WOW! not only are you a member of the snowboarder’s club, but you get all the private lessons you want from Shawn Palmer (He’s a really good snowboarder). So you get to be in fellowship with all these other believers in Christ (light walkers) and you get to be continually purified by Christ. Not just one purification, but continual purification. You never run out of the juice baby!
Ok, enough already, so how do I get this purification and become a light walker??? Ah, there in is the power of the next verse. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from ALL unrighteousness.” So thats the trick. But it takes some doing. Because he says, “IF” so you gotta show your genuine desire for the light and purity. But if you do show that simple desire, then Christ will be faithful to hold his end true also. He will forgive your sins and purify you from ALL, not one or two, ALL unrighteousness. This verse really shows off how much Christ is waiting to do for you and me. Here we are, just fessing up to our mistakes and faults, and he gives us purity. Purity is the righteousness Christ is looking for and it’s what makes us eligible to live with Him in heaven for eternity.
Verse 10 is a reminder. Don’t forget boys and girls, you’ve got purity and righteousness, but don’t you dare forget how you got it. Don’t you dare forget that it is because of Christ, and NOT at all your own doing. You learned your snowboarding skills from Shawn Palmer. Everytime you see Shawn, he’ll remind you by asking how your riding is coming. Same way with Christ. Don’t you forget it!
