Walking in the light

“But 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7–9 KJV) T here are times that people forget things.

The older a person gets the easier it becomes for one to forget certain things. I once heard of an older lady that had read about taking a certain vitamin that would improve her memory, and after deciding to buy the vitamin and coming home from the pharmacy she could not remember where she put the vitamins and was unable to take them. From time to time we may have to be reminded of certain things to help our remembering, but something that should never be forgotten, but sometimes is, is the salvation that is had in Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly states that those that have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27), they have had their sins washed away (Acts 22:16), they are able to walk in the newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4), being made a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), and those that continue to walk in the light have a continual cleansing of sin (1 John 1:7ff.). Although the Bible clearly states these facts, there are some that will question their salvation, and wonder if they are “good enough” to go to heaven. For those that have these types of concerns we have a wonderful book in the Bible that will help ease our minds, the book of 1 John, and each chapter emphasizes the security of our heavenly home.

As John begins this epistle, He begins very similarly to the Gospel account that bears his name, speaking of the One that was “from the beginning’ (1 John 1:1). This is a reference to the Christ, the One who in the beginning was the Word and was with God (John 1:1). John is speaking of Jesus in the first verse, but he also states that He was here on the earth as they were able to hear Him, see Him, and touch Him. Jesus was active in the creation of the world in the beginning (Genesis 1, John 1), but at the appropriate time, though being in the form of God, He took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man (Phil.

2:5ff.), in order that the eternal purpose of God (the redemption of man; Eph. 3:10) might take place. This wonderful message of Jesus Christ was to be declared by John and those that would obey the commands of Jesus could share in the same fellowship that John had with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). This is the joyous message of the Gospel, which is a message of having joint participation with Jesus, and an inheritance in heaven.

After making introductory remarks, John now launches into the heart of the matter (1 John 1:5). “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5 KJV). There are several lessons that could be taught about light and darkness from Scripture. Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5), we are called out of darkness into His marvelous light (2 Peter 2:9), and those that refuse to obey the Gospel commands will be cast into outer darkness (Matt. 25:30). God has given us His Word in order that we have a light unto our feet (Psalm 119:105), as He has enabled men to see the path of holiness, providing the strength to walk in the light. Having provided the light, God has also provided an opportunity to have fellowship with Him (1 John 1:6). By sending Jesus to shed His blood for the remission of our sins (Matt.

26:28), God has made a way possible that we might be saved (John 3:17), and in so doing we are now made children of God (1 John 3:1). Although God has provided the light, and offers His fellowship to us, it is possible to walk in darkness (1 John 1:6).

Those that do not do the truth, those that will not obey the commands of the Lord, cannot have fellowship with God. God desires that everyone obey Him (2 Peter 3:9), God desires that all men be saved (1 Tim.

2:4), but it is possible, that although He has provided the light, there will still be some that chose to walk in the darkness.

The thrust of the reminder of our eternal home is found in 1 John 1:7. “But 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” (1 John 1:7 KJV. When we continually walk in the light (live the life approved of God), we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. The life of a Christian is continuous, moving action. It is not an act that is performed one time and then finished immediately, but it is something that is constant, just as Paul would exhort to “press toward the mark” (Phil. 3:14). This passage is not teaching that once we are saved we are exempt from sin, as 1 John 1:8 points out “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,” but this passage does teach that if we sin we have an avenue of forgiveness available, as Jesus is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Jesus is able to wash away our sins in the waters of baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16), and after being baptized and walking in the light, if we sin, we have an avenue of forgiveness again through Him if we confess our sins.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded of certain things. May we never forget the eternal home that awaits those that walk in the light. May we continue to walk in the light!

Jeremy Thornton is Minister of Highway 77 Church of Christ in Marion.

Jeremy Thornton

Minute with the Minister