1 John 1:5-10 (KJV)
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.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
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.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
GOD is light and
John 1:4-5 (KJV)
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Jesus Christ has come into the world bringing His light, but those who dwell in darkness are blind can not see the light. His light pierces the darkness and
Isaiah 60:1-3 (KJV)
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Jesus Christ is the light. When we follow Jesus we don’t walk in darkness.
John 8:12 (KJV) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
If we say we have fellowship with Jesus Christ but walk in darkness we are deceiving ourself. Walking in darkness opposes walking in the light, it is a continual lifestyle of the world. A lifestyle of sin. Walking in the light is demonstrated by our lifestyle and actions not just by what we say. It all has to match up.
In verse 7 we can see one aspect of what it looks like when we walk in the light.
We have fellowship with one another, that is we gather and interact together. When one walks in darkness one would flee from Jesus and the fellowship of His people, as it says in John 3:20 (KJV) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (in the NKJV it says “deeds should be exposed”).
Walking in the light does not mean an absence of sin (if we say we have no sin we deceive ourself verse 8) but walking in the forgiveness of sin as is clear in verse 7 the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) says “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
And here in verse 10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”.
The difference is we do not walk in darkness and live a lifestyle of sin. We have fellowship with Jesus Christ and want to please Him, we want to obey Him. There is a struggle between our sinful flesh and our born again spirit. Our souls are being renewed and are in the process of sanctification. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Thank GOD that He is working is us, transforming us to become more like Him. And then when we slip up and sin that we know that If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Verse 9).
Let us all encourage each other to keep walking in His light, fellowshipping with Jesus Christ and with each other, walking in His forgiveness and pray as in
Matthew 6:12-13 (KJV)
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.