Light, Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness ~ Part II

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness ~ 1 John 1:5-10 

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 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.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us ~1 John 1:5-10

An eighth-century Christian named Alcuin of York prayed: "Almighty and merciful God, the fountain of all goodness, who knows the thought of our hearts, we confess that we have sinned against you, and done what you see as evil. Wash us, we implore you, from the stains of our past sins, and give us grace and power to put away all hurtful things so that, being delivered from the bondage of sin, we may produce the good fruits of repentance."

From this prayer, we understand 3 key truths. First, a foundational truth: "God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all" ~ 1 John 1:5. Second, an applied truth: We must walk in the light (vv.6-7). Our lives are the evidence of our faith. If we claim to have a relationship with God but do not choose holiness and truth, we prove ourselves liars.

Being God's children means we need and want to be where He is and where fellow believers are. If we claim to have a relationship with God, it will also be seen in our unity and fellowship with one another. Third, the truth of grace: Confession is an essential spiritual discipline (vv.8-10) On our earthly pilgrimages, we are unable to walk in the light perfectly. We still sin, and if we think otherwise we are self-deceived.

Thankfully, when we confess, He forgives, always! He is faithful and never gives up on us. He is just as Christ already paid the price. When we stray, He restores us and brings us back into the light (v.9).

* A Moody Commentary taken from ~ Today in the Word, August 2017, pg. 28.