Explore: Walking in the light

• The Explore the Bible lesson for June 14 focuses on 1 John 1:5-2:6.

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• The Explore the Bible lesson for June 14 focuses on 1 John 1:5-2:6.

John wrote his hallmark epistle in order to add understanding to our faith. Accordingly, he took a firm stand against heresies, especially Gnosticism, which denied the full divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. If one doubts Jesus is God, then how can one believe and thereby experience his life? How can one bear witness to the deliverance from sin and death only Christ can provide?  

1 John stands out as a testament to what happens in the life of a true believer who takes a stand for the lordship of Jesus Christ in the world every day. The believer who connects faith with understanding will actively and naturally seek to demonstrate fellowship with the one true God through holy living. Notice we are not talking about holier-than-thou living. John still understands a Christian has the capability of sinning, and he even addressed the issue of sinful behavior in his letter.

Esteemed Christian theologian Dallas Willard said Christians ought to refer to themselves as “recovering sinners.” We are talking about Christians who, because they understand the inextricable link between faith and works, confess sin and demonstrate their salvation by obeying Christ.

We will examine three critical points for consideration as we seek to live on mission daily in obedience to Christ. Specifically, we will reflect on John’s admonitions to demonstrate holiness, the importance of confessing sin and the significance of walking in a Christlike manner as a testimony to the genuineness of our salvation by grace.

Demonstrate holiness (1:5-7)

John used verse 5 to set up, through bold affirmation, the message of living in God’s virtues—also known as living in the light. Keep in mind, God’s nature reveals everything else in its true nature. All that is dark and/or demonic is excluded from fellowship with God and his children. This led John to push readers to consider our daily stand for Christ. If we claim to be Christ-followers yet keep on loving that which is dark, then we fabricate what could be an otherwise bold and genuine witness. The test of truth in the believer’s life lies in doing the truth. Just as an apple tree bears apples, a Christian will be the fruit of the Spirit.

Walking in the light, then, means one’s life is guided by the God’s nature and by the gospel message. Truth becomes the basis and action from which a Christian lives. Notice the term “walking” indicates continuous action. We must not be caught napping as we seek to live holy and evangelistic lifestyles. In fact, truthful, gospel-filled living can be equated to holy living (Ephesians 5:7-14; 1 Peter 1:13-21). Further, walking in the light means Christians enjoy fellowship with one another while we experience the ongoing, cleansing provided by Jesus’ blood. His forgiveness is fresh and new every day.

Confess sin (1:8-2:2)


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When we assert sin could not affect our relationship to God, we practice a hair-raising form of self-deception. Confession of sin is parallel to walking in the light. We are assured such confession will lead to forgiveness and purification of sin. God remains true to his nature and promises.

In fact, we learn in the passage Jesus serves as an advocate for believers. John’s use of the term “advocate” means Jesus has the power of attorney for Christians. That is, Jesus is the one who intercedes continuously on behalf of believers before the Father (Romans 8:26). Sin is an ever-present possibility for the believer, but there also is an ever-present advocate.

John also referred to Jesus as the “atoning sacrifice” for our sins. Some translations use similar terms such as “propitiation” or “expiation.” The term actually refers to the Day of Atonement, when a lamb’s blood was sprinkled in the Holy of Holies at the Temple. Another lamb was then led out of the Temple and into the desert, never to be heard from again as a symbol of what God thinks of our sin when it is forgiven.

God forgives and forgets our sin as far as the east is from the west. Thus, the advocate also is the one who functions as the person through whom we meet God and our sins are forgiven. Through Christ, there is atonement for sin. We no longer rest under the burden of guilt, but we are free to walk in the light and share fellowship with God and with one another.

Seek to obey (2:3-6)

Knowledge of God and fellowship with God is not an academic axiom. These things are practical and experiential. To profess a relationship to God without practicing Christian ethics makes one out to be a liar. Genuine salvation results in a Christlike desire to obey God’s commands. We will keep his word. The litmus test for the Christian life, then, is the life of Christ. Imitation of Christ is the highest form of devotion to the commandments of God.


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