1 John 1:5-9 / Truths We Can Stand On
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say 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.
If there is one thing we can be sure of right now, it’s that there are many things we can’t be sure about.
Things are constantly changing on us, making it hard to know what foundations we can stand on.
It’s for that reason that I love the book of 1 John. The author definitely doesn’t pull any punches. He clearly and definitively lays the truth of God’s expectations out for us.
During the time this book was written, the believers John was writing to were facing all sorts of temptations to give into false beliefs.
There were leaders and teachers who were coming into the church and trying to lead people to follow ideas of the time that simply weren’t true, and even more importantly, were dangerous if followed.
So John wrote a very straight-forward letter to the early believers, reminding them of the truth they should hold on to. And in these five verses he gives us four truths we can take to heart as well.
1. God is perfect and holy. 5 …God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
In effect, John is saying – “Regardless of what others might be saying about God, He is light and there absolutely no darkness in Him at all. If something seems shady it is not of God, period.”
This is a good reminder because sometimes frustration from our situation, or pain, or confusion or stress can lead us to doubt God’s motives or His goodness. But rest assured, He is perfect, and He is holy.
2. God’s light can’t mix with our darkness. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Our actions reflect the authenticity of our relationship. You can’t “have your cake and eat it too” when it comes to sinning and being close to the Father.
Light doesn’t mix with darkness but invades it. Our obedience and our holiness directly affect our relationship and intimacy.
I can’t tell you how many times I have counseled someone who wasn’t willing to give up a particular sin, and yet was angry at God because they “didn’t feel close to Him.”
If we want to be near to God, we’ve got to follow Him in obedience.
3. The strength of our community depends on us acting like Christ. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…
The strength of our bond as believers is that we hold to the truths we find in Scripture and follow the same Holy Spirit inside each of us. When one believer or another starts to stray from that truth, or stop listening to that Holy Spirit, it puts tension on community – because we are no longer going in the same direction.
So, John reminds the early believers, and us, to walk with God! And as we do, we will enjoy the sweet community that obedience brings.
4. God gives us a path back into intimacy. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We are all going to make mistakes at times. There are days or weeks we don’t feel like drawing close to God. There are sinful habits we try hard to overcome, but at times struggle with. In anger we might lash out, or in hurt we might turn to other things outside of God for comfort.
Sin happens. We know that, and God knows that. And in His grace, God has given us a very quick way to find forgiveness. He says to confess our sins, being honest with God, and when we do, He will be faithful to forgive and make us new again.
As we enter month seven of this pandemic, stay close to God! Be vigilant against your sin and be quick to lean into community and Christ.
With much love,
Dave