John’s First Epistle

1 Jno. 1:5-10

Walk In The Light

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. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 cleanses us from all sin. If we say 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. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  – 1 Jno. 1:5-10, English Standard Version

This passage should remind us of the relationship between who God is and how His people are to live. Since “God is light,” our response to Him ought to be that we “walk in the light.” By living this way, “we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” It is simple enough a concept. God is light, so we should walk in the light, reflecting the character of our Father. Doing so brings blessings to us, now and eternally.

This can be read another way, leading to the same conclusion. Ask yourself, “do I want cleansing and fellowship with God?” If you desire these, because of Jesus’ death, you can have them, but only if you walk in the light.

As we walk in the light (which includes penitent confessions of sin, implied in this context, see verses 8 & 9), we enjoy fellowship with God. However, denials of sin do two things: (1) make God a liar, and (2) show that His Word is not in us.

If we walk in darkness – that is, live in sin – it doesn’t matter what we say about our relationship with God:We lie and do not practice the truth.

I should come away from this paragraph with one clear intention: I’m going to walk in the light of God’s Word, for God is light. By doing this, by living this way, I’ll be cleansed and enjoy fellowship with God. The rest of first John describes what it means to walk in the light.