Scripture:
I John 1:5-10 NKJV
[5] This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to 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 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 Christ His Son cleanses 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.
Observation:
There are a few writers in the bible that really kind of put the hammer down when it comes to how we are to conduct ourselves as followers of Jesus christ. John is one of them. We have been directed to his books the past fir mornings and feel like there is a reason for it. I’m looking at the scripture this morning that the Holy Spirit brought me to and thinking about what has been written in these SOAPS the past few days. GOD has a plan, and John wants to make sure we are aware of it. First of all, in John’s gospel, he makes sure that the main focus is on the fact that Jesus Christ is the son of GOD. Making that clear before he moves on to anything else. Here in chapter 1 of 1st John, he is sure to clarify how he is talking about as well and not just that but the fact that GOD shows him the truth. HE (GOD) is light, and there is no darkness in HIM. There is nothing that shifts or changes. No deception or lies. HE is the light that shines bright in the dark. Verse 6 turns the focus on us and our conduct. Saying that we have fellowship with GOD and keeping secrets lying and being deceptive will not be a part of who we are. Living in the light means living in full vew of others. The book of James has a key to this as well, saying to confess our sins one to another so that we may be healed. Just like John is saying. By saying we have no sin, we are lying… and well… that’s a sin, and the only person we are lying to is ourselves. John is not saying that by living in the light, you are without sin. What he is saying is that by living in the light when you do sin, you don’t hide it. You confess it, and GOD will forgive you. Now, before any confusion comes into the picture, let’s make sure we know that this does not give us freedom to sin but frees us from the power of sin. Which is guilt, shame, and fear. Moving on to verse 10. We know that in Romans, Paul tells us, ” ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD.” Every one of us has sinned. There is no getting around it. Knowing GOD’S word is known that you have sinned and deserve what christ took for you 3 nails and 2 pieces of wood leading to a brutal death on a cross.
Application:
The more I study the Bible, the more I see that the answers are in Genesis. GOD told us what we needed to know right out the gate. But as you have probably found out over the course of your life… we are hard-headed and need to hear the truth in many different ways before we understand it. After the fall in the garden, Adam tried to hide what had happened and couldn’t. It was clear. Especially to GOD. The question came right out the gate: Where are you? Why are you hiding? Who told you you were naked? The power of sin had set in… guilt, shame, and fear. GOD has given us a way through that… confession. There is no reason to hide. GOD’S love has covered your sin. Living in the light is the key. Finding a group of people you can be real with and doing just that. Accountability and feeling free comes from living in the light. My hope for all of us is that we will turn from our sins. That we will run to the father. Over and over and over until we find victory over the sin that so easily besets us. As a man who had struggled with addiction most of my life. It was hard to see how all the struggles would lead to anything but more struggles. The decisions I would make always led to worse problems. Finding my way to the very bottom of life. There was no other way to look but us. Confessing that I was a sinner in need of a savior set me free. I would love to sit here and say that I am without sin now, but that would be a lie. The point is this… I may not be the man I should be… but by the grace of GOD, I’m not the man I used to be. HE has changed me. I was a thief and a liar, a phornacater and an adulter, given to the god of addiction, poverty, and violence, spreading hate and discontentment. I was a sinner of the worst kind. GOD is changing me, and I hope HE is doing the same for you. I have been drug free for a number of years now. GOD delivered me from drug addiction and many other things that consumed my life and has overwhelmed my life with a desire to live for HIM. The Holy Spirit is constantly refining me… pointing out areas that need work as I continue to walk with the LORD. What I know is this GOD will not leave us unfinished. HE will continue to mold us until the day of christ Jesus. On that day, we will be spotless. Our sanctification will be complete, and we will walk with HIM forever in the kingdom of light. My point is to stop hiding live in the light. By hiding you, give sin its power. Confess and repent. GOD will honor that. HE is faithful and just and will forgive you. It doesn’t matter what you have done.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you looked through time. You saw us and chose us. You knew how imperfect we were and how your plan was perfect. You have missed no details in our lives. From beginning to end, you know us. Let us live in the light. Help us to be whom you made us to be. We do not want to try to hide our sins from you. It’s just not possible. You are the light of the world. Searching here and there for us. We want to be used by you. Show us how to be more effective for your kingdom. Remove the things in our lives that keep us from what you have planned for us. Help us to be honest not only with ourselves but with all whom you have given us to have as family. You are a good GOD. The one and only true GOD. We want to truly step into the calling you have given us. Open the doors nessesrey for us to do so it’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.