Bro Kenneth Yoder
1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Our text, is found in verse seven, in the phrase, "if we walk in the light". In this study we shall endeavor to understand what this phrase means. The word "walk" is used as a metaphor of the manner of one's living. It refers to the activities of a person's life; one's conduct and behavior. I have chosen the title Living in the Light rather than Walking in the Light because I believe it conveys the idea of the passage better. We will discover that Living in the Light is a fundamental requirement for fellowship with God. Judging whether or nor we are living in the light is a way by which we may test the genuineness of our relationship with God.
Let us begin our study by briefly considering John's introduction of this expression and discover the setting in which this phrase appears. John wrote, "this is the message which we have heard of him." John is referring to the fact that he was a personal witness of the teachings of Jesus Christ. He is declaring what he originally heard from Jesus, Himself.
Here is the message, "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." What does the expression, "God is light, mean? It is a description of the nature of God, or what God is like. God's essential nature is summed up in one word, "light.
Again, what does this mean? The meaning of the terms "light" and "darkness'' are essential to understanding this passage. In the Scriptures the term "light" is used symbolically or as a metaphor in basically two different ways. First, in an intellectual sense, it symbolizes truth in contrast to darkness, which symbolizes error. Second, in the moral sense, light symbolizes righteousness and darkness symbolizes evil or sin.
Several Scripture texts could be quoted in support of the above statements but a couple should be sufficient. Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. The Psalmist wrote, "the entrance of thy words giveth light", and then in the following phrase he explained what he meant by that statement, "it giveth understanding unto the simple". In this verse light is used in the intellectual sense of understanding. It symbolized what we commonly call "truth" while being in darkness would mean being in error.
Light used symbolically in the moral sense can be seen in Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness. In this verse light and darkness are used in a moral sense to symbolize good and evil.
When John wrote, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all", he meant that God is absolute Truth and God is absolute Holiness. In Him is no darkness at all! There is not any error or any evil in God at all.
An understanding of this basic principle of truth is important in understanding this passage. It helps us understand the following verses in which John declares that people who claim to have fellowship with God and walk in darkness, lie. The reason this is true is simply because God and darkness are mutually exclusive. They are as exclusive of one another as light and darkness. Where ever light is present, darkness no longer exists because darkness is simply the absence of light. It is impossible for them to coexist because darkness vanishes being driven away by the light. God and darkness can not coexist because they are mutually exclusive of one another. There can not be any fellowship between God and darkness.
Paul wrote in II Corinthians 6:14 What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? I repeat, there can be no fellowship between light and darkness, truth and error, nor righteousness and sin, because they are mutually exclusive of one another. "God is light and in him is no darkness at alI", means that in God there is no error, no deception, no sin, nor evil at all.
God as light reveals darkness for what it is. It is in the light that we see things as they really are. Have you ever tried to find something in the dark? You feel around in the dark, and believe you have found what you were looking for. When you bring it out into the light you discover that it is not what you were looking for at all. The light revealed it for what it really was.
Let me explain this idea further by a simple illustration. I have a sock drawer and sometimes being in a hurry I don't sort them. Many of my socks are solid blue in color. Blue comes in several different shades. Some of those shades are very nearly alike. When I must match them, I walk over to the bedroom window because in the natural sunlight the various shades show up distinctly, in artificial lighting some of the colors are so close that I can't tell the difference; but in the bright sunlight I can. My point is that it is in the presence of light that things are revealed for what they really are.
God as light reveals darkness for what it is. Truth and righteousness will reveal the true nature of error and evil. Truth and righteousness, because of their essential nature, reveal that error is error, and evil is evil. When a person comes into the light of God, they will immediately become conscious of their own sins. This light uncovers and exposes sin. The idea behind the expression, "God is light, and in Him is no darkness all" is that when you are in the presence of this light of God, everything that separates you from God will show up.
Some have a mistaken idea of the coming of God's light into this world. When God's light came into this world through Jesus Christ it didn't illuminate the whole world. To illustrate the true idea of this light use your imagination with me for a minute. I want you to picture in your mind a darkened theater stage and in the center of that stage is a bright circle of light. Outside of that circle of light is darkness all over the stage. Now, the light of God is very much like that. When the light came into the world, it didn't light up the whole world-stage. The light is still surrounded by darkness.
To further illustrate this idea, picture me shutting off all the lights in a room and holding a bright spot light that would create a circle of light in an otherwise darkened room. The farther one withdrew from the circle of light the darker it would become. You would not have to stay or linger in the light because if you so choose you could withdraw from the circle of light. Thus you could either abide in the light or move out into the surrounding darkness. It would be your choice. You wouldn't have to move into the circle of light. In like manner, those who choose to live in sin may refuse to come to the light of God. We will develop that thought later.
I trust that you have a mental picture of what I am attempting to describe. My point is that light has come into a darkened world and exists as a limited circle of light in an otherwise darkened world. One may either approach the light and live in it, or he may flee the light and live in darkness.
John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather man light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that loveth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to me light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds maybe made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Notice, John is speaking of God sending His Son into the world to SAVE the world. God didn't send His Son to condemn or judge the world, but that the world might be saved. We were already condemned. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. This means that the light of God has come into this darkened world through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. When the light came into this darkened world it didn't illuminate the whole world. The world is still in darkness. The world continues to live in darkness.
Christians were once in the kingdom of darkness but now they are in the kingdom of God, (See Colossians 1:13). They have been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness and translated into the kingdom of light.
I hope you are following my line of thought and getting the picture because it is important to an understanding of what it means to live in the light. Light has come into a darkened world and we can either approach it or move away from it We can either come to the light of God and live in that light, or we can step outside of it and back into the shadows and live in the darkness.
Whenever the gospel is understood and the light of God enlightens one's mind, that person has the opportunity and responsibility of moving into that light and living in that light. When the light shines on one who loves sin he will recede from the circle of light back into the darkness of the world. John 3:19 light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light.
Now, why would anyone live in the dark shadows rather than in the bright light? Jesus answers that question: "because their deeds were evil". That is the reason many won't come to the light and walk in the light. As I said above; the light of God reveals darkness for what it is. When you come into the presence of the light, you will become conscious of your own sins because the light will expose the motives and intents of your heart. Light reveals and one will realize that his deeds are evil! The holiness of God has a way of revealing what we really are.
When a person refuses to acknowledge that their deeds are evil and repent, then they avoid the light. Jesus said they will not come to the light but choose rather to live in the darkness.
I repeat the question, "Why?" The answer is to keep from being exposed as evil. People who live in sin don't like being exposed as wicked. Notice verse 20, For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light; neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. The word "reproved" means exposed, discovered, made known or revealed.
Now, notice verse 21, But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light that his deeds maybe made manifest that they are wrought in God. A person who "does truth "means one who lives according to the principles of truth. The person who does truth comes to the light. There is an element of truth in the saying that every honest heart would accept the truth, if they knew it. The decision to come to the light and to live in the light, makes it apparent that that person was basically honest.
The degree of light that you possess doesn't have much to do with your basic attitude towards the light. One who lives to all the light he possesses would readily accept more. A person who is willing to live in the light possesses a certain attitude towards the truth. It doesn't matter how extensive or how insignificant his understanding is.
We must be willing to have our deeds exposed. Everyone who goes to Heaven has to humble himself and allow the light to expose and reveal his deeds for what they really are. You couldn't face God in the final judgment unless you were willing to endure this exposure. What would you do at the final Judgment? What could you say? How could you face God, if you are unwilling to be exposed? When you come to the light it indicates you are willing to have your life exposed.
Lets read a parallel text in Ephesians 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. The word "reproved", means exposed or discovered. The verse states, "whatsoever doeth make manifest is light." That is another way of saying what the passage in the third chapter of John said. The reason that men hate the light is because it exposes, reveals and reproves. I repeat, the reason people won't live in the light is because they refuse to allow their deeds to be exposed as evil.
Now, let's return to our main text in the first chapter of I John. Notice verse 6 If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. What does John mean by this statement? First, look at the phrase, 'If we say". That expression means, "if a person claims". If a person claims to have fellowship with God and lives in darkness, he is lying. This refers to a person who claims that he has fellowship with God but lives in the darkness of evil.
What John states is that living in darkness is incompatible with fellowship with God. You cannot live in fellowship with God and walk or live in darkness. You must come out into the light and live in the light. To live in darkness means to live in known sin. If you conscientiously allow any known sin, it is not possible to have fellowship with God.
Those who claim to do so are deceived. There are many professing Christians who would say, "I commit sin because everybody sins in either thought, word, or deed but I also enjoy fellowship with God." Well friend, they are deceived. Do Christians really accept this lie? Yes, millions do. Millions of people believe that they are in fellowship with God and yet acknowledge known sin in their lives.
One of the reasons some refuse to attend a church where holiness is preached and practiced is because it reveals them for what they are. It is possible to deceive yourself into thinking that you have fellowship with God while you are yet practicing known sin. John declared, "If we say that we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness, we lie". That is a strong statement, but many are living a lie. The tragic truth is that you can be deceived and actually believe this lie. Many don't realize that they are living a lie because of the influence of popular false teachings. The Scriptures teach that a Christian can't live in the dark shadows. They must come into the circle of the bright light and live there. My friend, you can leave the circle of light and go back into the dark shadows. When you do, you can't have fellowship with God.
If we claim to know God or to be in fellowship with God then there are certain conditions that we must meet to validate those claims. In the first two chapters of I John there are at least three conditions of being in fellowship with God. Lets briefly notice them. In I John 1:6,7, one must be living in the light. In I John 2:3-6, one must keep the commandment of God. In I John 2:9-11, one must love his brother to validate his claims of being in the light. In this and the following articles I will discuss in depth these conditions.
Lets return to the subject at hand. If a person claims to be in fellowship with God and walks in darkness there are two realities that John states about that person. First, he is lying. Second, he is not practicing the truth. What does the expression, "do not the truth", mean? It means that person is not practicing what is true. He is not living according to what God has revealed as true.
I researched the original word that is translated "walk" and discovered that this verb is in the present tense which indicates a continuous action. It refers to a life of sustained endeavor to conform to the truth as revealed by God through His word.
In Scriptural terms 'Walking in the light" means living in complete openness before God. We must be willing to live in the bright light of exposure. It is the only way one can have fellowship with God. If you live in complete openness and honesty before God, you can enjoy God's presence. This means living in absolute honesty and responding in obedience to all that is revealed as true about yourself. It also means there is nothing hidden between you and God. There exist no concealed intentions and no ulterior motives. It is a wonderful way to live. We must walk in the bright light if we have fellowship with God.
The Word of God is the revealer of our heart. Hebrews 4:12, 13 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Lets notice a couple of truths in relation to living in complete openness before God fromthis passage. First, "the Word of God is quick and powerful". We tend to forget how powerful the Word of God is. Too many people are trifling with God's Word which in reality is the same as trifling with God, Himself. God is not to be trifled with! Some believe they have nothing to fear from God. We need to realize that when man speaks, it is one thing, but when God speaks, it is quite another. What God says is "quick", that is, it is alive or living. That is why it is also "powerful". These expressions mean the Word of God is very effective.
Notice in the 13th verse the expression, "with whom we have to do". Somebody may ask, "Who is it with whom we have to do?" The answer is, we must deal with God! Do you realize this? That statement is not meaningless rhetoric but an awful solemn truth. God's Word is not like the word of man. God's Word is effective and in the sense of being self-fulfilling. What God says, will come to pass. God's Word is effective in the sense that it brings to fulfillment the purpose that God has in sending it forth. God's Word is never without results. That's how powerful it is. Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
I am not a prophet in the technical sense of the word. I haven't received special revelations from God. I simply warn people by applying the revealed principles of God's Word. I only know what I read in the Bible. I know that if we don't live in the light there will be consequences. God's Word is quick and powerful, therefore it will never be sincerely preached without results.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of God is "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart". That means that it penetrates man's innermost being and it brings his hidden motives to light. The Word of God is "sharper than any two edged sword". That expression means that the Word of God has a razor sharp discerning power. It cuts a very fine line; so fine that it divides between the soul and spirit. That means it cuts a very fine line indeed!
The Word of God as a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our heart shares the attributes that God alone possesses. Exposing and revealing the intents of our heart is what God shall do in the final judgment. The Word of God brings a judgment on the thoughts and intents of a man's heart in this present world.
Paul speaks of the final judgment in I Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsel of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. It is in the final judgment that God is going to "bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart". The Word of God does that NOW as it discerns the thoughts and intents of one's heart.
It is in this sense that when we are confronted by God's Word, then we are confronted by God Himself. In the presence of God nothing can be concealed and in a corresponding sense nothing can be hidden in the presence of the light of God's Word.
Let us return to Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. The expression, "all things are naked and opened", literally means "to throw the head back and bare the face to exposure". Another way of expressing this idea would be: God will look you straight in the face. You must face God. In our dealing with God, we must come face to face with Him. We may conceal the inner intentions of our heart from others, but nothing escapes God because all is open and naked
Dear friend, can I remind you, that we must deal with God personally and individually at the final judgment. God will expose (without any cover-up) the secret thoughts of our hearts. He will strip us of all of our disguise and pretense. The light of the Word of God is sent into the world to judge you before you stand in final judgment.
That is why living in the light brings fellowship with God. A man who lives in the light, lives his life in full exposure to God. He lives in complete openness before the Lord. A man who chooses to live in the light strips himself of all falsehood and all pretenses, (doing things for appearance sake or affect). He lives completely open in the bright light. To express it differently: he lives a transparent life. It is only a man who lives thus that has fellowship with God. If you don't live in the light, you can't have fellowship with God.
Did you ever know anyone who dreaded to hear close plain preaching? Often it is because they are afraid something in their life is going to be exposed. The exposure of our heart by the searching Word of God can be painful. It is not a pleasant experience to have our heart's intent exposed when it is sinful. Often it is an embarrassment for us when asked by the Spirit of God, "Why did you do that?" or "What were your real reasons?" When God uncovers the real intent or purpose of our heart, it can be both embarrassing and painful.
The only way anyone can have fellowship with God is by living in the light. When God searchingly asks, "Why did you do that?" We may be embarrassed to admit the real reason but if you are going to have fellowship with God, you must be honest with yourself and with God.
Being in fellowship with God will immediately generate an awareness of God's awesome holiness, which in turn will expose any wrong motives. This is why walking in the light cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
"Cleanseth", means to purify. It implies more than mere forgiveness. It refers to the removal of sin from one's heart. If we walk in the light there are two results that occur. First, "we have fellowship with God". Second, "the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin". If you live in the light (in complete openness before God), it will bring a purification that cleanses from ail sin.
Are you willing to let your heart be searched by the light of God's presence, to discover your real spiritual condition? What if your real intents are selfishly sinful, (for personal pleasure, profit, position or possessions)? What could you do to remain in sweet fellowship with God, if your motives were wrong? The discovery of any sinful motive would lead an honest person to seek complete cleansing to restore fellowship with God.
I trust that you understand what living in the light means. When you come into the presence of light, there will occur an exposure that will cause you to be conscious of your personal sins. The light of God's holiness brings exposure but if you are going to have fellowship with God, then you must live in the light which exposes all sin.
Let me ask you a personal question, "Are you willing to ask God to strip you naked before Him?" Dear friend, ask Him to penetrate through all your guise and pretense. Ask God to let you know your heart. David prayed in this manner, Psalms 139:23,24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way and lead me in the way everlasting.
If we are not willing to live in this kind of openness, we can not have fellowship with God. God will withdraw from us and we will not be blessed by His presence. We may continue our church services, our camp meetings, and our revival meetings but unless the church lives in the searching light of God, she will not be blessed by God's presence. Many refuse to come to the light because if they would actually face the truth, it would require more than they are unwilling to admit. It would require a humble confession. The result of such a humbling would be wonderful but the process is painful and embarrassing. It is both an embarrassing and painful experience to allow God's searching light to expose one's wrong motives and purposes.
Let us be honest enough to confess that our heart has not been perfect towards God, if such is the case. Let us ask God to cleanse us from all sin. If we as God's people would humble ourselves there would result a fellowship and bond among God's people that we haven't known for many years.
I don't have all the answers; but I know that God will not bless us if we possess thoughts and intents of heart that are not right. We may bow down to pray together and arise to worship together but if the spiritual conditions are not right, then God is not going to bless.
God will remove His benefits and blessings from any people who refuse to live in the light. If I am not mistaken this is what has occurred among us. We are no longer true to each other nor to God. We do not live in honesty and openness. There is too much pretense and falseness in the heart of many who profess to be members of the church. If we would walk in the light as I have attempted to describe to you in this article, we would experience a cleansing from sin. This cleansing is the neglected requirement of the revival for which we pray.
May God let this article be a discerner of the thoughts and intents of your heart, is my prayer. I trust that each will experience the cleansing from all sin that is promised in I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleaneth us from all sin. If such would occur, the results would be beyond our greatest hopes and dreams. God would come in revival power and blessing to His people.