The last few articles have been an overview of God's salvation plan, for both those who need Christ and those who have already submitted to Him. Hopefully, you have chosen to hear, believe, and obey Him.
You’re a Christian, now what? Let's look at what John wrote to some of the first Christians.
1 John 1:1
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
The apostles have testified of the signs and message they witnessed.
1:2-3
the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Their hope of sharing the word of God with Christians is to create spiritual fellowship with God and one another.
1:4
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
This fellowship with God should bring JOY.
1:5-7
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. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
We keep our fellowship with God when we “walk in the light.” When we become Christians, our sole responsibility to keep ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ is to walk as He walked and practice the truth. How do we know how to walk? What guidelines are there for those who love God?
2:3-5
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
When we live as God has instructed, we are learning to be like Him and His love. By walking in the light, we are perfecting the very love of God in us; we are bringing ourselves closer to Him and His will.
Since walking in the light is keeping His commandments, this implies we have a responsibility to know what He has said. After becoming a Christian, we have to continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) and know the word of truth and its applications to our lives (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17). God has given us 66 books filled with truth about Him and His will, and we need only to read them to “know that we know Him” (1 John 2:3).
Walking in the light is a difficult task, and some will need to ask: what can we do when we fail to walk in the light? Is there hope? Can we be reunified with the fellowship of Christ?
1 John 1:8-2:2
If we say that 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 that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
God has not only made a way of salvation for all sinners, but also a way of restoration for those who once were saved but fall back into sin. This way, which John calls walking in the light, is the perfect delineation of grace, mercy, and love.
So, how do we walk in the light?
We must continue to hear His word, to get to know Him better;
we must continue to believe in the truth of His word and let that guide our lives;
we must continue to repent, change the ways that are not “in the light”;
and we must confess these sins to the righteous Father, knowing that Jesus our Advocate will forgive us.
Walking in the light pleases God, and it gives us access to Jesus: the forgiver of sins, the one who allows us to fellowship with God, and the ultimate atoning sacrifice that takes away our debt. What a wonderful, merciful savior.
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