BIG IDEA:
THE TEST OF FELLOWSHIP IS WALKING IN THE LIGHT
I. (;5) THE CHARACTER OF GOD ESTABLISHES THE ABSOLUTE STANDARD OF LIGHT
A. The Gospel Message Focuses on the Character of God
1. The Divine Source of the gospel message
“And this is the message we have heard from Him”
Not invented by the apostles or heard from a questionable source; but comes from Christ Himself — the very Savior that they had heard, seen and touched
2. The Human Proclamation of the gospel message
“and announce to you”
Critical that we handle the Word of God carefully and accurately;
How blessed are we that someone proclaimed this message to us; we should be proclaimers to others (John 1:3-9); imperative that we don’t alter the message
B. The Character of God is Absolute Light
1. Positive
“that God is light”
Throughout the OT light is a feature of God’s self-manifestation rather than of his heavenly being; but this revelation (truth) has to be linked to holiness since the truth is both something to know and to do; the effect of the light is not just to make men to see, but to enable them to walk
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Christ is the Light of the World (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46);
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Christ perfectly reveals the Father (John 1:18; 14:9-11)
Stott: “It is His nature to reveal Himself, as it is the property of light to shine; and the revelation is of perfect purity and unutterable majesty.”
2. Negative
“and in Him there is no darkness at all”
Light always involves the removal of darkness; since light is essential to all life; light and life are closely connected — as are darkness and death
II. (:6-7) FELLOWSHIP DEMANDS THAT OUR WALK BE CONSISTENT WITH THE LIGHT
A. (:6) Walking in Darkness Invalidates Any Assurance of Fellowship
Remember the false teaching of the Gnostics who believed in dualism = separation of body and spirit; they were teaching that spiritual communion with God is independent of physical morality = your walk says nothing about your relationship with God
1. Failure to Be Real — Hypocrisy (or Self-Deceit)
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness”
This would be walking in a sphere where the light of God is inoperative
2. Failure to Be True
a. In Word
“we lie”
b. In Deed
“and do not practice the truth.” — cf. practical emphasis of Book of James
If we verbalize that we are sharing in God’s life but our lifestyle is characterized by the world’s attitude of indifference to moral principles, then we are not what we profess to be and are not living according to the Word:
– no conviction of sin is present / no fear of God
– no God-oriented desire to obey and please God
– no orientation of life around Biblical absolutes
If we are living a lie, what type of assurance of salvation should we have?
B. (:7) Walking in the Light Assures Us of Visible Fellowship and Inward Cleansing
1. Conformity to the Standard
“but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light”
2. Fruit of Assurance
a. Visible Fellowship
“we have fellowship with one another”
b. Inward Cleansing
“and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Blood — speaks of death conceived as a sacrifice for sin
Stott: “God does more than forgive. He erases the stain of sin.”
Look at the cycle that John develops here:
– fellowship in the life leads to
– walking in the light which leads to
– fellowship with one another and cleansing from sin which leads to
– growing practical assurance of fellowship in the life which leads even more to
– walking in the light; etc.