Walking in Christ’s Light
Bible in a Year: Isaiah 45-46; 1 Thessalonians 3
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 1 John 1:6
Today's Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10
Insight
The prologue to the letter of 1 John (1:1-4) echoes the introduction to the gospel he’d written earlier (John 1:1-18). In the gospel of John, the apostle says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). The letter of 1 John begins, “That which was from the beginning . . .” (1:1). John’s gospel says of Jesus, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (1:4). His letter says, “The life [Jesus] appeared” (1:2). The parallels continue as the gospel of John calls Christ “the true light” (1:9) and 1 John says, “God is light” (1:5). John then encourages us to “walk in the light, as he is in the light” (v. 7). Bringing our sin to the light of confession brings us forgiveness through the blood of Jesus (vv. 7, 9).
When my two nieces were younger, they’d coax me into a game after dinner. They’d turn off all the lights in the house, and we’d shuffle through the darkness, clutching each other and laughing. They enjoyed scaring themselves by choosing to walk in the dark, knowing they could turn on the light anytime.
In his letter to the early believers in Jesus, the apostle John talked about choosing to walk in a different kind of darkness. First John 1:6 refers to sin as “darkness.” Walking in darkness isn’t a momentary lapse but a choice to keep engaging in wrongdoing. John reminds us that our holy God “is light” and “in him there is no darkness” (v. 5). So when we claim a relationship with Him yet willfully continue sinning, “we lie and do not live out the truth” (v. 6). Jesus, the light of the world, came so that “whoever follows [Him] will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
By God’s grace, after we’ve wandered in spiritual darkness and we turn to Him in repentance, we can walk in His light again—in His ways and purposes. He will “forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Only when we live in obedience to God can we enjoy the full blessing of relationship with Him and with other believers (v. 7).
Reflect & Pray
When have you chosen to “walk in the darkness”? How did this choice impact your relationship with God and with other believers?
Thank You, God, for Your forgiveness and help. Please enable me to walk in Your light.