John is showing believers the requirement to fellowship God in light. Light is the essential nature in God’s being. Any revelation of God is in light and not darkness. Light refers to the fact that God is absolutely and totally holy, righteous and pure. He is untouched by evil or sin in any way. Anyone who desires to fellowship with Him must be pure before God. Jesus came to reveal and make possible this personal fellowship with God. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Father has made it possible for each of us to know Him.
1 John 1:5 NKJVThis 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.
What does it mean “that God is light?”
God is light in nature and character. Light is what God is within Himself. His moral character is light. His being, essence, and nature are light. God dwells in the splendor, glory, and brilliance of light. There is a radiant glory around God.
When Ezekiel saw the form of the Lord’s glory, he said: “There was a brilliant light all around Him. The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow…”
John said that: “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.” (1 John 1:5)
That splendor, glory, and brilliance of light shines out of God’s being. Everything that pertains to God is filled with light, holiness, purity, goodness, and righteousness. Notice the contrast, “In Him is no darkness at all.”
Revelation 21:23 NKJVThe city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
When John saw the holy city, it was illuminated with the light of God’s glory. The light of God’s countenance is not imagined or reflective light. His light is not acquired or earned light, God is light. This is the essential nature of God. Everything about God is pure, righteous, holy. He is glorious in all of His being, essence, and work. God is light and light radiates out of Him. He is light within Himself and His light reveals all things. Since God is totally pure and holy, in Him is a total absence of darkness.
John said, “In Him is no darkness at all.
God has no evil side, no sin or weakness. God is totally holy, true, and righteous. Humanity has varying degrees of light and darkness, but there is no darkness in God. Humanity appears to have varying shades of goodness. God is totally holy and good.
Darkness has many negative connotations.
- Jesus said those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness. (John 8:12)
- Those who walk in darkness stumble through life, because the light is not in them. (John 11:9-10)
- Jesus said, “Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Everyone practicing evil hates the light.” (John 3:19-21)
- Darkness represents every kind of unfruitful action. (Ephesians 5:8-11)
- Dark deeds are shameful. (Ephesians 5:11)
- Darkness is a self-willed, unclean, and rebellious attitude. (2 Peter 2:9-10)
- Satan’s kingdom is darkness. (Acts 26:18)
- The ultimate end of sinful and unprepared people will be outer darkness. (Matthew 22:13)
There is a controversy between light and darkness.
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all and Satan and His kingdom is darkness. Everything that is dark opposes God and God opposes all that is darkness.
John says people have three misconceptions.
The first misconception is that a person can fellowship with God and still walk in sin.
1 John 1:6-7 NKJV 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.’
When we walk in Christ’s light, we will do what Christ did. We will enter into the Father’s holy presence with Christ. John says, “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.” This is critical in believer’s lives. It is not enough for God’s Son to come to earth and reveal the nature, character, work and will of God the Father to us. Something must happen in us that brings or delivers us out of the darkness and into the light.
If we are walking in the light of the Son, the blood has cleansed us.
Everything about this transition reflects the cleansing provided by the blood of Jesus. “The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all our sins.” The change that happens that cleanses us transforms our conduct and moral character.
Ephesians 5:8 NKJV For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
If we are walking in the light of Jesus Christ, His blood is constantly cleansing us from our sins. The Light exposes our weakness and failures. If we walk in the light (fellowship God) as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son constantly cleanses us. There is nothing like the joy of knowing your sins are forgiven and you are clean.
The second misconception is that we are not totally sinful and depraved.
1 John 1:8-9 NKJV 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.
Many people argue that they are not sinful and that they can control their own lives.They claim to be “masters of their own destiny.” It is offensive to the flesh for Christ to die for our sins. It implies that we cannot help ourselves or be good enough without intervention. Christ’s death indicates that we are sinful and unacceptable to God. It means that personal efforts cannot secure God’s approval. This is why many people object to Jesus Christ. If He is the Savior of the world, the world needs saving.
We need God’s help.
1 John 1:8-9 NKJV 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.
Some people say they are not responsible or guilty. They act the way they do because of their upbringing, society, or parents. Society is at fault for what they have done. Their actions are a result of their environment. They did not receive adequate education. It is not their fault.
God says we have all sinned and are guilty.
Romans 3:23 NKJV For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Isaiah 64:6 NKJV But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Although we have sinned and are guilty, God offers the only remedy for our sin and guilt.
1 John 1:9 NKJV If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
To fellowship with God in light, we must confess our sins. If we deny that we have sinned, we are deceived. These are two actions of God’s amazing grace. God forgives all our sin and cleanses from all unrighteousness. All of the filth, dirt, pollution, and contamination of sin is cleansed. By the blood of Jesus Christ, we stand before God sinless and clean.
This is good news for every sinner.
As soon as we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to deal with them. He will forgive our sins and cleanse us.
John says people have three misconceptions.
- The first misconception is that a person can fellowship with God and still walk in sin.
- The second misconception is that are not totally sinful and depraved.
- The third misconception is that we can become righteous and sinless by ourselves.
1 John 1:6-8 AMP[So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts].
Do you understand how terrible sin is? Everyone feels that some kind of sin is terrible. Yet, many people normalize sin and say,“It can’t be that bad if everyone is doing it.” Don’t excuse sin by saying: “Everybody does it.”
Still, some people say they have not sinned.
The world may be filled with sin. “Everyone else may be a sinner, but I have not done those kinds of things.” They think they have escaped without being touched. They are good enough on their own. John has a word for that person. He says: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10) This cannot be said any clearer. If anyone says, “I have not sinned,” you are saying that God is a liar.
Many people just don’t understand what sin is. What is sin to God?
The original word for sin means: 1. to miss the mark. 2. to err, be mistaken. 3. to miss or wander from the path of decency and honor, to do or go wrong. 4. to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin.
What is sin to God? To God, sin is missing the mark or falling short of His perfection, glory, and holiness. God says, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) To God, sin is failing to measure up to His moral law and character. To God, sin is acting unlovely, selfish, unkind. To God, sin is impure thoughts and actions.
Each of us have fallen short of the glory of God.We all have missed the mark and have failed in many ways. We have wandered from God. God’s Word plainly tells us that we are sinners.
Isaiah 64:6 NKJVBut we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
The truth is we are all sinful.
Now John deals with the struggle we all have.
1 John 2:1-2 NKJVMy 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.
John is referring to what he said in the first chapter. We have all sinned, but we should not use that as an excuse to continue sinning. Sinning has to do with the weakness of our flesh.
With that in mind, John says: “Sin not.” You should fight and struggle against sin. Don’t make room for sin or give in to sin in your life. If sin attracts you and entices you, resist it. Do everything you can to be more and more like Christ. Strive to be the best you can be. When temptation comes, resist it.
Romans 6:12 NKJV Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
John gives two words to describe who Jesus Christ is to us.
First, He says that Jesus Christ is our “Advocate.”
An advocate is someone who is called to stand by the side of another. He is a Friend who is called in to help a person who is in trouble or discouraged.
What is the appeal our Divine Advocate makes for us? He does not plead to God on the basis of our reputation. He does not say, “You have done many good works.” He does not say, “You are not guilty.” He does not say, “You do not deserve punishment.”
What does He say? When Jesus stands up for us, He pleads on the basis of His own righteousness.
Hebrews 7:25-26 NKJV Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.
Not only is He our Advocate, Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 2:2 NKJV And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
The original word for propitiation means the sacrifice, covering, satisfaction, payment, and appeasement for sin.
Jesus paid the debt for our actions. He has perfectly satisfied the judgment that was against us. God has accepted Christ’s death as payment in full for our sin. God has accepted Christ’s death as the sacrifice and payment for our penalty. When Jesus carries our case before God, He pleads for us on the basis of His own righteousness and death. Regarding our sin, weakness, and sickness Jesus says: “I have paid for that.” “My blood covers that.” “My righteousness is enough for that.” “I have satisfied that claim.”
Jesus paid it all.
Romans 8:34 NKJV Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
