1 John 1:5-10 "The Light of Forgiveness"

1 John 1:5-10.

"This is the message...." NIV

I love this passage. It's so full and rich. First, if we are to have fellowship with God, we are to be walking in the light because He cannot abide in darkness. Can you visualize what we so often try to do? We are walking down a road side-by-side and God is bathed in beautiful light while we are trudging through inky blackness. It just doesn't work. To be in relationship with God, we must be walking in that same light. That means we need to shun the evil of the world that is darkness. We are to not be part of it in any way, but remain in the light as He is in the light. Calling ourselves believers and still walking in darkness just proves we are liars. It isn't possible.

Now I can immediately hear the retort I've so often heard from people claiming to be Christians yet clearly not desiring to live as one. They will say, "No one can walk in the light because no one is perfect. We all sin." Well, the second statement is absolutely true. We do all sin, and that's why the second half of this passage is so wonderful. You see, even if we are surrendered to Christ -- daily taking up our cross to following Him -- we are also human and daily fighting against the temptations the enemy throws at us. We are not successful in dodging those fiery darts 100% of the time. We do sin. BUT, when we confess those sins, He has promised to forgive us. Why is that? Because He is faithful and just.

He is faithful in forgiving us because that is what He promised He would do and He is never a liar. He knew we couldn't live an absolutely perfect life. That's why He has made a provision for us to ask forgiveness through the blood sacrifice of our Lord. If our confession is true and we want to repent of our sin, He will forgive us for our sin.

Because He is just, He will honor His promise of using His Son as the final sacrifice. Justice, in God's eyes, says that someone must pay for the sin. If we haven't confessed with a repentant heart nor truly desire to follow the Lord, then the Savior's sacrifice is useless in our lives. If we are not going to claim the power and sacrifice of Jesus Christ by yielding to Him, then we must accept the responsibility of being the ones to endure the sacrifice. Someone has to pay. The Judge has spoken. The choice of who will pay lies with us.

We all have the opportunity to walk in the amazing light of our Lord and Savior. He already paid the price. Don't make Him watch his sacrifice go unused. Surrender.

Further Thoughts:

1. Are you trying to straddle light and darkness? 
   
2. What changes do you need to make in your life to be walking in the light?
   
3. Is there sin that you need to confess blocking your way? He is patiently waiting.
   
4. Why can't we separate what we do with our bodies from our spiritual being? How are they tied together? (support with Scripture)
   

1 Peter 4:1-6 "Suffering For Sin"

Read 1 Peter 4:1-6.

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin." NIV

Have you ever read a passage and it grabs you? You're not even sure completely what it's meaning, but you are drawn. That happens often to me as I study, and this is one of those verses -- especially the last half. I've know many people who have suffered greatly because of their sin and were glad to leave it behind. But I've known even more who even though they've suffered, don't know how to get out of the sin, have their identity in it and don't want to leave, or in some strange way enjoy the suffering.

Masking the suffering of sin is a huge job for the enemy. He wants everyone to think sinning is much more fun than not sinning. He wants to discredit a straight path as being right- wing fundamentalism - said almost as a dirty word. He wants to make life without sin look boring and useless. But he is the great Deceiver, and we as believers must expose his lie. Oh, those sins may bring a temporary pleasure, but their consequences, both here on earth and in the judgement to come, far outweigh the momentary satisfaction.

How do we expose the Deceiver? By living our lives above reproach, by loving those who are stuck in the deception, by showing them the joy and freedom we have outside of a life of sin, by guiding them out of the lie. It's sort of like being in a dark tunnel, and you are the one in the front of the line with the only flashlight. You could just face the light forward so your path is clear. But it would be so much better if you'd stop and face the light behind you so others could see how to get where you are. You may not feel like you are capable of leading anyone else because you have not gone much farther than they have from their sin, but every little bit away helps. Just seeing a glimpse of a life free from the bondage of sin may be enough to encourage someone to take steps.

Further Thoughts:

1. What are some ways you have suffered because of sin?
2. Look up different examples of Jesus shining the flashlight for people to move away from their sin? How did He illuminate the pain of the sin? In what form did He present the hope?
   
3. Is there someone around you that you need to love out of sin and light the right path? What are some ways you can show them love? How are they going to see the right path?
4. Who do you need to thank for lighting the path for you?
5. How is the Old Testament a light for us?

Matthew 5:14-16 "Light the Way"

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." NIV

I wrote pretty much about this same topic on June 6th in "Living in the Light," but since we live in such a dark world, the truth always bears repeating. We can't forget; we can't stop. If we are going to be the light of the world, we must stop hiding. You only hide those things you are ashamed of. Where your pride is, you shine for all to see. A new parent shows off their new baby; a singer, his voice; an inventor, a new gadget. Where will we place our pride -- in the things that are here today and gone tomorrow? I pray I hear a resounding, NO! We will walk in the light as He is in the light. We will shine before men now because the days are short. Darkness is creeping in, night is coming soon. If we do not shine now, many will be lost. It's time to act; it's time to light up. It's time to be the city on the hill, a beacon to the blind, a refuge to the lost and downtrodden. Light their path; they can't see the way. Live so they can know which way to go. Don't let them flounder in the dark any longer. The day is now. So shine!

Further Thoughts:

1. Fear can become the bowl we use to hide our light. What do you fear and what does Scripture say about the origin of fear and how to handle it? Read 1 John 4:18, Proverbs 29:25, 2 Timothy 1:6-8, and Joshua 1:9, as well as, my post on fear, "Living Fearlessly." Discard the bowl and place your light on the lamp stand of faith.
2. How did some of the giants of the OT handle fear? Read about Moses and the fear he faced in following God's plan in Exodus 3:1-4:31.
3. Shining is a risk -- you stand the chance of ridicule, banishment, persecution.... But you will be blessed. Read what Scripture says about standing in faith in Psalm 33:11, 1 Corinthians 15:58 and 16:13-14.
4. Where do you need to let your light shine? List ways you can shine brighter.

Ephesians 5:8-14 "Living in the Light"

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

'Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.'" NIV

I have a confession....I like watching the CSI shows, much to my husband's boredom. You see, I actually have a scientist's heart. When I was in 8th grade, I wanted to be a research scientist in space and aeronautics. (I'm sure some of you are having a really good laugh over that one right now.) Anyway, when I first started watching CSI, I was always befuddled by the fact that they'd walk into a crime scene with the lights off and use only little flashlights. For Pete's sake, turn on the lights so you can see what happened. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that they would be able to see more detail if they only focused on one spot at a time. With the contrast of the darkness, the light would be even more effective in spotlighting the evidence. Even traces of evidence would pop out in the single beam.

In the same way, Christ came to earth not only to illuminate the evidence -- the truth of our sinful state -- but to cleanse us so we can become light in a dark world. And our lives, then, become the truth revealers. That's why He needs our fruit to shine in righteousness, goodness, and truth. We are His light in a world living in shadows. They can't see their way, and it is our job to illuminate the path with our lives.

That's why we must put away the immorality, impurity, or greed spoken of in verses 3-7. Those are the things of the darkness, and we can't live in darkness and light at the same time. Those things are not what "pleases the Lord." We must live a life of love as Christ loves, choosing His ways and avoiding the ways of darkness. He wants us to shine with His brightness, to take His light into a world that is blinded by the enemy and wandering aimlessly in the dark.

But we must choose to be His light and live in that power. The darkness can have no power over us unless we give in to it. Live in His power; walk in His light. Never forget, darkness cannot penetrate light, but light always dispels the darkness.

Further Thoughts:

1. Why is our human nature drawn to the darkness? Support with Scripture.
2. In a concordance, look up Scriptures on "light." There are many of them. Read some from the Old and New Testaments. Let them wash over you in remembrance of where God has brought you from and thanksgiving for the illuminated life He has given you.
3. Augustine said that the conflicting pull of our will "...is a disease of the mind which does not wholly rise to the heights where it is lifted by the truth, because it is weighed down by habit." Are there habits you've maintained in your life that are keeping you from shining in full fruit? What needs to change?
4. Are there dark areas of your life you need to let the light penetrate? Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate them now.