In 1 John 1:7-9, John gives us a wonderful promise. “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. 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.”
Our question, since the promise is that God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness, is, “What does it mean to walk in the light?” John gives us some idea of that in his phrase, “as He is in the light.”
In scripture, light is used for righteousness, darkness is used for sin. Therefore, if a Christian is walking in the light as God walks in the light, his walk must be a walk in righteousness.
One thing to note – God isn’t guilty of sin. None of us have reached that pinnacle (cf. Romans 3:23). In fact, John here says that “if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” The Christian is not perfect, but it is necessary for him to strive for perfection, and as verse 9 notes, to acknowledge when he falls short of that pursuit.
Paul used a similar phrase in his letter to the Ephesians. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:8-14).
Consider the constituent elements of walking as children of light, as revealed in this context. First, it is contrasted with a previous existence in darkness. So, it follows that those things making for darkness are excluded by a walk in the light.
Second, it is to be a walk characterized by the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). Specific attributes in our context are goodness, righteousness and truth.
Third, our walk is to consist of things “acceptable to the Lord.” These acceptable things are contrasted with things that must not be present in our walk. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.” There are numerous lists of such things, such as those found in Romans 1:29-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5:19-21. Put simply, a Christian who walks in the light, is not a person who is in the habit of sinning. He has rejected that life, and has embraced a life of righteousness (cf. 1 John 3:7-9). Note especially verse 7 of that passage, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
Finally, it is an obligation of the one who walks in the light, to use that light to expose darkness. One who either tolerates or accommodates darkness is himself not in the light. Not only is judgment reserved for those who practice evil, but also for those who “approve of those who practice them” (cf. Romans 1:32).
Even religious people today tend to minimize the destructive nature of sin. If we do the same, we may lose out on the promise, “And Christ will give you light.”
To see The Patternists Page on Facebook, click here, and Like!
