NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — “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.” 1 John 1:6-7 (Read 1 John 1:1- 2:2)
Are you walking in light or in darkness? Sad to say, many, even among professing Christians, are walking in darkness; and each and every one of us would also choose to walk in darkness rather than coming to the light where our sinfulness and evil deeds are exposed (cf. John 3:19-21; John 1:1-14). But to continue on in darkness leads to death; to walk in the light leads to forgiveness and life everlasting.
While many would profess to have fellowship with God the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ, that is not possible if they are walking in darkness, if they are hiding and covering up their sins and sinfulness and pretending to be righteous of themselves. One cannot be a Christian and be continuingon in sin and willful disobedience, and one cannot have fellowship with the Father and be hiding and covering up sin. If we pretend to be Christians and in fellowship with the Father and are impenitent, continuing on in our old sinful ways, we are deceiving ourselves and not practicing the truth. If we are hiding and covering up our sins rather than acknowledging them and seeking God’s forgiveness, we are lying and walking in darkness and unbelief (cf. Psalm 32:1ff.).
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 confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
To walk in the light is to acknowledge our sins and sinfulness - literally to say the same thing as God about our sins (homologeo) - and He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness so that we are acquitted, innocent and justified in His sight.
And how can God be faithful and just in forgiving our sins? It is because “Jesus Christ the righteous ... is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world.” Jesus shed His blood on the cross for our sins and the sins of all. Our sin was punished in Jesus. God’s justice is satisfied. In Jesus we have forgiveness and life eternal!
Are you walking in darkness or in the light? Jesus and His Word shine into the darkness of this world, exposing sin, error and disobedience but offering forgiveness and life. Don’t hide from the light. Rather, walk in the light, confessing your sins and receiving God’s forgiveness and life for the sake of Jesus’ shed blood.
Shine upon us, Lord. Reveal our sinfulness but bring us to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior. In His name we pray. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations from Green's Modern King James Version (MKJV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P.
Green Sr., All rights reserved. Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.]
Opinion, Pages 6 on 04/18/2012