GOD IS LIGHT

I John 1

BACKGROUND:

• Author of this book is “John the Beloved” (90A.D. approx.)

o I, II, III John were written while he was in Ephesus, during his old age it is believed.

o He also authored the Gospel of John and the Revelation of Jesus Christ

o Family: brother, James, also a disciple of Jesus who called them ‘Sons of Thunder’ (Mk. 3:17), James was killed by sword (Ac. 12:2); Father was Zebedee (Mt. 4:21)

o Trade: Fishermen alongside father.

o He, James, and Peter had deepest relationship with Jesus (Mt. 17:1; 26:36-37)

o Banished to Isle of Patmos where he had the visions leading to the writing of Revelation

• Only Disciple of the 12 who died naturally

o Early church fathers (Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius) say he lived out his days after exile in Asia Minor, specifically in Ephesus.

o Because of his discipleship under Jesus, he was sought out as a “living and abiding voice.”

John’s Personal Testimony – v. 1-4

1. His testimony refuted the thought of his later years that Jesus wasn’t really man with a physical body, and the teaching of Cerinthus that Christ’s spirit descended on a man called Jesus at baptism and departed at the crucifixion.

• These two verses combat these errors of “dualism” – some of these same thoughts are still at large in the world and in other religions.

• Jesus’ life is first manifested to His twelve disciples through what they heard, saw, touched, felt, and observed.

• Rom. 10:17 – faith comes by hearing … the word of God.

• Our faith is built upon this first-hand witness of these first disciples of Jesus - what they heard, saw, touched, and experienced. Jesus the man, then the risen Savior. Him they wrote of.

2. Hearing and Believing God’s word – we choose to dwell in Him; in His truth; and embrace His ways.

• One cannot have fellowship with God and walk disobediently at the same time.

• The word agape, love, is used 46x’s in these five chapters.

• God’s key ingredient to relationship with Him is LOVE

3. The Message: GOD IS LIGHT – v. 5-7

• John 8:12 – (Jesus spoke): I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

o Darkness (skotos) indicates an ignorance of divine things, both spiritually and morally

• Fellowship with Father God – v. 6-7

o Having an intimate relationship with Him by regular communication (prayer, scripture)

o He shares His Truth and ways and insights with us

o We partner with Him in every area of living. People notice we live for and with Him.

o John 1:9-13 – That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming unto the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

4. Living in the Light of Jesus – v. 8-10

• Light is evidenced by God’s Love – loving God and loving and caring for the souls of one another

o Dwelling together in peace and unity

o Deception happens when we roam away from God’s Light of Truth through error, sin, opposition to God’s written words and ways.

• Example: ‘pride’ makes us unteachable and/or hypocritical.

• Matt. 22:37-39 – two commandments, love God and love people.

o Love’s opposite is hate, meaning anything that is hurtful toward others, showing disregard to their soul.

o To walk in darkness, then, blinds us to what is true, what is needed, what our responsibility is toward God and others.

• Is. 2:3, 5 – Come … to the house of God; he will teach us His ways; we will walk in His paths.

o God teaches us how to love as He loved/loves us.

o John 12:35-36 - Jesus’ Light leads our path; darkness causes us to miss his path. –

Jesus said to them, A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.

o We cannot walk in Light and Darkness at the same time!

o Light drives away darkness so we can remain in God’s love.

• Confession of any slip into sin (missing the mark) is a must.

o We choose to relate first to God with a pure heart, then we can rightly love people.

o I Cor. 6:9-11 – what we were cleansed from by Christ’s blood we are no longer in bondage to. – Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you are washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

o Choosing to walk in His Light affects how quickly we mature in His love.

Conclusion:

Let us live in the TRUTH of verses 5-7 –

We are children of God; walking in the Light of Truth in Jesus Christ.

We have fellowship with God because we practice walking in His Truth.

We have fellowship with one another, loving well, because Jesus cleanses us from all sin –

including sins that cause divisions.

We walk in Truth, not allowing ourselves to be deceived by lies of man or demon.

We have His word in us helping us to confess any sin by His conviction that brings freedom from

bondage to sin.

We are covered and cleansed by the powerfully redemptive blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and

Saviour. AMEN!!