The Fellowship of Light
Part 2: The Code: Walk In Light - 1 John 1:5–2:6
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth 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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
The Fellowship Kept by Confession 1:5- 2:2
John writes that the fellowship demands walking in the light of God. He says, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If there was to be fellowship, then it demands staying, dwelling and walking in light and not in darkness. “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, then and only then do we have fellowship..”
Walking in the light of God, John points out does not require some special higher gnosis, some obscure hidden knowledge, but instead something that every child of God understands, the confession of sin. Vs. 8- 10, 2:1-2 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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:1–2 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
To stay in the light, all they must do was turn from the darkness of sin and in humility and repentance confess and once again, they would be walking in the Fellowship of that light.
Staying in the Fellowship of Light
For us to being in the Fellowship of Light means keeping ourselves in the light of God. John is writing to Christians, church members, so he is not speaking of initial sanctification or salvation but instead of progressive sanctification. Day by day overcoming sin and darkness through the same power of God’s grace and forgiveness, that saved our soul. Now it keeps us in the light of fellowship. It is simply, conviction of sin, confession of sin and the forgiveness of sin.
This is what Paul taught in Colossians 2:6-7 6 As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
When John says, “that ye sin not” it is written in the aorist tense, the past tense. He is telling them not to remain in unconfessed sin, not to believe a sinful lie, but to confess and trust in Jesus forgiveness. He reminds them and us, “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”
There is no secret, no hidden, deeper knowledge, no need for a second blessing, or a heaping helping of speaking in tongues or a miracle healing service, where some charlatan lays hands on me or teaches some new revelation. No all that is required is to just walk in the light, to stay in fellowship with God and with your brothers and sister in Christ and you do that by confession of sin and turning always back to Jesus’ love, forgiveness and light. All the time, every time, this is what we must do. When we practice this then sin will not become a practice in our life. Sin will not dominate us, will not control us and we will walk in the fellowship of light.
After John tells this new generation of Christians that fellowship is first based on walking in the light of God, he then gives the next aspect of fellowship and that is the conduct that defines the fellowship.
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