5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
The Process Of Moving Into The Light
1. Confess our sins. Bringing our sins into the light. This is personal (confessing to God) and corporate (confessing to others). There may we be a public reckoning depending on if our sins are known or unknown. This can be like my experience at the top of the ski slope – embracing humility for the sake of life.
2. Keep God’s Commands. Repentance is ‘turning around.’ We commit to being law-keepers instead of law-breakers. We plan not to sin (to quote Tom Gordon) – we enter accountability, create purposeful boundaries, etc.
3. Live As Jesus Lived. Purposefully following in the footsteps of the Master.
The Result Of Living In The Light:
1. Love For God Will Be Made Complete. It is the fullness of the love of heart, mind, soul and strength. One way of getting to know God is through obedience.
2. Fellowship With God And Each Other Flourishes. True community grows when we are fully known and fully loved. This obviously begins with God (who knows us fully and yet loves us); God’s plan is that His people follow the standard he Has set by creating a loving community in which people want to fully know others and are willing to be fully known – and are determined to show God’s love and grace in the midst of it all.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Instead of questions this week, I encourage people to share stories from their lives about how God moved them from the darkness of sin into the light of His holiness and grace.