Back in 1995, the Christian band DC Talk came out with a song titled "In the Light:"
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 cleanses us from our sin. (1 Jn 1:7)
I have heard it said before that darkness is not the opposite of light, but rather darkness in the absence of light. This is what John was pointing to a few verses earlier when he wrote,
...God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 Jn 1:5)
John was pointing those early believers to look deeply at their belief and faith. How were they living their lives in light (no pun intended) of the "message" they had heard from Jesus (vs 5). I have heard people say that Christians cannot sin and if they do, then they are truly not a child of God. Those are dangerous thoughts and words. John said If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 Jn 1:10). After all John said that he was writing this letter so "that you may not sin" (1 Jn 2:1a). But notice, the backside of that statement, "but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (1 Jn 2:1b)
I will sin, you will sin. In fact, maybe you have already sinned today. But we have an advocate who has gone the distance for us, shedding his blood, offering forgiveness and direct access to the Father. The goal is that we do not become a slave to our sins (John 8:34), but strive to "walk in the same way in which he walked" (1 Jn 2:6).
DC Talk's song closes with these lyrics:
All I want to be is in the Light
There's no other place I want to be
Would you like to know what it means to walk in the light? Feel free to email me here.
Pastor Walt
Philemon 6
