WALKING IN FELLOWSHIP (1 JOHN 1;5-7)
(Verse 5) NOW THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND DECLARE TO YOU; GOD IS LIGHT, AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DARKNESS IN HIM. (Verse 6)IF WE SAY, "WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM," AND WALK IN DARKNESS, WE ARE LYING AND ARE NOT PRACTICING THE TRUTH. (Verse 7) BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE HIMSELF IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN.
The opening verses in the prologue (vv. 1-4) focus on the true humanity of Jesus Christ, who alone makes it possible for us to enjoy fellowship with the Father. John then revealed to his reades an extremely important MESSAGE about God, one that relates to this context especially but which can also be better understood as the underlying theme of the whole letter; GOD IS LIGHT, AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DARKNESS IN HIM. God's infinite glory is such that He is "dwelling in unapproachable light" (1 Tim 6;16) which makes it impossible for darkness or any imperfection to be part of his nature.
The truth about God is informative regarding what He expects of those whom He calls into fellowship with Himself. Various aspects of the nature of this fellowship believers have with God are explained in verses 6-10. These 5 verses address the problem of the darkness of sin and how sinful humanity could have fellowship with the God of infinite light.
The first word in the Greek text of all five verses (vv. 6-10) is ean, which is translated IF, indicating that these are conditional sentences. The grammer indicates that each one is a situation that may occur, and the "if/then" construction (though "then" is not stated) should be taken as evidence/conclusion rather than cause/effect, the latter resulting in works salvation if taken that way. Verses 6,8,10 focus on sin and its ramifacations, while verses 7 and 9 explain God's perspective on sin and what he has done about it. Verses 6-7 continue the language of LIGHT/DARKNESS from verse 5. It is likely that John's primary purpose in these verses is to instruct his original readers about the difference between the authority of Apostles like himself and the false authority of the Gnostic Heretics. However, the truths truths in these verses are certainly applicable to John's readers as well, both then and now.
Those who claim to have FELLOWSHIP with God but WALK IN THE DARKNESS are living a contradiction, and bluntly stated they ARE LYING AND ARE NOT PRACTICING THE TRUTH. Since FELLOWSHIP refers to salvation, a relationship with God through Christ, then WALK IN DARKNESS is not primarily about Christion living but about denying the truth about who Jesus is. In this context John likely has in mind the Gnostic teaching about Christ not being truly human, a heresay that he addressed in verses 1-3. All who deny the truth about Jesus Christ as the God-man remain in DARKNESS, which provides evidence that they ARE LYING when they claim to have FELLOWSHIP with God
Verse 7 provides the contrast with verse 6. Instead of walking in darkness by denying the reality of the incarnatin, true believers WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE HIMSELF IS IN THE LIGHT. It is impossible for Christians to live perfectly IN THE LIGHT as God HIMSELF IS IN THE LIGHT, so a sinless life is not in view here.
The Gnostics in John's time were in the darkness because of their false views of Christ, and they remained in the darkness as long as they rejected God's testimony about his Son. But true believers WALK IN THE LIGHT of God's truth about Christ, for the Father Himself has shown us that Christ is THE LIGHT of salvation
That believers WALK IN THE LIGHT of their relationship to God through Christ provides common grounds for FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. The most significant unifying factor for believers around the world is that we proclaim Jesus Christ as God in the flesh and that faith in Him is the only way to have a relationship with God. Those who WALK IN THE LIGHT and enjoy FRIENDSHIP together enjoy another blessed truth about their salvation, which is especially significant since believers still sin; THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. The word CLEASENSES is in the present tense, which emphasizes the continual cleansing that occurs on our behalf when we sin.
:)
Always remember, with God all things are possible
1|1|thank you|WillaD|wila111@bellsouth.net|18:51:28|11/23/2009|
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I JUST LOVE THIS HOBBY
Willa 2|1|thanks so much|blessedx5|I_am_blessedx5@yahoo.com|19:28:04|11/23/2009|
;0) 3|1|Thanks|CJDJ112366|Lintaos@optonline.net|21:09:54|11/23/2009|
Carol 4|1|Thank you!|Skaytes|skaytez@gmail.com|07:23:02|11/24/2009|
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