1 John 1:5-10 – Keeping the Light On – Bible study

1John 1:5-10 Keeping the Light On It seems that no matter where I turn lately, I keep coming across the word "darkness." It is mentioned 142 times in the Bible. Some of those times, it literally means that there was no physical light to see by. In Genesis 1, such darkness covered the face of the earth. However, it is also used, as it is here, to describe mans condition without Christ. He is in darkness, in sin. Darkness is used to speak of sin because darkness describes what sin is like. One in darkness 1. has no direction. 2. is confused. 3. must deal with frustrations. 4. lives in fear. 5. stumbles. That is in contrast to those in the light or in Christ. These 1. have direction. 2. have absolutes and certainties. 3. have peace. 4. have power. 5. do not stumble. The light being spoken of here is not the light of the s-u-n but the light of the S-O-N. 1. \#5\ clearly states that there is no darkness in Him at all! 2. And the remainder of this Book declares with authority that those who follow Jesus will not abide in darkness either. 3. \#6\ If we walk in darkness (abide in sin) while still claiming a relationship with Jesus, we are lying and Gods truth is not in us. We are unsaved. Some truths: I. John is not saying that Christians will not sin, but he is saying that they will stay in sin. A. Christians do sin. 1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1. If we say we do not, there is something wrong with our understanding of what sin is. 2. So much so, that the truth of God is not in us, again indicating that we are unsaved. B. While Christians do sin, they do not lose their salvation. 1. Why? 2. Because we have an Advocate. 1John 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: a. An Advocate is someone who is speaking, pleading for us. (1) The sin of a Christian offends the Father as much as the sin of a non-Christian. (2) However, Jesus defends us. 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (3) Jesus keeps us saved, safe, and secured. b. How does Jesus do that? 1John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1) Jesus is the propitiation, the ransom, the payment for our sins. (2) In essence, this means that Jesus keeps us saved because He has already paid for our sins. (3) That verse says that Jesus has paid for the sins of the whole world. (a) Does that mean everyone is saved? (b) No. Jesus did pay for the sins of the whole worlddespite what the Calvinists say. (c) However, they have not accepted the payment. (4) This verse deals with three false doctrines: (a) That we can lose our salvation – Not if the payment was made! (b) Calvinism – Jesus died for the whole world, including those who reject Him \#2Pe 2:1\. (c) Universal Brotherhood of Man – Jesus paid for all but the payment is not made until the terms of the covenant are accepted, faith and repentance. C. While Christians do sin, they do not stay in sin. 1. This is what John is speaking of a. \#1John 1:6\ "walk in darkness." b. \#1John 2:4\ "keepeth not His commandments" – Greek present tense meaning that they just keep on and keep on. c. \#1John 2:9\ "he that hateth his brother is in darkness even until now." d. \#1John 2:22\ "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?" e. \#1John 3:8\ "He that committeth sin is of the devil" 2. In all of these, the idea is that someone is involved in sin and stays in it. II. God has done some things to keep the light on. A. Actually, God has done many things and John will name a few. 1. I suppose one could fight God to go back into the darkness but it would be SOME battle. 2. We can divide these things into two groups, things we do for ourselves and the things that God has done for us. B. Things God has given to keep us from staying in sin. 1. These are gifts, powers, given to us by virtue of who we are, children of God. a. The power of Gods Word. 1John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (1) Notice in the last part of that verse the association between strength, the Word of God, and overcoming the devil. (2) Also notice that the Word is now INSIDE of us. There has been an insertation. (3) God has imbedded His Word on us! We have been reprogrammed. (4) The Word has a changing effect upon us whether in part Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (5) Of in whole. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (6) Once you are saved, whether you read and learn of the Bible or not, God still puts it inside of you. b. The power of the Holy Ghost. 1John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (1) We know the Holy Ghost. i. He is third Member of the Trinity. ii. Jesus taught us about His coming in John 14 and 16. iii. Paul taught of mankinds lacking before he came Romans 6-7, then taught what would happen if we would submit to Him (Romans 8). iv. What could John add? (2) That the Holy Ghost is the power of God living with in us! i. Not only had our code been changed but God dwells inside of us to defeat the external powers of sin, the world, and the devil AS WELL AS the internal. ii. Could we fight the Word and the Holy Ghost to return to the darkness? Perhaps, but it would be some battle! 1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. c. Jesus power in delivering us from the devil. 1John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1) \#Gal 1:4\ Jesus has delivered us from sin and all of its repercussions. (2) There is a divine restraining order from heaven against the devil! He cant do anything to us for Jesus broke his power. (3) For the devil the power of darkness over us again we would have to break through the wall of deliverance that Jesus has placed around us and cross over into darkness! d. The power of Jesus presence. 1John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (1) Jesus presence will either keep sin out of us or sin will keep Jesus presence of us. (2) Those two cannot abide in one vessel. (3) Someone said, "I was saved when I was child and lived twenty years for the devil." Maybe. But maybe you finally got saved after 20 years! 2. These are the things that are available to Christians, but if we choose not do the opposite, we will lost Christs inherent and granted power. C. Things we must do to keep from staying in sin. 1. We must break our affection with this world. 1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. a. How I do understand the allure of this world! b. It is where we live; it looks enticing-tempting; much of it is fun. c. However, all of the glitter is fleeting, tempting, and deceiving. (1) You cannot take any of this world with you. In fact, most of it will be gone years before you would expect. (2) It will suck the life out of your spiritual growth. (3) None of it satisfies as you think it will. d. Nothing pulls Christians into the darkness like a love for this world! 2. We must know and keep His commandments. 1John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. a. It is interesting how many people believe there is only one command in the Bible, to "love." b. That one is in there and it is a good one. John referred to love in 26 verses of this small book. c. Notice "commandment" is plural. God commands more things that simply to love. d. He also commands us to be holy, without spot or blemish, to love not the world, to come out of the world and to be separate from it, not to lie, not to steal, not to forsake the assembling of believers, and many more. e. Dont fall for the lie that God is not into righteous living. He is. How do we know what is right and what is wrong? 1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. f. Paul called the law our school teacher \#Gal 3:24\. 3. We must confess and turn from sin. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. a. See sin for what it is. b. Confess it as sinful. c. Turn from it. These will keep us out of the darkness!