Two Paths
June 30, 2024
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. —James 1:14-15
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 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.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. —1 John 1:5-10God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. —1 John 1:5B
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. —John 3:19-21
First Path
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth (vs. 6).
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (vs. 8).
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us (vs. 10).
1.) THE PATH OF PRETENDING
Second Path
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 (vs. 7).
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (vs. 9).
2.) THE PATH OF PURITY
Walking in the light is John’s way of describing a life of continual obedience to Jesus Christ.
WHAT IS LIFE LIKE ON THE PATH OF PURITY?
A. CONFESSION INSTEAD OF CONCEALMENT
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins… —1 John 1:9A
B. CLEANSING INSTEAD OF CONTAMINATION
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light… the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. —1 John 1:7
C. FELLOWSHIP INSTEAD OF FEAR
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another… —1 John 1:7
When participation in the body of Christ is motivated by interests other than the worship of God; when the foundation of our spirituality is not built on a candid assessment of sin and a healing experience of forgiveness; when the center of spiritual life, Jesus Christ, is gone – then churches cannot build the transforming, forgiving, generous communities, they desire. Walking in the light is the only way we can genuinely walk with each other. —Gary Burge