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Message Notes
Why Does John Write This Letter?
- He wants to warn them to stay away from false teachers and false teaching.
- He wants these believers to grow in their Fellowship with Jesus and each other
- He wants them to experience the Joy of finding contentment in Jesus.
“The first time we disciples laid our eyes on him, taking it all in – hearing with our own ears, seeing with our own eyes, staring at and studying Him over the years… actually touching Him with these hands – we saw it all happen before our very eyes, literally, and we’re now declaring what we witnessed: incredibly, the infinite life of God Himself who took shape before us! And now I’m writing about it so all of you can experience what has transformed our lives: intimate communion with the heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ…and the same satisfying joy we’ve known since we began walking with him. That’s why I’m writing you this letter today.” —Chuck Swindoll
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” —1 John 1:5
What Does it Mean to Walk in the Light?
We acknowledge that:
God’s character is holy and pure
Our nature is dark and immoral
“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” —1 John 1:6
“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 cleanses us from all sin.” —1 John 1:7
- Our hope is in confession and forgiveness
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” —I John 1:8
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —I John 1:9
“If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” —I John 1:10
“Without an attitude of confession, we’ll stockpile sin and guilt, which will turn into worry and shame, which will drive us farther from the light is God’s purity, holiness, righteousness, and truth.” —Chuck Swindoll
How Can We Walk in the Light?
- Don’t mess around with stuff that gets you in trouble.
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.” —1 John 2:1
“But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” —1 John 2:1
- When you mess up, remember that you have someone in your corner.
“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” —I John 2:2
“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:” —1 John 2:3-5
- You’re obedience reveals what’s really in your heart.
“Obedience rooted in love is the requirement for ongoing, deepening fellowship with God.” —Tony Evans
“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” —1 John 2:6
- When you need an example to follow, choose Jesus.