Fellowship in the Light

 [6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

To have fellowship with God we must “walk in the light” that means we must be walking in holiness with Him.

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (I Thessalonians 4:7)

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (II Corinthians 7:1)

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22)

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “GOOD WORKS” AND “SIN”

Sin is the act of doing something or desiring something that is evil. Sin is evil work. Unfortunately it has become commonplace to think that turning from sin is what is meant by doing “good works.” Turning from sin is simply turning from evil works. Do we really think that we did something good today because we didn’t do something bad?

 Let me illustrate my point here. If I have a job and my schedule is from 9am to 5pm, just showing up for work and being present does not mean I have done a good job or good work. To do good work I have to accomplish the things appointed for me by my employer. I cannot think that because I did not intentionally burn the place down and steal all the money from the til that I have done a good job and yet that is how so many think when it comes to our Christian faith, that good works means just not doing the worst of the worst things.. Doing a good job means actually doing the assigned workload and doing good works means doing “good things.”

When the rich young ruler told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments from his youth Jesus did not act like the man had performed some sort of good works. Jesus gave him an assignment. Sell all that you have and give it to the poor. The young man went away sorrowful for he had great riches the Bible tells us. If the rich young ruler obeyed Jesus and sold all that he had and gave it to the poor that would be a magnificent good work but that would not give him eternal life. What would give him eternal life is because he trusted Jesus by faith.

When we come to Jesus by faith our sins are forgiven. We have seen the light. Now that we are walking in that light we pursue the things of God’s light, that is, His holiness and righteousness.

The Scriptures then warn us that the person who says they are a Christian but continues in sin, living in darkness is lying to themselves.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (I John 1:6)

If we are walking in the light of God we will also have fellowship with other Christians who are also walking in the light.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (I John 1:7)

It is spiritually refreshing to get together with others who are Christians and “see the light”. When we lose the desire for fellowship with others in the light of God it is possibly a sign of spiritual pride or backsliding.

 RESTORING FELLOWSHIP AND THE LIGHT: SPIRITUAL PRIDE

 [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (I John 1:8-10)

John reminds us that we are all sinners, saved by grace. The apostle Paul encouraged us to have this attitude saying:

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (I Timothy 1:15)

Sin will cut us off from the light of fellowship. Thankfully God is merciful and forgiving and calls us to repentance. If we confess our sin God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. Praise His Holy Name.

So fellowship is restored. Not because we promised to stop sinning but because of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Our repentance is not a work of the flesh because the flesh does not desire repentance. Repentance is a work of the Holy Spirit within us. Repentance is the fruit of faith. When we confess our sin to God it is not because of us that fellowship is restored but because of God’s love and mercy and grace.

CHAPTER TWO

[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: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:1-2)

Why did John write this epistle to us according to 2:1?

He wants us to realize that grace should not be confused with permissiveness. Being free from sin does not mean we are “free to sin.”

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 6:15:

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Romans 6:15)

Forgiveness of sin is not permission to sin. We might think that because the farmer has not prosecuted us for trespassing on his land that it means he has given us permission to ignore the no trespassing signs.

So John makes it clear: I am not telling you that forgiveness is available through Christ Jesus so that you think it is OK to sin. I am telling you NOT TO SIN.

However….. if any one does sin? We still have an advocate...Jesus Christ who is the propitiation for our sins.

WEBSTERS 1828 DICTIONARY

PROPITIATION, noun propisia'shon.1. The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.

2. In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men. Romans 3:25. 1 John 2:2.

John reminds us of the price that was paid because of sin. The suffering of the perfect Lord of Glory on the cross of calvary… His agony was for your sin and with that in our hearts and minds we should deplore all sin.

 [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.

 [5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

 [6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (I John 2:3-6)

As Christians we keep Christ’s commandments. Not to achieve salvation but as the fruit of salvation. We are not saved by good works but saved for the purpose of doing good works Ephesians 2:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)