The Lord has indeed been taking us through a journey as we have been considering lessons from the book of 1 John for the past three days now. We started by saying that God is light and that became an established fact as the scripture made it clear to us. This left us with a question as to how believers still do that which is contrary to the nature they claim to have, isn't it? In the second lesson, we saw how that the reason for which many people behave contrary to the nature of God which they claim is because they are not in fellowship with the one who is light. It is so because one cannot claim to know the light and forms a habit of walking in darkness, isn't it? There would be no reasonable explanation for that.
What it means is this, that if truly we claim to fellowship with the light, then we would be convicted by him each time we want to do that which is wrong, and even if we do, we would be convicted by him to repent of such acts. So, you cannot really say you know the light and continue to walk in darkness. If it so happens that you continue to walk in darkness after claiming to fellowship with the one who is light, then you lie and do not practice the truth as scripture rightly puts it. This is just to remind us and shed more light on our previous lessons.
One fact we have to state very clearly is that God not only is light and in him is no darkness found but that God dwells in light. In fact, the scripture makes mention of it that God dwells in light that no man can approach, that is, unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). This is that which the Apostle John wants us to understand. It is expected that we have this understanding about God that we may also walk as he him. Praise God. The passage of scripture to be considered is seen below,
"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" ( 1 John 1:7).
As opposed to the verse we considered yesterday, that is, verse 6, this points to us the proof of our fellowship with God and the effect on us as well. It says 'if we walk in the light as he is in the light', meaning that God is in the light as we have stated before now and that is an unchanging fact about God. However, as believers, we must ensure to walk in the light as well since he (God) is in the light.
If we walk in the light as he is in the light, what happens? It says 'we have fellowship with one another'. This here refers to fellowship with God, that is, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we are partakers with him in fellowship. This is that which the apostle John seeks to communicate to us. Remember in verse 6 it says that if we claim to fellowship with him and walk in darkness, then we are not saying or practicing the truth, right? What verse 7 is saying now is that if we now walk in the light as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another (that is, this is now a proof that we truly have fellowship with God). Do you get the idea?
What then is the result of this fellowship? When we walk in the light as God is in the light which is a proof that we have fellowship with him, the blood of his Son as a result cleanses us from all sin. This is not with regards to salvation but to the believer who in his walk with God stumbles at some point as he may sometimes err. The implication of his ever consistent fellowship with God and walking in the light would reveal to him everything dark such that he seeks the forgiveness of God, and the blood of Jesus which was shed for him will in such times cleanse him from such sins. This therefore is a call to constantly walk in the light as he is in the light. This is the proof that we truly have fellowship with God and that we practice the truth. The Lord help us in Jesus' name. Amen.
Thought for the day
The proof that you have fellowship with God is that you walk in the light even as he (God) is in the light.
Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].
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