BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 2

Out of the Darkness into the Light

1 John 1:5-10

Two experiences that occurred a long time ago have affected the way I look at darkness. As a child one of our fears is being alone in a room at night. Darkness has a greater impact if you believe there is someone or something out there trying to harm you. I realize now that it was probably my imagination but I had just that kind of experience. My mother had sent me to a store at the end of the street. It was dark and as I made my way I thought I heard footsteps coming up behind me. Afraid to look back I began to run as hard as I could to the store. The harder and faster I ran the louder the footsteps became. To my relief I made to the store unharmed. Inside were the owner and a customer. I told them about what I thought was happening. One of them went out and looked down the street and came back with the news that there was no one to be seen. You can only imagine what the trip back home was like for me. I just knew that behind one of the trees that lined the street there was waiting the person who would grab me. Since that time I have never liked being in a strange place after dark. To this day I do not know if I was just imagining those footsteps or if they were real. It did not matter because I just knew they were.

The second incident took place in that same house. In the summer time before air-conditioning people left their windows open at night. It was the only way to cool the house down from the heat of the day. In the bedroom where I slept my bed was right under the window. We had sold our house and were getting ready to move. Some of the neighbors were not happy and someone had actually set the field next to our house on fire. One night as I was sleeping I heard a noise outside my window. I awoke scared thinking that someone was walking around on our back porch. It was one of those incidences where I was to frightened to cry out or move. Fortunately, the noise went away and I went on back to sleep. What or who was outside I do not know. It however did not diminish my fear of the night.

In one of these situations the light of that corner grocery store was a welcomed sight. It was a safe haven from whatever was waiting to harm me. In the second one I would have welcomed the sight of one of my parents coming into my room with a flashlight or just turning on the lights. In both cases light would have dispelled my fear.

Today the church faces a much greater danger than my imagined perils. The world is growing increasingly dark and hostile toward Christianity. On every side there are attacks from within and an apathy that is robbing it of its impact on the lives of its members. There are many who not only deny the truthfulness of God’s word but are attempting to undermine the teaching of the church. Without the light of each of us is to display the world will become a darker place to live. There is a great concern of how society is misleading the young people entrusted to our care. There are those who have spent their lifetime working with young people are now beginning to take note of the problem and what the church must do to insure that the light will not be extinguished. We have too long allowed our young people to be taught in ways that does not equip them to stay strong in an hostile environment. Sadly, in the world into which they are going to be moving at some point, there are some brilliant people who only want to indoctrinate them with a world viewpoint. John understood that the recipients of his letter were dealing with the same kinds of people teaching things that would keep Christians walking in darkness. Last week John laid out clearly why Jesus should be believed and and why we are to be part of His church. Today he will give further evidence.

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1 John 1:5

John had laid out the evidence concerning the life of Jesus. Now He then used those facts to called on the churches to listen carefully to the message that the apostles had heard from from the Son of God. His passed on what He knew first hand that His Father, God very nature is one of light.

There is much that can be said of this description and it is wrapped on man’s idea of light. Light is brilliant, warming, revealing, makes things visible that would other be hidden. It exposes the flaws and imperfections that may exist in an item under examination. Aptly described there is no impurity in it at all. In the case of focused light, like a laser, can penetrate into inaccessible places and can destroy things like tumors. The smallest source of light can dispel darkness. Conversely, darkness can never extinguish the light. The only way darkness gains the upper hand is the light is allowed to go out. Because God is the source of light and is light there is no darkness found in Him at all.

1. Why should we listen to John?

2. Why should we pay any attention to the message that Jesus gave to His disciples?

3. What are the important words of Jesus that John shared that will impact our lives?

4. What do you think of when someone mentions the word light?

5. Why is the description of God as light so powerful? (Light has the power over darkness.)

6. If God is light what is the darkness to which John referred? (Lives devoid of the light in other words those who are in rebellion and desire to do those things that are evil and sinful.)

1 John 1:6

Words are meaningless unless followed up back a godly lifestyle. In the previous verses John spelled out that fellowship was active participation with God in one’s daily walk. John wanted to make it clear that those in the churches could not live in a world of light and darkness at the same time. If anyone tries to make the claim that he is following Christ and the ways of the world he is a liar. Not only that he is not practicing the truth.

1. In what ways can our words prove to be meaningless?

2. Once again what does true fellowship mean?

3. How does this contrast to the idea of darkness?

4. Why does John called those who say that they can live in a world of light and darkness?

5. In what way is this trying to serve two masters?

6. What is the truth?

7. How does a man with split commitments defy the idea of living in the truth?

1 John 1:7

There are real positives for every man who walks in the Light. Jesus is the example for every person. He who is the Son of God spent His whole earthly life living in the light of His Father. To follow what Jesus did would lead the churches to have true fellowship with each other through Him. When man turns his back on the darkness he will find salvation through the blood Jesus shed on the cross. It is only through participation in His done deed can man truly walk in the light.

1. In what ways was Jesus the picture of One who walk in the Light?

2. Why did He believe it was necessary to walk in the Light of His Father? (There is no darkness or hint of evil in Him.)

3. Why is it a important to follow the example of Jesus?

4. Why is fellowship with each other so important? (It shows our relationship with the Father and His Son.)

5. What is the outcome of this kind of fellowship? (Being cleansed from the darkness that pervades all our lives at some point.)

6. Have do we show that we are in fellowship with each other? (All being focused on the same Person.)

7. What is salvation?

8. What is the result of salvation?

1 John 1:8

The opposite of walking in the Light is walking the darkness. One facet of gnosticism was the idea that because they had a special knowledge that they had reach a level of perfection and therefore were above sinning. To these and those of today that called evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) John said to them, any man who made such claim was deceiving himself and was not walking in the truth. Sadly, this condition is epidemic in our world today because man has decided to choose sin over righteousness. Notice that John did not exclude himself from those who might fall into that false belief. Today as in his day these individuals would be called hypocrites.

1. What is the opposite of darkness?

2. Which of the the ways have you chosen to walk?

3. What is the danger of thinking that we have moved beyond the capability of sinning?

4. When are we guilty of calling good evil and evil good?

5. How does this verse relate to to Romans 3:23?

6. How does this represent what is happening in our world today?

1 John 1:9

Man can overcome this life of darkness by confessing that he is a sinner. He has walked in darkness and needs to come into the light. If he agrees with God that he has rebelled against God and repents then he has the guarantee that the Light will forgive him and cleanse him of all of his unrighteousness.

1. What must a man do to get himself out of darkness?

2. What does it mean to confess one’s sin?

3. What does it mean to sin?

4. According to John what is the promise of God to everyman?

5. What does it mean to be totally cleansed? (We are viewed as in a restored relationship before a holy God.)

1 John 1:10

The flip side of the opportunity to have the relationship with God men choose to look at themselves as self-righteous. John wrote this again because he wanted to emphasize the need that man has. Man cannot forgive himself but can lie that he has no need of God. A liar will not believe the word of God because his sense of his own importance.

1. Why does John repeat the idea that some claim that they have no sin?

2. What is the consequences of this kind of mindset?

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3. In what way does it exclude God from one’s life? (There is no room for both God and self in one’s life.)

4. Why is this man a liar?

5. Why will a man like that not avail himself of God’s word.

• You are to understand that there is no way to walk in the way of righteousness unless you believe in the One who is the revelation of the true Light in the world, God the Father.

• As you come to trust what the writers of the Bible have said about Jesus then His word will give direction to your life.

• Acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior

• By admitting that you are in no way perfect then you are to confess your imperfections agreeing with God that you have come short of His standards for your life.

• Believe with all your heart that God will keep all of His promises to you and will forgive confessed sins.

• His greatest promise is that you can be cleansed from all that is darkness in your life and can become part of His eternal family.

Throughout the New Testament the quality that the church is to possess is light. We are to be children of light be the reflection of Jesus Christ into the world. Colossians gives us the promise that we are no longer under the control of darkness but are part of God’s kingdom. (Colossians 1:13) Ephesians 5:8 that we are to walk as children of the Light. Jesus in Matthew tells us to be lights of the world. (Matthew 5:14) These are just a few of the many references that we are to be full of the light of Christ.

In many ways the church can fail Him if we do not live according to His teachings. The world does not want to see the light or have it expose its deeds therefore it hates those who expose what it is doing. We can be sure if we are walking according to the light that we are going to meet opposition. If the world is letting us alone then we are not being effective witnesses for the One who came to shine His light into the world. John very early gave us the purpose for Christ’s coming. He wrote, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5) The word comprehend carries with it the idea that the darkness could not overpower the Light. We have this guarantee that our Savior can never be defeated. It is our responsibility, therefore, to live a life that reflects the victory that has already been won. Our sins have been forgiven and we now have salvation that cannot be taken from us.

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