“Fellowship in the Light”
1 John 1
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 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.
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.
The life of a Christian is fellowship with the Lord.
If a person says that he believes and is saved but doesn’t have fellowship with the Lord, he is a liar and on his way to hell. Many also claim to have fellowship with the Lord but are lying. Also if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then the Blood of Jesus cleanses us and we have fellowship with Him.
To truly be a Christian is no small thing. It means that we’re in the light just as He is in the light.
Parents should also note the importance of their children having fellowship with Him. Fellowship with God and one another as brethren is what is necessary and if it’s not true in your family you’re not on your way to heaven.
Note that it speaks of being in the light as He is in the light. These are not words to be taken lightly, and will shut up many in hell.
This doesn’t just say that all people are sinful. No, the meaning is that and much more.
We say that there’s no College like this one. But this College will result in many being shut up in hell if you don’t live in the light of God.
The life in the light is a different life, being in the light as He is in the light. Think of how great His light is, and we must be in that light or be condemned.
There is a German song which says, “let us walk in the light as He is in the light, and that light is total light with no darkness”.
Carefully examine your life over these years, even this past year what it was like?
But God who is in the light says the one who claims to be without sin is a liar and the truth is not in him. Just this text should stop us in our tracks to consider our ways. Don’t excuse yourself that you’re ok except for a mistake or two.
Consider your way at home, how you behave there, and if God does expose something which is wrong, how do you handle it? Do you confess and forsake it?
Think of David. He was a man after God’s own heart. Then sin came in. He tried by all means to cover it up, but he says that while he hid his sins his bones dried up, as if he became old in his being (Ps 32:3). Have you ever experienced that? See the awful consequences of sin in the sight of God.
Sin must not be taken lightly. If your bones do not dry up now because of you hiding your sin, one day it will be like that.
When you sin what do you experience? Nothing, or does it trouble you deeply as it did David?
Paul had a deep conviction of sin. He saw himself as the chief of sinners (1Tim 1:15). Right through his life he knew that he was a sinner above others, for he knew what he spoke against the church of God and how he persecuted it. Knowing this deepest conviction of sin he also knew what repentance from sin was. He didn’t go back to his sin.
Your conviction of sin and repentance must also bring forth the fruit of repentance.
The woman who was forgiven much loved much (Luke 7:47).
How deeply have you sinned? Have you been forgiven much?
Rev Stegen asked the choir to end in song. They stood up with the chorus about Calvary (“there my pardoned soul found victory, at Calvary”). They ended with the song about God sending Jesus for me.