1 John 1:1-4 ESV
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
Jesus Christ was with God in the beginning, he is God, and
all things that were made were made through him. He became flesh and he dwelt
among the people of the world. John the Baptist said of him, “Behold the Lamb
of God who takes away the sin of the world” (See John 1:1-29).
Jesus Christ, God the Son, left his throne in heaven,
humbled himself “by taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness
of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death, even death on a cross” (See Phil. 2:5-11).
Jesus was/is the Word, the Word of Life and the Eternal
Life. And, he came to give us life in him free from slavery to sin, and free to
walk in his holiness and righteousness in the power of God, who is living
within those of us who are his by faith in him.
He died on that cross that we might die with him to sin.
And, He died on that cross that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for
him who gave his life up for us (2 Co. 5:15, 21; Eph. 4:17-24; Rom. 6:1-23; 1
Pet. 2:24).
Through God-given faith in Jesus Christ, which is crucified
with Christ in death to sin, and is resurrected with Christ to newness of life
in Him, we have fellowship with God the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ.
And, through faith in Jesus Christ we also have fellowship with others like us
who have also given their lives to Jesus Christ in surrender to his will.
1 John 1:5-10 ESV
“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. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
This is essential truth here. And, it is critical that we
get it. For, too many people these days are teaching a false grace gospel which
permits its adherents to continue in their sinful lifestyles while promising
them heaven as their eternal destiny, and that is just wrong!
For, God is light. He is truth. He is righteousness,
holiness, purity, and faithfulness, etc. And, in him is no darkness – no
wickedness, evil, idolatry, adultery, sexual immorality, betrayal, or lies or
deception of any kind.
So, if we claim to be in fellowship (intimate relationship
and communion) with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, but yet we live (walk,
conduct our lives) in darkness – idolatry, immorality, evil and deception –
then we are liars who do not live by the truth. We are not in fellowship with
God.
In the Light
BUT… If we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle) in the light
(righteousness, holiness, godliness, uprightness, self-control, purity and
truth), we have fellowship with one another. And, that means we also have
fellowship with God the Father and with Jesus Christ, the Son, too.
And, what we need to really get here is that this is talking
about our walks, how we live our lives day in and day out. This is not talking
about some one-time decision we made to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.
For, if we walk (in lifestyle) in darkness, we are not in fellowship
with God, with Jesus. But, if we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle) in the light,
then we are in fellowship with God the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ (Rom.
6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17; Eph. 4:17-24; Lu. 9:23-26; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 2:3-6).
And, then what? IF we walk in the light, as God/Jesus is in
the light, not only do we have fellowship with Christ and with his other
followers, but the blood of Christ cleanses us from every sin. And, this is
consistent with other New Testament scriptures, too (Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17;
1 Jn. 2:3-6).
So, we don’t “get saved,” and then we are good to go, and
then one day we get to go to heaven when we die. For, our salvation is ongoing.
We are saved (past), we are being saved (present), and we will be saved
(future) when Jesus Christ returns and our salvation is complete (Ro. 8:24; 1
Co. 1:18; 1 Co. 15:1-2; 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Heb. 5:9; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pet. 1:5, 8-9).
Our faith in Jesus Christ is also not a one-time experience.
It is also ongoing. And, we must continue in that faith if we want to have eternal
life with God (Jn. 8:31-32; Col. 1:21-23; II Tim 2:10-13; Hebrews 3:6, 14-15).
Confession of Sin
To have faith in Jesus Christ, we have to admit that we are
sinners, and we have to confess our sins. But, confession of sin is not a mere
acknowledgment of sin. It is to be in full agreement with God about our sin. It
is to reach the same conclusion as him. And, it means we are aligned with God
regarding our sin.
So, if we were to be in agreement with God regarding our
sin, then that would mean that we would not merely acknowledge that we are
sinners, but that we would repent of our sins, that we would turn away from
them, and we would die with Christ to them, that we might live to Christ and to
his righteousness (Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17; Eph. 4:17-24; Lu. 9:23-26).
If we, then, with contrite hearts, confess our sins, turn
from them, and turn to God to follow him in obedience, then he is faithful to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But, as is noted above, this is ongoing. We must walk in the
light as he is in the light, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from
every sin. If, by the Spirit, we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh,
then we have eternal life with God. But, if we walk according to our sinful
flesh, then we will die in our sins (Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:16-21; Eph. 5:3-6;
Gal. 6:7-8; Rom. 2:6-8).
Soldiers
of Christ Arise
Lyrics
by Charles Wesley, pub. 1741
Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your
armor on,
Strong in the strength which God
supplies, through His Eternal Son.
Strong in the Lord of Hosts, and in His
mighty power,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts is
more than conqueror.
Stand then in His great might, with all
His strength endued,
But take, to arm you for the fight, the
panoply of God;
That, having all things done, and all
your conflicts passed,
Ye may o’ercome through Christ alone
and stand entire at last.
Leave no unguarded place, no weakness
of the soul;
Take every virtue, every grace, and
fortify the whole.
From strength to strength go on;
wrestle, and fight, and pray;
Tread all the powers of darkness down
and win the well-fought day.
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