Preaching of God's Word, and I invite you to open your Bibles to the book of First John and the first chapter. The book of First John and the first chapter. Some weeks ago I began this new series in the book of First John. I pray that you will pray for God's blessing upon the series as we consider it. I think it's an important book for us as a congregation to meditate upon and to endeavor by the grace of God to live out. Our text this morning will be verses 6 and 7 of 1 John chapter 1, but I want to begin reading for context's sake at verse 5. Let us hear the word of God. 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. Let's pray again. Father, bless now the preaching of your word. We understand our need of it. We pray the Holy Spirit would be our teacher today, that he would open our eyes and open our ears to the sound, the sweet sound of your word, of your gospel, and that the Holy Spirit would apply it to our own individual lives and to us as a congregation as he sees fit. For we ask these things this morning in Jesus' blessed name. Amen. Brethren, this morning we want to return to our series in the book of 1 John, focusing, as I said, on verses 6 and 7. And as we see in these verses, John transitions away from discussing the being and the character of God to discussing the response of mankind. either as those who walk in darkness or as those who walk in the light. And brethren, let me say from the very start this morning that it's essential for us to understand why John shifts his focus from God in verse 5 to mankind in verses 6 and 7. And John shifts his focus for two reasons. First, John shifts his focus here to mankind's response because what John said in verse 5 about the being and character of God demands a response from man. What John said about the being and the character of God in verse 5 demands a response from man. Or given that God is infinitely pure and morally perfect, given that God is light, and that His light shines in the darkness, God cannot be ignored. But rather the fact that God is light, the fact that God's kingdom is a kingdom of light, demands that all men reveal by their actions, by their own walk in life, where they actually stand in respect to God and in respect to His kingdom of light. For what we hold to be true about God, how we see ourselves in light of God's kingdom will determine how we actually live, will determine how we actually walk. In fact, we'll consider these thoughts in more detail this morning. Then secondly, John shifts his focus here in verses 6 and 7. to man's response because all men do not respond to God who is the light or to his kingdom of light in exactly the same way. But rather John reveals that men are divided between those who walk in darkness, though many claim to have fellowship with God, and those who walk in the light as that light is radiated through the person of Jesus Christ. And so, clearly John would have us to know that as a general principle, God's light separates all of mankind. God's light separates all of mankind. For while the light of God's infinite purity and moral perfections are not hidden, not all men are given the grace to respond properly and savingly to that light. In fact, as we will see, some men reveal by their actions that they have been and still abide in spiritual darkness, despite their claim to have fellowship with God. While others, through no wisdom or strength of their own, but only by the grace of God operating within them, see themselves as sinners in the light of God's character, and they obediently flee to Jesus Christ, whereby God is pleased to translate them into His kingdom of light, where they now live and walk. And so, in analyzing the responses of men, We see that there are only two possible states that men can be in. They can be in a state of darkness, being opposed to the light and avoiding the rays of God's truth and holiness, or men can be in the kingdom of light, which John says is revealed by the manner in which they walk. Needless to say, it is the sovereign prerogative of God to decide which state we are in. And yet, in understanding that every man is also responsible for his own rejection or reception of the light, it is also important that we understand how a man's true state is manifested and what the characteristics of each state are. And of course, this is primarily what John is doing here in verses 6 and 7. For here, John first addresses in verse 6 of this chapter the true state of one who outwardly confesses Jesus Christ, but who reveals by their walk that they are not of God's kingdom. The true state of one who outwardly confesses Jesus Christ, but who reveals by their walk that they are not in God's kingdom. And surely there were some who associated with the Christian community in John's day who were in this state, just as there are some who would fit into this category in our own day. Maybe some who would fit into this category within this gathered assembly today. And then John next addresses in verse 7, the true state of one who simply walks in the light. And in doing so, this individual reveals that he is in true fellowship with Christ, and in true fellowship with Jesus Christ, and his sins have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. So for the rest of our time this morning, let us consider What John says in these passages about these two categories of individuals, two categories of individuals, beginning with a careful look at John's words here in verse 6. Notice verse 6. If we say that we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie, and we do not practice the truth. Now here John presents us with a troubling scenario to consider. And that is the possibility that any of us would make a serious claim with respect to God, and with respect to our state before Him, and yet directly contradict that claim by the way that we walk or live. For to make a claim that God is in fellowship with us, and that we are in fellowship with God is a very serious claim indeed. In fact, brethren, I want the weightiness of that claim to settle in on our thinking today. To make such a claim that God is in fellowship with us and that we are in fellowship with God is a very serious claim. For to claim to be in fellowship with God is to claim that all the hostility that once existed between God and us because of our sin and disobedience has been removed. To claim that God is in fellowship with us and that we are in fellowship with God is to claim that when God sees us, He sees us in the righteousness of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. To claim to be in fellowship with God is to claim to live in a way that manifests the holy and pure character that the Spirit produces within all those who are saved. And so, When a person falsely confesses that they are in fellowship with God, and that's the scenario, the troubling scenario that John is presenting here at the beginning of verse 6. When a person falsely confesses that kind of fellowship, he or she is offending God, who is opposed to all lies and falsehood. When a person falsely confesses to have fellowship with God, When he is claiming to possess a relationship that he really does not have, he is falsely accusing God of fellowshipping with those who are not cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. When a person falsely confesses to have fellowship with God, he or she is claiming for themselves rights and privileges that do not belong to them. They are suggesting that God would extend to those who are outside of His precious Son, those gifts that only the saved can enjoy. Therefore, to claim to have fellowship with God, when one actually does not, is to insult God. Is to insult God's people and all that is trustworthy and good. And this is especially true, John states here in verse 6, when the one making the claim is at the same time walking in darkness. Walking in darkness. For to walk consistently in darkness while at the same time claiming to be in a relationship with God who is light is not only a gross manifestation of spiritual hypocrisy, But it's a sign and an indication of an unregenerate heart. Only a person with an unregenerate, unsaved heart would disregard God and His holiness in such a manner. Only a person with an unregenerate heart would prefer darkness over the pure and holy God that they claim to have a relationship with. Only a person with an unregenerate heart would so misrepresent God, so misrepresent themselves in such a deceitful and dislooted and deceiving manner. And yet, John opens the possibility that some who outwardly identify with Christian fellowships can actually be inwardly lost. Some who claim to be Christians can actually be inwardly unregenerate. And certainly this suggests that there is a need for caution within the church. But more importantly, more personally for all of us today, it suggests that all of us need to examine our own lives to ensure that we are not in this unregenerate state that John describes for us here in verse 6. For hear me carefully this morning, it would be easy for us, given our own wickedly deceitful hearts, to be guilty ourselves of taking God lightly. It would be easy for us, because of our depravity, to be guilty of disregarding God's holiness and purity. It would be easy for us in our depravity to claim to have a relationship with God and to claim privileges from God which we are not entitled to. It would be easy if our hearts are unregenerate to live or walk in a way that totally contradicts the profession that we make with our own mouths. So we need to be truthful with God and with ourselves. this morning. If we are not regenerate, if we are not saved, we should not claim to be so. And we should not deceive ourselves into thinking that we can pretend to be Christians and yet not have that revealed by God in time. For God shall reveal through the things that you and I are truly committed to, through the things that we do, through the way that we walk and live, whether we are Christians or not. According to our text here, verse 6 of 1 John chapter 1, two things will be made apparent in our lives if we claim to be children of light when in reality we actually walk in darkness. Notice these two things here in our text. These two things are this. Number one, what will be revealed in time is the fact that we lie. And then secondly, what will be revealed by God in time is the fact that we do not practice the truth. For the fact that we are lying about who we are will be made manifest, given that God will not permit us to live in open deception. And the fact that we do not practice the truth will become apparent to all who actually love the truth and who are jealous for the truth to be known. And so John's message, I think, is this. While it is possible for a person to deceive others with their lips, to claim that they are in fellowship with God and others, in claiming that they walk in fellowship with God, the real state of a person's heart is known by God. And God will reveal in His own time and manner that person's state. God will reveal whether that individual is a liar, and whether that individual does not practice the truth. For a person who walks in the light will not lie about who they are. person who walks in the light will not lie about who they are, but they will openly confess that they are sinners before a holy and pure God. And because they love and practice the truth, their life or their walk will be consistent with the things that they confess. Not only this, but John comments further here in the next verse, verse 7. on what the life of a true believer is really like. And that is, a true believer is one who truly walks in the light as he is already in the light. Meaning that a true believer is one whose life is a good, though imperfect, reflection of the holiness and purity of God. That holiness and purity that we are called out to manifest as children of light, just as God Himself is light. In fact, elsewhere in the New Testament, in Ephesians chapter 5, verses 4 through 14, Paul writes some very important words. You don't have to turn there, but I pray that you'll listen to them, and listen to the references to the light. and to our being light and the responsibilities that come with that as we walk in the light. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5 verses 4 through 14 these words, Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talk, nor crude joking, which is out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure or who is greedy, which is idolatry, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for at one time you were darkness. Notice that terminology. You were darkness. You are no longer darkness, but you were darkness. But now, Paul says to these believers, you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. For the fruit of life is found in all that is good and right and true. And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it, the Scripture says, awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. So according to this reading, this reading is from the Apostle Paul, not from the Apostle John, According to what I just read to you, a person who walks in the light, as he is in the light, is a believer who does several things. And you might just want to note these this morning. Number one, he or she delights in what is good and right and true. He or she delights in what is good or right and true. Now remember the one who makes the false confession delights in lying and deceiving. The true believer delights in what is good and right and true. He does not delight in what is evil or wrong or false. Secondly, a true believer tries to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. A true believer who walks in the light tries to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Or in other words, he or she makes a conscious, consistent effort to know the will of God before they decide what to do, and they only do that which they believe honors Jesus Christ. Thirdly, a believer who walks in the light will take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. And of course this implies that a true believer knows what the works of darkness are and he or she avoids those works entirely. For a true believer does not want to engage in those activities that are associated with darkness or that are spiritually unfruitful in that they don't produce the fruits of godliness. For when one walks in the light, the light can be seen through what they do. Let me repeat that. When one walks in the light, the light can be seen through what they do. When a person walks in the light of the gospel, the peaceful fruits of righteousness will be on display. A person, a true believer, who walks in the light is one who is a force for good. He or she is one who is a light themselves in a dark place. He or she is one who hopes to spread the gospel of light to those who are in darkness. Oh, dear believing friend, that you and I would realize the impact that we can have on our homes, on our neighborhoods, on our places of work, and even on our society as a whole, if we would simply be light in the darkness. If we would simply proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are lost in darkness. Surely the wise providence of God has called us, in the small corner of the world that we are in, to be light to those who are in need. Brethren, may the light of our holy lives, may the good, wholesome words of light that proceed from our mouth be used of God to deliver those who are trapped in darkness. May our walk, may our life as children of light inspire others to follow Christ as well. where others benefit when we are being the light that God has called us to be. Others benefit when we are being the light that we are called to be. And yet, I want you to see from the text here as well that there are benefits to us when we as believers walk in the light, when we as believers do what we are called to do. Notice these benefits that come to us as believers. There are two that we receive and enjoy when we walk in the light according to John. First, John states here in verse 7 that we know that whenever we walk in the light, and he's defined already what it means to walk in the light, to walk in the light is not simply to claim that you're a Christian, but to actually do the works of one whose heart is regenerate. Whenever we walk in the light, we know that we have fellowship with one another. We know that we have fellowship with one another, or in other words, we know that we are a part of that true fellowship of believers who are called out of darkness by God. We are among those who are placed in relationship with one another through the saving life-giving light that is Jesus Christ. For those who walk in darkness today cannot know the joy, they cannot know the sweetness, they cannot know the closeness that is experienced by those who walk together in the light. For those who are still in darkness are still motivated by sin. Those who are in darkness are still motivated by selfishness. They know nothing of the self-sacrificing love and support that exists between those who are called out of darkness and who delight in the light. Whereas, on the other hand, those who do know God, those who do come to Jesus Christ, those who are walking in the light, live in the light of true fellowship with God and true fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Therefore, one of the benefits that we receive, one of the benefits that we enjoy as children of God is the fellowship that God's light through Christ actually brings. In fact, if we know the joy of this fellowship with God and with others, this fellowship which is made possible by the light of the Gospel Let us not take that fellowship for granted. But rather, let us eagerly gather with other children of light. Let the light of God's truth shine through all of us collectively, not just through our lives individually, but through all of us collectively, for what a benefit is ours in just knowing that we are joined together with God and with other believers. other believers who are there to help us in our walk in light and in our walk away from darkness. And then secondly, and I intend to address this topic in greater detail next week, Lord willing, we benefit when we walk in the light because we have the assurance that we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. We have the assurance that we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. Notice what John states here in the last part of verse 7. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. And in what way are we to interpret this last statement from John? Certainly, John is not saying here that by walking in obedience, we earn or we merit the forgiveness or the cleansing of our sins. Because the way that you and I are cleansed is not through our own self-efforts. The way that you and I are cleansed is not through our obedience. In fact, if you have still remaining in your mind that there is some way in which you atone for your own sins by your own goodness, by your own obedience, then you need to cast those thoughts far away. We do not merit or earn forgiveness or cleansing of our sins through our own righteous deeds. But rather, this cleansing only comes through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It only comes through the shedding of His blood for His people. And those who are truly walking in the light, those who are walking with a clear understanding of the light of the gospel know this, and they rejoice in this. For it is only by virtue of Christ's blood, it is only by virtue of Christ Himself cleansing our hearts and placing us in relationship with the Father that you and I are able to walk in the light in the first place. Christian, if you are walking in the light today, it is because of Christ. It is because of His shed blood that has cleansed you, that has given you a new heart, that enables you to desire the things of God and the ability by the Spirit's power to live in obedience to God in walking in the light. as we see ourselves walking in the light as true believers. If we are, in fact, walking in the light as true believers, we should be rejoicing. We should be rejoicing, for our obedience to the light is a result of God's grace working in us. Our obedience to the light is a result of God's grace working in us. Our rejection of darkness in favor of the light is an evidence that Christ shed His blood for us. It is an evidence that God has done and is still doing a lasting and profound spiritual work within us. Therefore, dear congregation, in light of all that John has said here in these two passages, let us walk in the light. Let us walk in the light. Let us confess Christ truthfully. Let us continue to discern what is pleasing to God. And once we've discerned what is pleasing to God through His Word and by the leadership of His Spirit, applying biblical principles to our lives, let us be faithful to do that. Let us be diligent to obey the Word of God. take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. I trust that you know what the unfruitful works of darkness are and that by God's grace you can not only recognize them but avoid them. For God who is light has called us through his son to walk in the light of His way? Are you walking in the light of God's way today? Have you made a true confession of Jesus Christ? And if you have made a true confession, is your life and your walk consistent with what you confess? May God give us grace to obey His Word today. May Jesus Christ be honored by our individual and collective response this morning. Let's pray. Our God and Father, we thank You for the grace that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank You that in Your mercy, You have reached down from heaven, and because of the virtue and merit and work of Your Son, You have chosen to call many out of darkness and into the light. Many of us, if not all of us, are among that number today who once were darkness, but now we are light through Jesus Christ. And how we thank you for that mercy. How we thank you for delivering us out of darkness into a kingdom of glorious light in which we can delight in the things of God and delight in Jesus Christ especially. Father, we would ask today that if we are children of light, that You help us to understand that our strength comes from Jesus Christ, that the only way that we can walk in light, the only way that we can do that which is pleasing to You, is by leaning wholly and entirely upon Jesus Christ and His grace. We would pray today that none of us would be deluded into thinking that there is some way in which we merit your forgiveness or cleansing, but help us all to rejoice in the fact that our hope is in what Christ has already done. The message of the Gospel is that it is finished, that Christ paid the price, that Christ atoned for the sins of His people. May we meditate upon that today, especially as we're about to go to the table. May we be mindful of the great privileges that we have. And, of course, we would pray today for any who are outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe there's someone here today who has been making a false confession. Someone who's been stating outwardly for others to hear that they are a Christian when they know in their heart, in the light of your truth, that they are not. Lead them, Father, out of that deception into the light of the truth. Help them to understand their need before a holy and pure God, their need for Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. Bless us as your people. Give us grace to respond to your word today. For we ask these things this morning in Jesus' blessed name. Amen.