Good morning class.

Question of the day: Have you ever experienced darkness? What was the experience like for you?


Today we are going to finish the first chapter of 1 John today.

READ: 1 John 1:

Living in the Light

5 This is the message we heard from Jesus[c] and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

"God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all."  

First, it is important to notice that John doesn't say, "Jesus is light."  

What is important about that?

Or do you see a difference?

This is where it is important to understand why John is writing this letter.  So I mentioned last week that he is writing to a church that in someways is falling apart.  People are claiming to have inspiration and teaching all kinds of things.  This has brought a lack of fellowship or unity.  All kinds of things are being taught and John is taking it on.  So here right at the beginning he says "God is light."   In stating this he is reminding the churches of the importance of theology always being grounded in what we know.  So he wrote God, and defined him as light which was a familiar concept.  

Psalm 104:2

Ex 13:21

2 Samuel 22:29

He was not in anyway saying that Jesus is not light. In fact the opposite. Jesus coming brought God to us, or light to us.  

The importance of God, was to ground those he was speaking to, it was to say it can't be any new revelation that you claim to be light.  It has to be grounded in God, because we know God is light - 

Let's talk about light.  Why not just say God is right.... you must follow God.  

What is light?

What does light do?

"There is no darkness in Him."

One of the beautiful things about light is that it cannot coexist with darkness.  Light dispels darkness.  Light illuminates space.

This concept has been very powerful for me this week.  When I have struggled with one thing or another, going back to Christ and praying, putting His word in my heart, kept the "darkness" at bay.  I kept reminding myself that if there is light then it will dispel the darkness.

Light also highlights or points out.... there were moments in my week when the light pointed out some things that I needed to work on.  Some areas where He wanted me to grown and somethings he wanted me to work on.  

Light also, directs us.  That has been particularly comforting! 

What are the two results of living in the light?

This fellowship is worth noting!

The word used is Koinonia which means to have something in common.  Like a shared purpose, goal, or gift.  To work together.  

***** This is not finished.... but it is time so here we go....*****

Let's learn and study together.  IF you aren't here in class....we will miss you!