God is Light
1 Jn. 1:5-10
Introduction
The name John means the Lord is gracious. John was with the Lord Jesus Christ for three years when
ministered to the people, so he has seen the miracles that only Christ can do. To John, Christ is a
real person the son of God, true God and true man, the eternal life. I have mentioned a little about
fellowship and joy last week. John wants to share to us the feeling of fellowship and joy he
experienced when he was with the Lord. Having fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ produces joy
unspeakable. Joy is an inner contentment produced by God that is not dependent upon external
circumstances. As long as we are in Christ, we can have joy. Today we continue our lesson on the
first chapter of this blessed Epistle.
I. God is light (1 Jn. 1:5)
A. As to His nature and character, God is light. Light speaks of:
1. Holiness
2. Glory
3. Righteousness
4. Purity
5. Truth
B. Light also tells us that God is self-revealing.
A. Man cannot discover God by himself. God has to come to us and tell us about
Himself. God revealed Himself to us through Christ as written in the Bible (Jn.
1:18).
B. Light may be an attribute of God. God clothes Himself with light (Ps. 104:2), God
dwells in Light unapproachable (1 Tim. 6:16), He is the Father of Lights (Jas.
1:17).
C. There is no darkness in Him,
1. Darkness is linked with sin, death, wickedness, ignorance, Satan and his
kingdom.
2. Darkness is the absence of light, the opposite of light, and is against light.
Illustration: Olive Oil and Candlestick
The high priest was commanded to keep the Menorah in the Holy Temple, fill it with pure olive oil
and to light it every day (Exodus 27:20). Olive oil burns with the brightest and steadiest flame of all
plant oils. But it is not only the oil of the olive tree which is special.
The foliage of the olive tree itself seems to light up when wind rustles its branches. The underside of
each olive leaf is silver in color and so the whole tree shimmers with a glowing sheen.
As a breeze “carries” these waves of light from one olive tree to the next, the whole grove seems to
come alight. The olive tree was a symbol of light as early as the story of Noah’s Ark when the dove
brought back an olive leaf in its beak. (Genesis 8:11)
An ancient commentary explains that the olive leaf was a “light to the world.” Light has always been
associated with peace, just as darkness has been with war and destruction.
Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.
II. Our responsibility as believer.
A. In our daily life, as Christian, we are to reflect or show that light. We are the light of
the world (Mt. 5:14).
B. We are to walk in the light
C. Confess our sins
D. Do not continue to sin
III. Contrast between False believers and real believers. (1 Jn. 1:6-10)
A. False believers say that “if we believe in God, it doesn’t matter how we live.
John says that if anyone who claims to have fellowship with God but is walking in
darkness (in sin) is making a false claim. He is telling lies with words and actions. The
reference for this kind of lies are: 1 Jn. 1:6, 8, 10, 2:4, 9 and 4:20.
To live according to the truth is to obey the Word of God
B. In contrast to the false profession of verse 6, real believers or true followers of Christ
live close to Him. They live His kind of life, free from dark sinful acts. The basis of this
life is the blood sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. His blood cleanses us from all sins. His
blood not only provides forgiveness for the guilt of our sins. It also removes the stain
of sins from our soul. His blood is so precious and valuable that it can cleanse the
sins of the whole world.
Illustration: Revelation 12:11
And they overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they
loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev. 12:11)
This is the last reference in the Bible to the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; here it is the
overcoming blood, enabling believers to withstand the deceptions and accusations of Satan. There
are at least 43 references to the blood of Christ in the New Testament, all testifying to its great
importance in the salvation and daily life of the believer.
Judas the betrayer spoke of it as “innocent blood (Matthew 27:4) and Peter called it “the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:9). It is the cleansing
blood in 1 John 1:7 and the washing blood in Rev. 1:5, stressing that it removes the guilt of our sins.
Paul calls it the purchasing blood in Acts 20:28 and the redeeming blood twice (Eph. 1:7); Col. 1:14,
see also 1 Peter 1:18–19, Rev. 5:9), thus declaring the shedding of His blood to be the very price of
our salvation. Therefore, it is also the justifying blood (Rom. 5:9) and the peace-making blood (Col.
1:20). Its efficacy does not end with our salvation, however, for it is also the sanctifying blood (Heb.
13:12). There is infinite and eternal power in the blood of Christ, for it is “the blood of the
everlasting covenant” (Heb. 13:20). The first reference in the New Testament to His blood stresses
this aspect. Jesus said, at the last supper: “This is my blood of the new testament (same as
‘covenant’) which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Let no one, therefore,
even count the “blood of the covenant. an unholy thing” (Heb. 10:29), for the blood of Christ is
forever innocent, infinitely precious, perfectly justifying, always cleansing and fully sanctifying.
— 10,000 Sermon Illustrations
C. False teachers were claiming they were without sin. Even at present they try to tell
us that they do not commit any sins.
John says that such people are only fooling themselves but they cannot fool God. (1
Sam. 16:7). Many people do not really know what sin is in God’s sight. They think
only such things as murder. But there are a lot of things God’s Word writes as sins
such as foolish thoughts, pride, hatred, sexual sins, lying, back biting, idolatry, etc.
D. In contrasts to false professors, true believers admit their sins to God.
1. Our part: Confession. To confess means to say the same things that God says. It
means to say to God that He is right, we are sinners. We need to tell God exactly
that we said or the sin we have committed.
2. God’s part:
a. He is faithful to his character and promise. Jer. 31:34. The claims for His
justice were met by Christ on the cross.
b. He will forgive us from all our sinful acts
c. He will cleanse the defilement from our hearts.
The act of forgiveness is based on the cross of Christ and is once for all.
Illustration: Our Greatest Need
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasuring, God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
Unfinished Business, Charles Sell, Multnomah, 1989, pp. 121ff
E. Those who deny having any sins are calling God a liar! That’s a very serious thing. His
Word plainly says that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Rom.
3:23. So we should receive the truth of God’s Word and act on it. (Prov. 28:13, Ps.
32:1-5.
IV. Conclusion:
God is light and there is no darkness in Him. We have a responsibility as Christians to be
the light of the world also. All sins can only be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Have you asked forgiveness for your sins? Are washed by the cleansing blood of the true
Light? If you are not sure then repent from your sins and receive Christ as your personal
Saviour.
