This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
John would have us know that there is no duplicity in God when it comes to His essence and His moral makeup – and there should be none in His children, either. If we say we are saved, we must walk in the light of truth as expressed in the scriptures, or else we are found to be liars and unworthy of Christ. In fact, the confirmation of our salvation is we practice the Word of God in every area of our lives. If we are truly His, He will not relent until He has washed us clean and made us holy. Unholy behavior is a sign that we are not saved, nor are we truly members of His body, for Jesus is returning for a bride without spot or wrinkle. This is a difficult and fearful truth for a relativistic and compromising Christian culture.
There were (and still are) heretics who teach that sin is an illusion and not a fact of life or attribute of a fallen race. These men, therefore, deny the necessity of the Cross and the atonement which appeases the anger of God, washes us clean, and justifies us in His sight. This lie is an affront to the truth and gives expression to the very darkness John speaks of. This egregious error is based on a Christ-denying mindset that supposes man possesses intrinsic goodness and a divine nature that can be developed by good works and an elevated spiritual consciousness. Yet, when John speaks of sin, he not only alludes to acts of sin, but the principle, propensity, and disposition of sin in all of us. In other words, we are born sinners, and our sin is a fatal problem until we repent and accept the sacrifice Christ made for us on Calvary. Therein, we see the difference between light and darkness. Light accepts the truth about Christ, about us, and about sin -- and darkness rejects it.
AMEN. Whew!!!! Lest we forget that the Lord is true to His own Word...we are wise to obey. Wisdom cries out to us to therefore take heed to what thus saith the Lord.
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