Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 9, 2014

“Walking in the Light” 1 John 1:5-10 Bible Study 02/09/14

This morning’s text addresses the subjects of God’s character, our sin and God’s forgiveness. Building on a foundational assertion of God’s nature/character (God is light…), John proceeds to make two crucial appeals to his readers. Believers are to walk in the light and address sin in their lives with sensitivity and honesty. When we grasp God’s character, we aim to advance in our walk and agree about our sin.

Introduction

-sin: missing the mark, stepping out of bounds
-sin and the believer’s “family status”
-sin and the believer’s fellowship

I. Contemplate the character of God (5)

-proclamation with an emphasis on the receiver

-“light” in this context: the moral perfection of God

-John’s stylistic emphasis: positive/negative

-looking ahead: the threefold use of “if we say…”

II. Conform to the character of God (6-7)

-the use of “walk”

-the incompatibility of “darkness”

-two results of walking in the light: fellowship and cleansing

III. Confess your sin to God (8-10)

-avoiding self-deception

-confess: to “say with” or agree with God about your sins

-since God is “faithful and just…”

-forgiveness and cleansing

-a sobering warning

IV. So what?

-“The only way, according to John, we’ll ever hear from God the words, ‘You are forgiven,’ is if we speak the words, ‘I have sinned.’” (David Allen)

-You will either cover sin (Prov. 28:13) or confess sin (1 John 1:9).

-“He who cannot find water in the sea is not more foolish than the man who cannot perceive sin in his members.” (Charles Spurgeon)

-Grasp the malignancy of sin and the magnificence of grace.

-Two texts for walking in the light: Psalm 119:11 and Psalm 119:36-37