1 John 1:5-10

5: This is the message we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6: If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7: but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8: If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10: If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

*** 

John began the letter by saying that those who had seen the Lord had a message--a testimony--and they proclaimed it so everyone who believes can come into fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, like they have. The message is that God is Light and there is no darkness in Him at all.

John gave several considerations to their testimony:

  • If they say the have fellowship with Him but walk in darkness, they are liars.
  • If they walk in the Light, as He is, then they really do have fellowship with Him and the blood of Jesus cleanses them from all sin.
  • If they say they have no sin, they are deceiving themselves and the truth is not in them.
  • If they confess their sins, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse them.
  • If they say they haven't sinned, they make Him a liar.
So, John, and others, who testified of the Lord became liars if:

1). They walked in darkness while saying they were in fellowship with Him, or 
2). They said they had no sin. 

These are not contradictions to each other, for when you walk in the Light and admit to (confess) your sin, then the blood of Jesus cleanses you. Walking in the Light doesn't mean you never sin, but that you admit to it, confess it, expose it to the Light, and be forgiven. It's acknowledging your misalignment with the Truth. It's accepting God's way as the right way.

However, if you walk in darkness while saying you have fellowship with Him, or if you say you have no sin, or that you haven't sinned, then you are a liar. You're not practicing the truth, the truth is not in you, His Word is not in you, and you make Him a liar. Walking in darkness is hiding your sins, not admitting to them, or not acknowledging that you've done something wrong--which makes the truth of God into a lie. God will not be made a liar. This will not lead to your freedom from that lie, but keeps you in darkness, in bondage, and enslaved to sin. Ignoring it or refusing to admit it will not make it go away!


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