Studies in 1st John: Deep Walk

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).
Fellowship with God is the most important relationship we can seek. It is more important than any attachment to any earthly relationship. John has already spoken about fellowship—that is the purpose for which he writes (1:3). He now uses the illustration or metaphor of light and walking in light to emphasize the importance of being in fellowship with God; too, John shows us how to be in fellowship with God. John helps us know with certainty whether we are or are not in fellowship with the Lord. “If we say … “ (1:6, 8) “by this” (2:3) and “he who says” (2:9). Certainty about our faith is a theme John addresses often. 1 John 5:13 says: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” John says: This is how you can know.
Fellowship with the Lord and walking in darkness are not possible. Why? Because God is light. God is pure and holy. This is a part of God’s nature. He is sinless. If we his followers claim to be in fellowship with the Father, yet are living in the darkness of sin, we cannot be right before our heavenly Father. Are we perfect people? No! If we were we would not need the blood of Jesus. Yet, His blood has cleansed us from sin; we are now able to be in fellowship with Him. Still, we cannot think that we can persist in sin. To claim this kind of relationship with God and continue in sin is a lie. We might be self-deceived, we might try to cover up our sin—but still, it is a lie.
Again, if we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves. John is not saying we are perfect; we are not above sin; we need the sacrifice of Jesus. John is saying, though, that unconfessed sin is a barrier to fellowship with God. To so reason about our own sin is to lie. Thankfully, we can confess our sins and when we do so God will forgive our sins. We can be forgiven. We can be just. Not only does God forgive, but He cleanses us thoroughly. This is possible through the blood of Christ. We must then walk in the light of God’s word that this condition of fellowship might continue.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Yes, there is no other way, except the way of Jesus. Randy Harshbarger