1 John 1:5-7 – Walking in the Lighty

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Our current series through 1 John is Life in the Light: Knowing Christ. Walking in Truth. Loving One Another.

These sermon notes are not a full manuscript but a listening guide designed to help our Tabernacle Church family follow along. I encourage you to add your own notes as you listen each week. The service will be available on YouTube by Sunday afternoon. You can also find sermon notes, family devotional guides, our prayer list, and other resources on our church website.

1 John 1:5-7

Introduction

  • John moves from the Word of Life in vv. 1–4 to what life with Christ looks like.
  • He begins with who God is before addressing how we should live.
  • Our walk should give evidence that our profession is genuine.
  • Walking in the light does not mean walking without sin… it means we no longer make peace with darkness.

Words to Consider

  • Light – God’s truth and holiness.
  • Darkness – sin and falsehood opposed to God.
  • Fellowship – shared life with God and His people.
  • Walk – the continuing direction and pattern of our lives.

Know the God of Light — v. 5

  • God is perfectly holy and true.
  • There is absolutely no darkness, evil, falsehood, or moral imperfection in Him.
  • God’s character determines what it means to walk with Him.
  • We do not define truth by our feelings, preferences, or culture.
  • We begin with who God is and what He has revealed.

Because God is perfectly holy and true, we must know Him as He has revealed Himself and order our lives according to His truth.

Reject the Darkness — v. 6

  • John contrasts profession with practice.
  • We cannot claim fellowship with God while our lives are characterized by darkness.
  • “Walk” describes the direction, pattern, and conduct of life.
  • Walking in darkness includes:
    • Rejecting God’s truth.
    • Living contrary to God’s holiness.
    • Refusing to repent of known sin.
    • Making peace with sin.
  • We are not saved because we walk in the light; we walk in the light because we have been saved.
  • A changed life is the fruit of salvation, not its cause.

Because genuine fellowship with God changes the direction of our lives, we must not merely profess the truth but practice it.

Walk in the Light — v. 7

  • Walking in the light means living according to God’s truth and holiness.
  • It includes:
    • Believing God’s truth.
    • Submitting to God’s Word.
    • Pursuing holiness.
    • Confessing rather than hiding sin.
    • Repenting rather than defending sin.
    • Growing in obedience.
    • Loving God’s people.
  • Walking in the light does not mean sinless perfection.
  • Walking in darkness hides and defends sin.
  • Walking in the light exposes, confesses, and turns from sin.
  • Walking in the light produces fellowship with God’s people.
  • The blood of Jesus continually reminds us that our confidence is in Christ’s cleansing work, not the perfection of our walk.

Because Christ has brought us into the light and His blood cleanses us from every sin, we must walk openly before God, share life with His people, and continually depend upon His grace.

The What Now?

  • Know God rightly. He is light.
  • Examine your walk. Does your life support your profession?
  • Bring sin into the light. Confess rather than hide or defend it.
  • Practice the truth. Let God’s Word shape the direction of your life.
  • Walk with God’s people. Fellowship is part of life in the light.
  • Rest in Christ. Your confidence is in His cleansing blood, not your perfect performance.

God’s light exposes our sin, God’s truth directs our walk, and Christ’s blood cleanses us as we walk with Him in the light.

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