Series: More Than A Name “Walking in The Light” 1 John 2:7-12 This morning we continue in our study “More Than A Name” where we are being reminded that there is more to being a Christian than simply identifying as a “Christian.” There are many people who live in America today who self-identify as Christians. In fact, 65% of the US Population claims to be Christian. However, if that is true, then why does our land and why do our laws not better reflect Jesus? If we are truly Christians, then why do we still allow abortion, accept the redefining of marriage, pervert God’s plan for sexuality, and justify the sin in our lives and in our country? If we are truly Christians, then what are we doing to help the poor, the orphans, the widows, and those in society who have been forgotten and rejected? Sadly, the same sort of questions could be asked even within the Church today. If we are truly Christians, then why are we not meeting together to worship Jesus on a regular basis? Why do we come for worship only when it is convenient for our schedule and there’s nothing else more important going on? If we are truly Christians, then why are we content on being served instead of serving one another and building up the body of Christ? If we are truly Christians, then how are we reaching out to the sick, the hurting, and the grieving to be the hands and feet of Jesus? If we are truly Christians, then why is there so much self-righteousness, arrogance, and apathy in the Church today? Acts 11:26 tells us that the followers of Jesus in Antioch were meeting regularly to learn and to grow and they were first called “Christians” there. It is interesting to note that the term “Christian” didn’t come from the church, but from the world. They heard their message of faith in Christ, saw the evidence of the change that Jesus Christ had brought to their life, and, though they couldn’t see Jesus’ physical life in front of them, they could see His life through these believers. Because of this, they were called Christians. It was through their life that they were identified as belonging to Jesus. In fact, this is the very definition of “Christian.” The word “Christ” is a reference to Jesus, and the suffix “ian” means “relating to, belonging to, or resembling.” To be Christian means that we belong to Jesus, we are in relationship with Him, and thus our life becomes a reflection of Him to the world. So, here is the question for many in our culture: If we are truly ‘Christians,’ then why do we look and live so differently than Jesus? Our text this morning once again calls us to examine ourselves to make sure that we are in Christ. You can know with certainty that you belong to Jesus by this one simple way – You are walking in the Light. Show Text John starts out with an interesting word of commandment. He is giving a reminder about God’s commands concerning love. Many people identify themselves as Christians because they have some sort of belief in God. Some might even say that they love God. Perhaps they would say, “Well, I’m not perfect. I’ve done a few things I regret, but I’ve always believed in God. I’ve seen Him do some things in my life, and I know that He’s there.” You can express all sorts of wonderful sentiments about God, but the proof of our love for God is seen in the way that we love others. In Matthew 22:36-39 Jesus was asked, “ ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, 2 and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” This was the summary of the old commandment – love God supremely and love others sincerely. However, John explains that it isn’t just an old commandment, it is a new commandment. This word “new” doesn’t mean “new” as in recent. It means “new” as in quality or application. What John is saying is that our calling to love one another is not based on an old law, but based on a life. John says this new commandment is “true in Him,” meaning that this new way of love is found in Jesus. It is embodied in Him, and as Christians we are now called to love like Him. And what does this look like? John 3:16 tells us plainly. Loving others like Jesus means that we willingly give ourselves for the glory of God and the good of others. When we read through the Gospels it is remarkable to see how Jesus loved people. His love for others is seen in the way that He put their needs above His own. His love for others is seen in the way that He always put the will of the Father above His own. It is seen in the way that He showed patience with Peter, mercy to doubting Thomas, and even kindness to betraying Judas. His love for all people was seen in the way that He dealt respectfully yet directly with the tax collectors, the woman at the well, and even with the Pharisees. His compassion was repeatedly seen as He ministered to the woman caught in adultery, took time to touch the lepers, and went after the wild man called “Legion.” He was so gentle that He held babies in His arms, so comforting that He gave hope to the women who wept as the soldiers led Him to Calvary, and so generous that the lad who had volunteered his lunch was sent home with 12 baskets full of food. His love was evident to all. The question for us to consider today is simple: Is the love of Jesus evident through you? Once we get to 1 John 3 & 4 we are going to talk a great deal about loving one another, but before we get there John has something important to say. The key to loving well is not found in pursuing love. If I am trying to love like Jesus I am not going to do it by striving to pursue some manmade version of love. The key to loving like Jesus is simple – we must be in continual relationship with Him. Here in 1 John 2, John shows us that there is a direct relationship between love and light. You can’t love like Jesus unless you are walking in the light; if you are walking in the dark you may have some form of love, but it will never be the love of Jesus without the light shining in and through you. It is all about walking in the light. What does this mean, how can we do this, and what is the result? Each of these questions is answered in this text. I. The Person of Light (vs. 8) If you are in a place of total darkness, the first thing that you are likely to look for is a source of light. John immediately points us to the fact that the light is a Person. **ILL: Little boy saying, “My mommy is the light of the world.” He knew that the light was a person, but he had the wrong person in mind. John wastes no time. He says, “The TRUE Light is already shining.” Please understand that John isn’t talking about a vision, a movement, a trance, some spiritual sense of enlightenment, or any other new-age way of thinking. He is talking about a Person – Jesus. The coming of Jesus into this world has been clearly described as Light entering the darkness. We do live in a dark and fallen world. It is filled with sin, chaos, confusion, wars, disease, death, and destruction. The Bible simply calls it all “darkness.” The good news, though, is that Jesus came to bring light into the darkness. Nearly 700 years before the birth of Jesus Isaiah 9:2, 6 prophesied, 3

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great LIGHT; those who live in a dark land, the LIGHT will shine on them…For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Then for four hundred years God went silent. There was no fresh word from God and no sign of His movement until God brought life to the virgin womb. Then in Bethlehem, Jesus was born. John 1:9 says of Jesus, “There was the TRUE LIGHT which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.” John understood that without Jesus all men are left wandering aimlessly in the dark. We are aimlessly wandering in our own sins, with our eyes darkened to our reality and our minds darkened to our need for Jesus. Jesus came to this darkened world to open eyes and hearts, to shine light on our need and point us in the way that we should go. Jesus said it emphatically in John 8:12, “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the LIGHT of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the LIGHT of life.’ ” Friend, you don’t have to walk in darkness. You can walk in light and walk in life. Those who walk in darkness wander aimlessly and don’t truly realize the dangers at hand. **ILL: Teenage girls trying to pull a prank. One of the girls stepped on something and screamed like crazy. They soon discovered that she had been bitten three times by a timber rattlesnake. Just as it was foolish and dangerous for those girls, the same is true for those who do not know Jesus. Without Jesus you are surrounded by darkness and the only way to be delivered from it is through Him because He is the Light of the world. II. The Process of Walking in the Light (vs. 8b) The text doesn’t spell this out, but other Scriptures paint a clear picture of how we walk in the light. Someone might ask, “Well if Jesus is the Light, then how do I get Him? How can I have the Light in my life?” After all, it’s not like going to Walmart, purchasing a flashlight and some batteries, and just pushing a button. However, there is a simple biblical process to walk in the light. A. Receive Jesus There is a key word in verse 8 that we can’t miss. John says that this true light is “shining.” This is a unique word. If John was referring to someone or something of the past, he would have used past tense. In other words, if Jesus would have come to earth, lived, and died, John would have said, “And the true light shone.” In other words, this is what Jesus did and that’s it, but that is not what it says. It is in the present, ongoing tense because it is showing us that Jesus is still shining today to convict people of sin and to call them to walk in the light. We still share the Gospel today because we have been commanded, because it is the only message that still saves, and because Jesus is still shining and drawing people to Himself. This is the same tense that was used in John 1:9 when John said that the true Light “enlightens every man.” Again, it is an active, ongoing tense. Jesus still today enlightens every man. How can He do this? Because Jesus is not dead. He rose again from the grave, and today Jesus shines in the hearts of mankind to convict us of sin, convince us of our need for a Savior, and call us to receive Him by faith. Jesus said in John 12:32, 36a, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL men to Myself…While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” Jesus knew that He had come to die, but He also knew that He would rise again to call everyone to experience 4 eternal life through Him. Sadly, though, not everyone did or will receive Jesus. Right after John 1:9 tells us that Jesus enlightens every man, he tells us a sobering truth in verses 10- 12– “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” For us to be changed from darkness to light we must believe in Jesus Christ and trust Him as our Lord and Savior, and God invites us all to do so. We must understand, however, that this is not automatic. Nobody was naturally born as a follower of Jesus. You were born as a sinner in need of a Savior, and the only way to be saved is to confess Jesus as Lord. Sadly, as simple as this is, many still refuse. John 3:19-20 explains why, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” **ILL: Years ago, I learned this through an illustration of a tornado that took place in Alabama. A school building was almost completely destroyed. When the rescuers arrived, they found that the middle hallway was fairly intact, but the supporting walls were beginning to cave under the weight. The rescue workers announced that they could not get to the people without putting everyone in danger. The only thing they could do was shine a bright light and call the people to come towards the light. One by one the students and teacher crawled to the end of that hall to get to that light. Some even drug their friends to get to that light. When all was said and done, there were many wounds and broken bones, but not a single person died because they were willing to heed the invitation and embrace the light. Sadly, such will not be the case with mankind because in the hardness of their hearts, many will still refuse. There is only one way to eternal life – receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. B. Relate to Jesus There are two words here that show us the next step – “abide” and “walk.” Both of these words are about relationship. The word “abide” describes our connection and the word “walk” describes our continuance and progress. The word for “walking” suggests an ongoing relationship with the Light, which is Jesus. Even the Old Testament saints had an understanding of walking in the light. Psalm 89:15 says, “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance.” Isaiah was concerned that the Israelites would grow cold in their relationship with God, so he called out to the people in Isaiah 2:5, “Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” When we put our faith in Jesus to save us, the Light of the world begins to indwell us and shine in our lives. However, if we don’t continue to walk with Him and obey Him, eventually our light will become ineffective. As His light in us sheds light on the things that we need to turn from, the areas that we need to repent of, or the steps of direction that He is calling us to take, we then have a choice to obey or disobey. If we continue to obey, we enjoy the closeness of fellowship with Him and His light shines further in us and through us. However, if we harden our hearts and refuse to obey, eventually that light will begin to dwindle, not because He is no longer present but because we have ceased to walk with Him. **ILL: Think of it as the quality time that you spend with your spouse in 5

marriage. Usually, the closeness that one feels in marriage is directly related to the present connection that the couple is experiencing. If it’s been months since they have been on a date, had quality time together, and heart-to-heart conversation, that relationship can grow cold. However, when the right environment is established and continually protected, it often leads to a vibrant relationship. In a similar manner, we must keep seeking to grow in our relationship with the Lord. Just as a flashlight needs fresh batteries to provide charge, we need ongoing relationship with Jesus and His Word so that His light in us remains bright. C. Reflect Jesus The purpose of possessing the light isn’t merely for our fulfillment or enjoyment; it is for others that they, too, may come to know Jesus. He told His disciples in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” **ILL: One of my children recently asked me, “Dad, how can we be the light if Jesus is the light?” The answer is simple – we simply reflect Jesus, the TRUE Light. We see the same when we see the moon. We might see the moon in its many different forms. Some nights it appears closer than others. Sometimes it appears brighter than at other times. However, the moon doesn’t produce any light of its own. It simply reflects the light of the sun, which causes it to have its own appearance of light. In the same way, as we know Jesus and grow in Him we are able to show Jesus to the world, and this is the point. We are to shine bright for Jesus. Left to ourselves, we were in darkness. The only reason we can be in the light is by the grace and mercy of God, and the only way we can shine light is through Him Who is in us. So, as we abide in Christ and walk with Him, He works through us to shine His light into the lives of others. Peter said it best in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Paul agreed in Philippians 2:15, “So that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” So, let me ask you, where are you at in this spectrum? Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, you don’t have to keep walking in darkness. You can receive Him today and have the Light of the world in your heart and life. Second, are you walking in relationship with Him? It’s more than just that initial prayer that you prayed to be saved. It is an ongoing relationship with Jesus. Third, are you shining His light to the world around you? Many will say, “Yes, I am walking in the light.” To help us make sure that is true, once again, John points us to the proofs. III. The Proof of Walking in the Light (vs. 9-11) 6

Once again, talk is cheap. You can claim to be a Christian, but the proof is in the pudding. What do your attitudes, ambitions, and actions reveal about your relationship with the Lord? John points us to three key evidences of someone who is walking in the light. A. Love Instead of Hate Here is the question to consider: Do you love all others in the body of Christ? Most will say, “Of course, I love all people.” Please think about it seriously. What about the person that gets on your nerves? What about the person that you never see eye-to-eye with? What about the person with the serious pet peeve? What about the person who challenges you? What about the person who helps you pray more? Do you love them, or is your heart filled with hatred towards them? We don’t normally like to label it as “hate,” but what about holding a grudge, being resentful, bitter, wishing ill for someone? Is there someone you continually avoid and want nothing to do with? We don’t want to call it hate because it seems too strong a word, but what of our attitude and actions are hateful? I once knew a professing “Christian” who prayed that God would go ahead and take someone “home” who he didn’t agree with. Friend, if Jesus loved His enemies and instructed us to do the same, then surely if the Light of the world is living in us, then we will have love for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:14 says it best, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” Love and light always go together just like darkness and hatred go together. So, do you love all others in the body of Christ? We cannot produce Christian love in our own power, but as we know the Lord and walk with Him, His power through us enables us to love the brethren. B. Selflessness Instead of Selfishness Here is the next question to consider: Do you live your life according to your will, or according to what is best for others? John says it plainly, “There is no cause for stumbling in him.” This doesn’t mean that the believer is perfect. This simply means that the believer lives his life focused on what brings glory to God and good to others. He isn’t living his life based upon his rights, his thoughts, his feelings, his wants, or his will. Instead, like Jesus His Lord who surrendered His own will for the good of others, he willingly and humbly lays aside his rights so that others might know Jesus and grow in Him. This goes completely against the grain of our culture. Our culture says “Have it your way. Do what you want. It’s your life. It’s your body. It’s your happiness. Look out for numero uno.” But Jesus said in Luke 9:23b-24, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” Even in the church, we often get caught up on our “rights.” Some say, “Well, I have liberty in Christ to do what I want to,” but if your Christian “liberties” are a stumbling block to others, then you have completely missed the point. Romans 14:13, 19 says, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way…So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” 7

As children of God, we are called to be stepping-stones that lead to the health and development of others, not stumbling blocks that lead to their hurt and destruction. So, what is your goal – your personal rights and privileges, or the well-being and building up of others? C. Spiritual Development Instead of Decline John closes this verse with another contrast. Those who aren’t walking in the light are wandering aimlessly in the dark. They are slipping, falling, and stumbling all over the place. They are wandering around without any sense of direction or purpose because their eyes are blinded by the darkness. Here is the question: Are you closer to the Lord and stronger in your faith today than you were yesterday? Those who continue to walk in the light will grow closer and stronger. As the old song says, “It gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by.” **ILL: I saw this illustrated this past week by talking to an older sister in Christ. She told me, “Pastor, I am thankful for the pandemic. I grieve for those who have lost so much and I pray for them, but for me, it was exactly what I needed. I learned how much I was taking for granted and how much time I was wasting on other things. This pandemic has helped me grow in my relationship with the Lord.” She was saying loud and clear, “I’ve been walking with Jesus and I am growing in Him.” Such is the case for those who are walking in the Light. It doesn’t mean that every day is going to be amazing or even that every time with God is going to be as inspiring or illuminating as the day before, but it does mean that in your faithful walk with Him there will be growth in your relationship with Him and in your likeness to Him. Are you, too, walking in the Light? IV. The Promise of Walking in the Light (vs. 12) Perhaps you are here today and you feel that God could never forgive you for your sins. Perhaps you are a believer and feel like a failure because you’ve blown it again. Perhaps you hear those proofs of walking in the light and you now realize that you’ve fallen way short. What are you to do? Verse 12 reminds us of the wonderful promise that our sins can be forgiven, not on account of our good name or works, but on the basis of what Jesus has done for us. 1 John 1:7-9 said it well, “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. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The promise is simply this, no matter how you have fallen short or how you have failed, there is grace, mercy, and forgiveness when you repent of your sins and turn to Jesus. He will forgive. He will cleanse. He will restore you. When you turn from darkness and turn to the Light, you will be set free and restored to a right walk with Him. I invite you to embrace this walk today!