TITLE: Walking Together in the Light TEXT: I John 1:1-7 THEME: Accepting the first hand message of Jesus places us in a shared community of Light.

When we accept the gospel of Jesus we are immediately place into a community of believers who share something in common and are driven to share with others.

How does the gospel place the believer into a life changing community?

I. It provides for us a shared faith grounded in historical truth. (1-2)

I John 1:1-2 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”

John 20: 30 “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John 21:2 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

C. S. Lewis "I have been reading poems, romances, vision-literature, legends, myths all my life. I know what they are like. I know that not one of them is like this [the Gospels]." Lewis emphasizes the evidence that these are—or are based on—eyewitness account.

How does the gospel place the believer into a life changing community?

II. It provides the basis for new relationships (3-4)

I John 1:3-4 “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.”

II. It provides the basis for new relationships (3-4) It places us in a relationship with others who also believe the gospel message.

II. It provides the basis for new relationships (3-4) It places us in a relationship with others who also believe the gospel message. It places us into a relationship with God.

II. It provides the basis for new relationships (3-4) It places us in a relationship with others who also believe the gospel message. It places us into a relationship with God. It places us into a relationship with Jesus.

Three Levels of Knowledge a. Personal knowledge comes from their experience with Christ.

Three Levels of Knowledge a. Personal knowledge comes from their experience with Christ. b. Informational knowledge comes from hearing their account.

Three Levels of Knowledge a. Personal knowledge comes from their experience with Christ. b. Informational knowledge comes from hearing their account. c. Shared knowledge comes when we believe their account.

Fellowship here is the Greek word “koinonia.” It literally means “to have or share in common.” It speaks of a bond that is formed because of a common purpose and shared belief.

How does the gospel place the believer into a life changing community?

III. It provides support for the fact that God is light. (5-6)

I John 1:5-6 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”

III. It provides support for the fact that God is light. (5-6) A. Positively: God is Light This is an analogy (Nature of God vs. nature of light).

III. It provides support for the fact that God is light. (5-6) A. Positively: God is Light This is an analogy (Nature of God vs. nature of light). Light exposes reality.

III. It provides support for the fact that God is light. (5-6) A. Positively: God is Light This is an analogy (Nature of God vs. nature of light). Light exposes reality. Light cannot be tainted by darkness.

III. It provides support for the fact that God is light. (5-6) A. Positively: God is Light B. Negatively: In Him is not darkness at all. – Darkness cannot understand light.

III. It provides support for the fact that God is light. (5-6) A. Positively: God is Light B. Negatively: In Him is not darkness at all. – Darkness cannot understand light. – Darkness tries to hide sin and corruption.

John 3:19 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

Acts 26:18 “…to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

III. It provides support for the fact that God is light. (5-6) A. Positively: God is Light B. Negatively: In Him is not darkness at all. – Darkness cannot understand light. – Darkness tries to hide sin and corruption. – Darkness has no defense against light

Ephesians 5: 8-16 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Ephesians 5: 8-16 “12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Ephesians 5: 8-16 “15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Eugene Peterson, Run with the Horses "The puzzle is why so many people live so badly. Not so wickedly, but so inanely. Not so cruelly, but so stupidly. There's little to admire and less to imitate in the people who are prominent in our culture. We have celebrities, but not saints. Famous entertainers amuse a nation of bored insomniacs.”

Eugene Peterson, Run with the Horses "Infamous criminals act out the aggressions of timid conformists. Petulant and spoiled athletes play games vicariously for lazy and apathetic spectators. People aimless and bored amuse themselves with trivia and trash. Neither the adventure of goodness nor the pursuit of righteousness get headlines."

How does the gospel place the believer into a life changing community?

IV. It provides the basis for the purification of our sins. (7)

I John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

I John 1:9 “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confess Is the Greek word “homologia.”

Confess Is the Greek word “homologia.” It means to say the same thing about sin that God says about it.

Confess Is the Greek word “homologia.” It means to say the same thing about sin that God says about it. It is only when the light exposes it that we can really see it for what it is- the way God sees it.

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

APPLICATION: When we accept the gospel we are brought into a community who share a common purpose and faith.

APPLICATION: When we accept the gospel we are brought into a community who share a common purpose and faith. As a community we are called to share our lives, our weaknesses, and our faith with each other.

APPLICATION: When we accept the gospel we are brought into a community who share a common purpose and faith. As a community we are called to share our lives, our weaknesses, and our faith with each other. As a church we encourage that community through Life Groups- see bulleting insert.