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1 John 1:7 - Living In The Light.1 John 1:7 (NLT) But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.INTRODUCTION Sin, by its very nature, brings death. Jesus did not die for his own sins; he had none. Instead, by a transaction that we may never fully understand, he died for the sins of the world. When we commit our lives to Christ and thus identify ourselves with him, his death becomes ours. He has paid the penalty for our sins, and his blood has purified us. Just as Christ rose from the grave, we rise to a new life of fellowship with him (Romans 6: 4). [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARL The Brightest Light An Amazing Fact: "The Torch" claims to be the world's brightest flashlight. It is currently being tested by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most powerful flashlight, with 4,100 lumens of "raw light power." It is supposedly 100 lumens brighter than the previous record holder. It burns so hot that it can ignite paper, melt plastic, and even cook an egg. All yours for only 9! Ever since the invention of the light bulb, mankind has continued to make more powerful and brighter lights. One of the brightest lights in the world (claimed by its owners) is the tip of Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, which contains a fixed-position spotlight that points directly upward. Its beam is supposedly 42.3 billion candlepower. But you don't need to go to Las Vegas to find the brightest light in the world. David writes in 2 Samuel 22:29, "For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness." From the first day of Creation when God proclaimed, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), to the final book of Revelation, which tells us, "There shall be no more night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light" (Revelation 22:5), there is a clear association between our Lord and light. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). Then in John 12:36, Christ admonishes us, "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light." The Word of God, the Bible, is also referred to as light. In fact, David says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). You do not need the world's most powerful flashlight to find your way to heaven. God provides the light you need through the Bible. Turn on your light every day. [Moving Mountains by Amazing Facts] COMMENTARY There is need of constant watchfulness, and of earnest, loving devotion; but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith. We can do nothing, absolutely nothing, to commend ourselves to divine favor.... come to Christ... God will accept every one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the merits of a crucified Saviour. Love springs up in the heart. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding, peaceful trust. Every burden is light; for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness. This is walking in the light as Christ is in the light. 1SM353-354 Christ and His word are in perfect harmony. Received and obeyed, they open a sure path for the feet of all who are willing to walk in the light as Christ is in the light... Its instruction would be to them as the leaves of the tree of life. It would be in them a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. Refreshing showers of grace would refresh and revive the soul, causing them to forget all toil and weariness. 8T193 If we will but wait patiently and prayerfully upon God, and not follow our own impetuous plans, He will guide our decisions and open many doors of hope and labor... We shall be safe only when we consecrate ourselves to God and look unto Jesus, earnestly longing to work out His plan... Let none run ahead of Christ, but wait for the word of command, "Follow Me."... Let them not suppose that the sparks of their own kindling are the true light, or after a while they will find that, instead of following the heavenly guiding Star, they are following an uncertain leader. TM211-212 ILLUSTRATION Picture a large circle, from the edge of which are many lines all running to the center. The nearer these lines approach the center, the nearer they are to one another. Thus it is in the Christian life. The closer we come to Christ, the nearer we shall be to one another. God is glorified as His people unite in harmonious action. AH179 WHEEL CONCEPT (Christ is the hub and we are the spokes): As we draw closer to Jesus, we become closer to one another. The key to living a victorious, Spirit-filled Christian life is Jesus Christ as the Center and Lord of all we do. With Christ in control, life is balanced and effective. The Wheel illustrated this Christ-centered life. Just as the driving force in a wheel comes from the hub; so the power to live the Christian life comes from Jesus Christ the Center. He lives in us in the Person of the Holy Spirit, whose expressed purpose is to glorify Christ. The rim represents the Christian responding to Christ's Lordship through wholehearted, day-by-day obedience to Him. The spokes show the means by which Christ's power becomes operative in our lives. We maintain personal contact with God through the vertical spokes -the Word and prayer. The Word is our spiritual food as well as our sword for spiritual battle. It is the foundational spoke for effective Christian living. Opposite this is the spoke representing prayer. Through prayer we have direct communication with our heavenly Father and receive provision for our needs. As we pray we show our dependence upon and trust in Him. The horizontal spokes concern our relationship to people - believers, through Christian fellowship, and unbelievers, through witnessing. Fellowship centered around the Lord Jesus Christ provides the mutual encouragement, admonition and stimulation we all need. As we draw closer to Jesus, we become closer to one another. The first three spokes prepare us for passing on to others all that we have received from the Lord. This is accomplished through witnessing, sharing our own experience of Christ and declaring and explaining the Gospel, God's power to save. [The Wheel by the Navigators] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 1 John 1:7 - Heaven is Certain. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230324-0908.html 1 John 1:7: Walking with Jesus brings Cleansing and Fellowship. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220904-0955.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20151202-1820.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20101130-2333.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2001/20011206-0000.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |