Walk In Light And Love
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 July 2007 10:17
Our current Sunday morning series focuses on the first letter written by the apostle John, the same man who authored the gospel that bears his name and the closing book of the Bible, Revelation. Written late in the first century, in all likelihood, this letter comes from the heart of an aging man who is concerned about the “health” of the church. For years, John had invested his time and energy to build up the saints in Ephesus and all Asia Minor (present day Turkey). But now, all that he has labored to do is being undermined by some who arrogantly present themselves as members of the spiritually elite and claiming to “know” more than the “ordinary” members of the congregation. Their teachings and attitudes have produced tensions, conflicts, and divisions among the believers.John’s heart is broken, but his passion for truth is strong. His letter is an impassioned appeal to God’s children (whom he sees as his own “little children”) to walk in the light and to walk in love.
Author Gary Burge offers a simple and concise outline of this letter that captures the substance and spirit of John’s appeal.
1. Prologue (1:1-4)
2. Part 1: God is Light – and we should walk accordingly (1:5-3:10)
3. Part 2: God is Love – and we should walk accordingly (3:11-5:12)
4. Conclusion: (5:13-21)
The Prologue establishes a foundation upon which John will build and develop his arguments. He highlights four important issues: 1) A Message that is Sure; 2) A Life that is Real; 3) A Fellowship that is Rich; and 4) A Joy that is Full. In other words, the message that John preaches involves a person who physically existed for John had heard, seen and touched this Jesus (1:1). Furthermore, this Jesus eternally existed with the Father (1:2). And He is the Word of Life and Eternal Life who gives life to all who come to Him. Then, because of this life in Jesus Christ, we are brought into a vital fellowship with the Father and the Son and with one another in the body of Christ – the church. Therefore, believers can know joy in the fullest sense of the word. And so Jesus is to be personally experienced and corporately experienced through joyful fellowship.
The bulk of the letter is then presented under two basic themes. These themes are clearly indicated in words that serve as markers for the reader. The first is found in 1 John 1:5, “This is the message … God is light.” Because God is light, we must walk in the light. And he develops this theme through chapter 3 verse 10.
In the next verse (3:11) there is a shift in thought. A new theme is introduced. “This is the message … God is love” (cf. 4:8, 16). Because God is love, we must love one another. He ends this section in 5:12.
The letter closes with an Epilogue that boldly expresses the confidence God’s people should have if they walk in light and love. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (5:13). May God strengthen our walk, our love, our fellowship, our joy, our confidence as we listen and learn from this letter in the coming weeks. -- Sparky