1 John 1:1-10
"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth."
1 JOHN 1:5B-6
If ever there was a place characterized by darkness in many senses of the word, it would be in the confines of prison. I know that for a fact because I spent more than 15 years there for crimes I committed. I will never stop praising the Lord whose light and grace descended on my life while I was behind bars. Over the years I began to see that even while I was in the midst of despair and regret, God was calling me to live as a light to Him in the darkness.
In 1 Timothy 6:16, Paul says that God dwells in "inapproachable light." We who live in a fallen world - in or outside of prison walls - cannot quite grasp what pure, unapproachable light is. Yet that is our God.
Fellowship with God, who is light, involves walking in the light of His Word and not in the darkness of this world. That can be overwhelming for many of us. But we need not lose hope. Our Savior who is the Light of the World conquered the very depths of darkness for us. Set free, not one of us who knows Him remains imprisoned by sin any longer.
About the writer:
Mark Casson is a husband, father, and businessman, who also has spent over 15 years in California's prison system. He has a combined 22 years of experience in prison ministry from both sides of the razor wire. A sought-after speaker, he has taken the message of grace to conferences, high schools and colleges, prisons, and churches. His passion for ministry to prisoners is infectious.
INSIGHT
WALKING IN THE LIGHT IS AN INDICATION THAT WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ONE WHO IS LIGHT.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 13-14
Psalm 32
Mark 12
1 John 1:1-10
New International Version (NIV)
The Incarnation of the Word of Life
1 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. 3 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[a] joy complete.
Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness
5 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. 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[b] sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Footnotes:
a. 1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
b. 1 John 1:7 Or every
"CHRISTIAN" MYTHS ABOUT MONEY [PART 5]
with Dr. Ben Witherington
Have you ever heard someone suggest that if you tithe faithfully God will reward you financially? Does that teaching align with the Bible? The words of Jesus have the final say.
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