What it Means to Walk in the Light: A Study on 1 John
Introduction
A. Etymology of the term In the original Greek of the New Testament, the verb for "walk" is peripatō. This word does not simply mean to travel from point A to point B; it refers to one's "conduct," "lifestyle," or "habitual behavior." To walk in the light is to have the very trajectory of your life defined by God’s presence.
B. Reflecting the Source Scripture tells us that "God is light" (1 John 1:5). Therefore, a Christian united to Christ is not a source of light, but a reflector of it. As Jesus commanded in the Sermon on the Mount, we are to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
C. Context of John’s Epistle The Apostle John wrote this letter to a church facing the threat of early Gnosticism—a philosophy that claimed one could possess secret spiritual "knowledge" while living in habitual sin. John writes to shatter this illusion, proving that spiritual reality is always evidenced by moral conduct.
Proposition: To walk in the light is to live in continuous fellowship with God, obeying His Word, imitating Christ, and practicing the truth.
I. Living in Continuous Fellowship with God
1 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.”
A. A Continuous Action
The Greek verb peripatōmen ("we walk") is in the present continuous tense. This indicates that walking in the light is not a one-time emotional experience or a momentary flash of piety. It is a persistent, daily habit. John is not describing those who occasionally stumble into the light, but those whose life direction is defined by it.
B. As He is in the Light
God does not merely dwell in light; He is light. As Paul describes in 1 Timothy 6:16, He dwells in "unapproachable light." This light represents God's nature: absolute holiness, crystalline purity, and perfect truth.
• Doctrinal Principle: The holiness of God is the foundational reason for the believer’s call to sanctification. We walk in light because our Father is the Father of Lights.
C. The Two-Fold Blessing
1. Horizontal Fellowship: True Christian unity is impossible without vertical fellowship. When we walk in God's light, we find ourselves walking alongside other believers.
2. Continuous Purification: The text says the blood of Jesus cleanses (present tense) us.
◦ Doctrine of Atonement: While the sacrifice of Christ justified us once and for all, His blood provides a "fountain of cleansing" that remains active as we walk in obedience, dealing with the daily sins we commit.
II. Walking in the Light is Keeping His Commandments
1 John 2:3 — “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.”
A. The Evidence of True Knowledge
John argues that the test of "knowing" God is not an intellectual feeling, but an ethical result. Jesus taught, "If you love me, keep my commands" (John 14:15). To claim to know God while living in rebellion is, quite simply, a lie (1 John 2:4).
B. Remaining in God
Obedience is the "glue" of our relationship with the Father (1 John 3:22-24). This obedience produces:
• Confidence in Prayer: When our will aligns with His commands, we pray with boldness.
• Communion with the Spirit: The Holy Spirit dwells comfortably in a heart that seeks to obey (John 14:17, 23).
• Doctrinal Principle: Obedience is not legalism (trying to earn salvation); it is the fruit of regeneration (the evidence that we have been saved).
III. Walking in the Light is Walking as Christ Walked
1 John 2:6 — “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
A. Imitating the Perfect Model
Jesus is our "Protótypon"—the original pattern. He went about doing good (Acts 10:38) and committed no sin (1 Peter 2:21-22). Peter tells us that Christ left us an example so that we might "follow in his steps."
B. Personal Purity
Walking as He walked requires a commitment to purity.
• 1 John 3:3: We must purify ourselves just as He is pure.
• While Christ was inherently pure, we must actively engage in the purification of our hearts (James 4:8) and souls (1 Peter 1:22).
C. Justice and Sacrificial Love
• Practice Justice: To walk in light is to do what is right in the eyes of God (1 John 3:7).
• Sacrificial Love: Just as Christ laid down His life for us, we must be willing to sacrifice our comforts, time, and even our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16; John 15:13).
IV. Walking in the Light is Walking in Truth
2 John 4 — “It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth...”
A. The Joy of Integrity
There is no greater joy for a spiritual leader than to see believers living with integrity. "Walking in truth" means there is no gap between our Sunday profession and our Monday practice.
B. The Regulator of Conduct
The Truth is not a set of suggestions; it is the regulator of our behavior (3 John 3-4).
• Moral Integrity: Honesty in business and speech.
• Consistency: Being the same person in the dark as you are in the light.
• Biblical Submission: Recognizing that Truth is not relative or subjective; it is the revealed Word of God.
• Doctrinal Principle: Truth is not a matter of opinion; it is a divine revelation that demands our total submission.
See Also
- Preaching On James 4:8 Draw Near to God
- Preaching On Will of God: The Necessity of Submission
- Preaching On John 6:68 To Whom Shall We Go?
Conclusion
To walk in the light is the highest calling of the human soul. It is more than a religious duty; it is a life of vibrant, active communion with the Creator. It means:
1. Continuous Fellowship with the Holy God.
2. Faithful Obedience to His life-giving commands.
3. Active Imitation of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
4. Absolute Integrity by living according to the Truth.
Are you walking in the light today, or are there corners of your life still hidden in the shadows? The blood of Jesus is ready to cleanse, and His light is ready to guide.
