A L M A C I A S

WALKING IN THE LIGHT

In the I John chapter one, we find the apostle writing, by inspiration, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." What are some of the lessons that the apostle John wanted us to learn in this epistle? As we study this passage of Scripture, we find that John, as well as all others who were preaching and teaching the Word of God in the first century, had certain responsibilities toward God. They all had the responsibility to teach that, and only that, which God had revealed unto them. None of them had the right to make any additions, subtractions, or substitutions to God's instructions.

In the text before us, John shows us all how it is possible for us to be in fellowship with the apostles, as well as with God Himself. As we study the Scriptures, we find that when God first made Adam and Eve, they were both in complete fellowship with God; but that once they disobeyed and ate of that forbidden tree, that fellowship was broken. Why was that fellowship interrupted? It was because Adam and Eve disobeyed and sinned against God. Sin fractured the fellowship they once enjoyed with God. Here, in I John, we find the same message from God, that is that in God there is no darkness ­ there is no place for sin. And if we want to be in fellowship with God, then we are going to have to do our best to separate ourselves from all sin. This is why it is so important that all of us be well informed of what the Will of God is, so that we may be able to obey all of His Will and thereby avoid sin.

The apostle John also makes it clear as to what we need to do if we do sin. John gives us a list of some of the problems that we might face, even though we be Christians. One of these is that even though we are Christians, we could become altogether careless and try to walk both the narrow and wide roads at the same time. This is impossible to do, but some think otherwise. John said, regarding this idea, that it is indeed impossible. He said, that "If we say that we have fellowship with God but yet walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." (I Jn. 2:4) But he also said that if we do have sin and confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So it is that we learn from this Scripture that it is through the blood of Christ that we can continue to walk in fellowship with God, even when we have done that which is wrong, as long as we are willing to admit our faults and confess them to God, He will forgive us. Are we striving to walk in fellowship with God?