This reflection is the second in our series, “God has called you to more.” In the first article we’re reflected on God has called us to abundant life, and what that means for us today.

First, read 1 John 1 as the foundation for our study today,

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

You’ll notice there are two sections in this piece of Scripture.

 

 

 

The Father is made manifest

 

 

 

The author of this letter is John who was one of the twelve people Jesus called to follow him. John was with Jesus from the very genesis of his ministry until the day when he ascended into heaven.

That’s why he writes saying that he is among those who have heard of the Word of life; those who have seen the Word of life; those who have looked upon and touched with their hands (see verses 2 and 3).

So, John is testifying to something he has truly experienced.

Now, the question is why God, the Father, made himself manifest through Jesus?

John talks about that the proclamation of God’s revelation (manifestation) to us is to have fellowship with God and each other (see verse 3).

It doesn’t stop there. In other words, it’s not just about fellowship, but a true and real transformation.

 

 

 

Walk from darkness to Light

 

 

 

God made himself manifest to us through Christ who is both Light and Life. He came to us as the Word of God (see John 1).

We cannot have fellowship with God and each other if we live in darkness. In other words, if we lack the Light of God in our lives.

God is the Light (verse 5) and the only One who can give us Light.

Receiving God’s Light in our lives enables us to experience cleansing from all our sins. As a result, we are set free from all the powers of darkness and sins in addition to walking into fellowship with the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

We move from darkness to light, first, by acknowledging that we are sinners and have areas of life where there may be some darkness.

Second, we confess our sins to receive God’s forgiveness and freedom from sin and all the powers of darkness.

 

 

 

Bringing it altogether

Saying that there is no darkness in you is making God a liar. We all have little darkness in one or two areas of our lives. That’s why we need God today, and for as long as we are in our human bodies. God’s Light in us eliminates all forms of darkness, and, therefore, enables us to share a little bit of God’s Light with other people.