Walking in the Light

Aged and very experienced in ministry, having studies at Jesus’ feet in person for three years, the pastor had also lived under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit for many years afterward.  His reputation was legendary; his resume amazing.  He was the only disciple to actually see Jesus’ crucifixion.  He was one of two disciples to go to the empty tomb on Easter morning.  He had preached the Gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the Earth (at least as far as Ephesus).  He had suffered persecution and exile for the sake of Jesus.  He had written a Gospel, and had recorded the Revelation Jesus had given him.  Now, late in life, the man we know as St. John puts pen to paper and writes, “My dear children ….”  
 

The letter, 1 John, formed the basis for our message this past Sunday, and throughout the Easter season, we will focus on the words that the old saint (he was about 100-years-old when he died) lovingly penned for his congregations as he was moved by the Holy Spirit to write.  His message stands as a sort of testimony to his spiritual children, including us.  He reminds us of what is basic to the Christian life in this letter; beginning with Jesus’ sacrifice and forgiveness.  

There is very much a sense of a parent passing on to a child that which is most important in this letter.  John was deeply concerned for our spiritual life as he wrote, “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.”  He wants to know that his “children” are walking in faith, trusting in Jesus’ forgiveness, and living as disciples – followers of Jesus.  He put it this way, “Walk in the light.”  

As parents, this is something we can sympathize with.  Little makes us prouder than seeing our children – even grown children – living in the faith and following Jesus.  We pray for this, and try to pass the faith on to them so that throughout their lives they will live in the hope of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Few things break a parent’s heart like a child who walks away from the faith.  

So, where did John begin when he wanted to encourage us to walk in the light?  He says, “…the blood of Jesus, [God’s] Son, purifies us from all sin.”  Walking in the light, having fellowship with God begins with forgiveness.  John wants all of us to know that “if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”  

Above all, the Christian life is about being forgiven.  We are purified by Jesus’ blood, and acceptable in God’s sight because of what Jesus has done for us.  That’s good news!  But that good news is not only for us Christians.  It is meant to be shared with others.  To use John’s vocabulary it needs to be proclaimed and testified to.  We get to tell others what we have seen and heard – our experiences of Jesus’ salvation in our lives – so that those who don’t know Jesus can be gathered to Him, built up in Him and purified of their sins, too.  

I encourage you to walk in the light, brothers and sisters, as you live as God’s forgiven children. 

Questions to Ponder

Look at 1 John 1:1-3.  Why do you think John puts so much emphasis on hearing, seeing, and touching?  How have you heard, seen and touched the salvation John is talking about here?

In 1 John 1:4, John says, “We write this to make our joy complete.”  What did he mean by that?  What would make your joy complete?  

What does John mean by his use of the images of darkness and light?

What sins are you holding back that you need to get honest with God about?  How do 1 John 1:9-10 help you do that?  

Why is the end of 1 John 2:2 important for us as modern day disciples? 

Easter's First Importance

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

I hope you had a blessed celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.  

On Sunday we read one of my favorite scripture lessons, an important one for all of us to know and have engrained in our hearts and heads.  It is 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 - For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.  

I like this passage so much for three important reasons.  

First, I like the way it talks about passing on the faith.  “I passed on to you,” Paul says.  The Christian faith is ultimately something that is “passed on” from one person (a Christian) to another (who becomes a Christian).  People don’t catch Christianity by osmosis.  You can’t get it like some sicknesses just by being the same room with someone who has it.  Christianity must be passed on – to our children, our neighbors, our co-workers, and even our enemies.  The heart and mission of the Church – every congregation and every Christian – is to connect people to Jesus.  We want to pass Jesus to people so He can work in them and create faith in them.  

Second, I find the words, “as of first importance,” to be compelling.  Congregations often struggle to find what they are about.  They get wrapped up in worship styles, building programs, education programs, and church “business.”  The message of the scriptures, though, is that there is one thing that is passed on as of first importance, that is the message of Jesus, crucified and risen.  The main thing for us is passing on that message to others as we go about gathering people to Christ; building believers in Christ, and serving the world as Christ.

And third, I love the way this so succinctly summarizes the Gospel message:  Christ died, he was buried, he rose, and he was seen.  How do we know we have salvation in Jesus?  The Scriptures testified that this would happen, witnesses saw that it happened, and it has been handed down to us. 

As we go through the Easter season, and all of our seasons, what matters most for Gloria Dei?  What is the main thing for us?  Simply, it is Jesus crucified, buried, risen and seen.  That is our hope, and that is the message we now pass on as of first importance.  

Happy Easter!