1 John 1:7

The Text: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The Meaning Given To It: There are two general positions on this text that we dissent from:

1. That walking in the light involves relying upon the "feeling" in one's heart. However, note carefully 1 Jo. 2:3, And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. One of the more significant words in 1 John is "know" (found over 30 times) and two of the key phrases are "hereby we know" (2:3,5; 3:19,24; 4:6,13; 5:2) and "we know" (occurring over 20 times). "Hereby we know" is always followed by an objective way of knowing. Nowhere in this epistle, or anywhere else in the New Testament, is anything taught that would lead to the conclusion that we can rely on our feelings and thus "walk in the light" and have God's approval.

This subjective method of determining whether or not one is walking in the light is almost always accompanied by the idea that one can disregard the need for authority in our actions. To ask the question, "by what authority?", is as archaic to some as is "where can I find a buggy whip." But 2 Jo. 9 contradicts this notion as well as Matt. 21:23. If asking for the authority that justifies our practices is not a legitimate concern, one wonders why Jesus didn't tell the Jewish leaders this when they asked him, "By what authority doest thou these things?"

2. That walking in the light means sinless perfection. Since Psalms 19:12-13 is sometimes relied upon to bolster this position, we have examined these verses in a separate article.

The Context: As indicated above, the broad context of 1 John is set within the framework of determining how we can know certain things about our relationship with God. In vss. 1-2 John declares the nature of the "Word of life" which he and others had heard, seen with their eyes, beheld and hands had handled (note the progression). He then, in vss. 3-4, states the purpose for writing these things: (1) that they might have fellowship with John and others as they have fellowship with the Father and Son and (2) that John's joy might be made full.

Then, beginning in vs. 5, John begins to state "the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you." This message announces that (1) God is light and (2) in Him is no darkness at all, vs. 5, (3) we lie and don't do the truth if we say we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness, vs. 6, and (4) what is involved in "walking in the light." John leaves us in no doubt about what is involved in walking in the light, the immediate context giving us the answer.

Every word in our phrase is important

"IF" denotes the possibility of either walking or not walking in the light. Not only is it possible to walk in the light, it is likewise possible to not walk therein.

"WE WALK" is a present tense verb denoting on-going action: "if we keep on walking" is the idea. Walking in the light is a deliberate choice which we make; no one accidentally walks in the light (or in the darkness, for that matter)

"IN THE LIGHT" is the sphere in which this "walk" is to take place; as God is light, so we must walk in that light.

The next two phrases describe the blessings that come from walking in the light and make it imperative that we understand this phrase:

"WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER" means fellowship between ourselves and God. Again, the verb "we have" is present tense: we keep on having fellowship.

"THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN" denotes an on-going process: keeps on cleansing.

It is possible to keep on having both fellowship with God and our sins cleansed, but these blessings do not come automatically, apart from deliberate effort on man's. Blessings which are contingent upon our assuming responsibilities and doing some things is nothing new. God told Joshua (Josh. 6:2-3), "I have given Jericho into your hand" but immediately said, "And you shall march around the city": "I have given" but "you shall march"; God's part and man's part. And the same is true in our text. God blesses us with both fellowship and cleansing from sin but we must "walk in the light" in order to have them. What is involved in the responsibility of "walking in the light" that brings the blessings mentioned?

The Meaning:

The text itself is the best way to determine this:

Confessing our sins, 1:8-10. The verb "we confess" is, as is true with the verbs in vs. 7, in the present tense, denoting continuing action. Walking in the light means I must be one who continually confesses my sins. Which sins? Those "hidden faults" of which I'm unaware that call for a "general" acknowledgment and confession (Ps. 19:12; Lk. 5:8) and those of a "presumptuous" nature that I am aware of (Ps. 19:13). If we don't continually practice confession of our sins, we're not walking in the light.

Praying, 2:1-2.The word "prayer" is found in these verses but the idea is certainly in the phrase "but we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"; we avail ourselves of our Advocate when we pray. Only those who keep on praying keep on walking in the light.

Keeping the commands, 2:3-5a. Again, "we keep" denotes on-going action: we must keep on keeping God's commands if we are to walk in the light. This statement contradicts the notion that any "doing" on our part is ruled out because of grace; keeping the commands is doing something and those who would lightly disregard this necessity would do well to note that John says anyone claiming to "know" the Lord and fails to keep the commands "is a liar, and the truth is not in him" and thus is not walking in the light.

Walking as Jesus walked, 2:5b-6. If we would walk in the light Jesus must be our example, 1 Pet. 2:21, and we must look away from all others and focus our attention upon him, Heb. 12:1-2. Again in 3:3,7, John uses "even as" to remind us that we should strive to develop the same attitudes and conduct as our Lord. We've ceased to walk in the light we our intent gaze is taken off of our Lord.

Loving, 2:7-11. If we keep on loving our brethren we abide in the light. For a discussion of what is involved in this love, see article, "Love Is..."

WHAT IT MEANS TO "WALK IN DARKNESS"

Obviously, walking in darkness is the antithesis of "walking in the light." But to "walk in the darkness" is not the occasional step into darkness any more than an occasional step into the light by one who normally walks in darkness constitutes walking in the light. The "walk in the darkness" is a life-style in which we do not keep on doing the things mentioned above in 1:8-2:11, just as to "walk in the light" is a life-style in which we do those things.

David Smitherman