A. To understand more about what it means to walk in the light CLICK HERE and join me this week for Loving in the Light. In the past, whenever I would come across this verse, the quiet, unexamined assumption of my heart was that “walking in the light” had something to do with behaving well. So what does it mean to let our light shine, or to “be the light?" We are not that light; Jesus is, but to walk in the light, we must first acknowledge that we were once in darkness. __________________________________________. enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this What does it mean to walk in the light? The Apostle Paul writes, that, “at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Written by Ann Steiner “But if we walk in the light Walking in the light is the state of being obedient to do all that God reveals to you through the Holy Spirit. Ben Sternke: “Walking in the light has nothing to do with perfect behavior and everything to do with being known.”, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. As you know my This walk is a walk of continual cleansing. Appearance is everything for those walking in darkness. To “walk in the light” means that everything that is of the darkness actually drives me closer to the center of the light. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Walking in the Jesus said that He is the light of the world. light means living under the desire for God instead of the world. threatens with despair and misery. The cool thing is that we can actually start walking in the light today. The cool thing is that we can actually start walking in the light today. Walk in the Light as God is in the Light; How is God in the Light? Several months ago, our blue Jetta was involved in an accident, rearranging the front end. We find that the light we are walking in isn’t harsh, it doesn’t shame us, doesn’t make us sweat. To commit sin is to transgress or disobey these laws. Walking in the light is a matter of life and death for the Christian. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light… life is there still darkness? Answer: To “walk in the light” is a common metaphor within Christian culture. Since Jesus is our Lord our every concept of God should be rooted in what He showed us. Question: "What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?" He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. What does it mean to live in the light? But it’s much more than that. Enter your email below to get tips on how to get your church to thrive! Will we ever be able to walk in the light as clearly as the One who calls us to it? This terrifies most people, but it’s the only way we ever really find life. Where in your If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. If you have Not only does Jesus proclaim himself to be the light of the world, but he also calls us to be light to the world. Walk in the Spirit (Rom. To walk in the Spirit is to be following Jesus, for the Spirit speaks of Christ … rather than light because their deeds were evil.”. Walking in the The cool thing is that we can actually start walking in the light today. The atmosphere produced by a man, much more than his activities, has the lasting influence. Walking in the light is not the same as walking in perfection, God knows who we are and where we are at. What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you so that you may have fellowship with us. Darkness helps keep reality hidden. Knowing this, we can now move on to the bigger questions, such as what it means to walk in this light and what it means to be the light. Walking in the What does it mean to walk in the Light? And we keep reality hidden because we fear that we need to perform well to be accepted. This terrifies most people, but it’s the only way we ever really find life. if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one another, Walking in the light means actuality over appearance. How can you put this into practice? Walking in the light isn’t something you have to “work up” to, because it isn’t about becoming awesome at life, it’s simply about letting reality be known. Darkness 2. We hope you will join us! 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.” —1 John 1:5-7. The Holy Spirit assists believers in prayer (Jude 1:20) and “intercedes for God’s people in … Hearing God – Are You Sure You Want to Know His Will? To walk in the light will require honesty and obedience. What does it mean to walk in the light? For example, when He shows you that you need to overcome laziness, or lying, or any other lust. Failure to walk in the light brings darkness and loss of spiritual understanding. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Life according to the Spirit is not simply trying to do the right thing, nor is it trying to live according to God's Law. 8:4) There is no shortcut to learning how to walk with the Spirit. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).” There is hope here for everyone, even murderers, thieves, and vandals. Walking in the light means that we are willing to be known for who we really are (warts, sin and all). How to walk as children of the Light. However, to enjoy this fellowship, a Christian must walk continually in the light. When we are called to walk in the light, this means that we are … When you do this the blood of Jesus cleanses you from all sin. Coming into the light, willing to be seen, willing to be known. Copyright © 2021 • ChurchPlants.com, All rights reserved. The first question is the easier of the two to answer. The devil seeks either to blind people to the light (2 Cor. I hope this has ), we don’t hide it or pretend it isn’t there, we simply give it to Jesus, and his blood purifies us from it, healing us as we walk with others in the light of his presence. What does it mean to walk in the darkness? Walking in the Light is walking in fellowship with our Lord. God provided a He will not live and act the same way as before. Walking in the light means living under the desire for God instead of the world. and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.". There are great blessings and benefits promised to the person who walks in the light. What does it mean to walk in darkness? It is often taken to mean “acting correctly” or even “living openly.” Biblically, however, the phrase has the idea of relinquishing sin by following Jesus. What does it mean to “walk in light”? There were several Jettas in this small wrecking yard, with similar body styles. You will pass from death to life and from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His marvelous light. means all that is good, holy, and right. (Click to listen to an audio recording of this article: What it means to walk in the Spirit) How can I walk in the Spirit? 1. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Your 8-Point Checklist for Pastoral Body Care. It simply means giving up the games we play, letting down our defenses and pretenses and “getting real” with God and others. Can we ever attain such a walk in this life? In order to create and nurture deep Christian fellowship you have to talk about who you think Christ is and what he taught. Once a person believes in Jesus, He is brought out of the darkness into the light. Think about ways you hide from God and others. Do you want a successful church? As soon as we are willing to be known for who we really are, God’s healing work begins. The beautiful promise for those who walk in the light is that we have actual fellowship with one another, which means we really know other people, and they really know us. Revelations 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I … post with the buttons below. Ironically, it never works, because the only way to actually walk with God is to walk with him in the light. ENTER YOUR EMAIL FOR TIPS ON HOW TO HAVE A THRIVING CHURCH! Last week we saw from verses 3 and 4 that John makes the message of Christ (call it theology, or doctrine) the basis of all significant Christian fellowship. “The light has come into the world and men loved darkness Or you might feel like stepping fully Walking in darkness is the result of submitting to shame. Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay For me it means doing what feels right versus what is more convenient, it means risking comfort for discomfort and speaking truth versus lies. Pastor Koenig and Pastor Ulm will explore these topics together tonight. Christian culture use this metaphor”acting correctly” or “living openly”. The word light living and walking in His light? As I grow in Christ I am learning to be the light. The Bible says, "but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). One of the greatest of these is fellowship with the Triune God, as we learn to share and model His character. It doesn’t mean we have perfected morality, just that we have stopped hiding. Biblically, the phrase has the idea of relinquishing sin by following Jesus Christ. How are you Jesus’ blood allows us to walk in the Light. websites is called “Walking in the Light” and both are based on, “But It is often taken to mean "acting correctly" or even "living openly." way to make us clean from all sin and delivers us from all dark dangers. This is the message we ha… Walking in the light means to have fellowship with God and other believers. Walking in So we actually can afford to come into the light, stay there and walk in the light, because when we notice sin (because it’s obvious in the light! While this verse does not directly say, “Walk in the light, i.e., Jesus,” it does pointedly warn of doing the opposite; therefore, those who follow Jesus are “walking in the light.” To “walk” is, in short, to live one’s life. If we don’t walk in the light now, we won’t later. not to stumble in the dark and trip over things. Answer: Believers have the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the Comforter who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). I opted to repair the car myself. We cannot walk with our Lord without confessing and repenting of our sins. To walk in the light means to be born again. Hopefully you will be encouraged and uplifted by reading my devotions, original poems, and insights taken from my Bible studies. This is true. Jesus said, “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness” (Luke 11:35). Scroll to bottom for the plan of salvation. Re: What does it mean to Walk in the Light? Many teach that "walking in the Light" means to walk in a way that is consistent with the scriptures. So we try to appear better than we actually are in an attempt to find acceptance and value from God and other people. Instead, it is a healing light that allows us to rest in the love of God. What Does “Walking in the Light” Actually Mean. 4:4) or to gi… darkness means you are blind to the light of God. When we do this we naturally have fellowship with other believers who are doing the same thing. Among these Jettas, I was more than delighted to find a blue one. Walk towards the light of the love of Jesus. Walking in darkness means we are still hiding, pretending, putting on airs, attempting to be seen in a certain way, presenting an image that doesn’t reflect the inner reality of our hearts. Enjoy and have a blessed day. “Walking in the light” as a metaphor in some Christian circles has come to mean acting correctly or living transparently before others. join this site by clicking on the blue button at the top left, Revelation 15 & 16 - The 7 Bowls of God's Wrath. To “walk in the light” is a common metaphor within Christian culture. It's not just for ultra-spiritual people nor is it reserved for charismatic Christians. I was preparing to preach on 1 John 1:1-6 for this past weekend and read dozens of commentaries on what John means by “light” and “darkness.” It seemed as if twenty-four commentators had twenty-five opinions on what John really meant by using these two terms. Walk in the light as children of the light “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. I was looking each car over to find the body parts which were in the best condition. So then how do I walk in the light? As we walk in the light (that He revealed) as He is in the light (in the same way He walked in the light) we stay in fellowship with Jesus. I went to a place that sold used Volkswagen parts. Biblically, however, the phrase has the idea of relinquis... Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer. The good news is that we actually can be known for who we really are, because our acceptance is not based on our performance, it’s based on God’s love for us. light means to have fellowship with God and other believers. It couldn’t mean a sinless walk because verse 7 tells us that if we walk in the light, “…the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all sin…”. In other words, salvation will have a direct impact on a person’s life. What Church Experts Won’t Say About Pastoral Leadership. Walking in the light means by confessing, the blood of Jesus covers all our sin. Thats what John begins to do in verses 510. It simply means giving up the games we play, letting down our defenses and pretenses and “getting real” with God and others. You might not even know what I'm talking about, or perhaps you're surprised to realize you are afraid of shining bright because you're worried about what people would think of you. Walking in the light means actuality over appearance. Light helps us Hallelujah! When I walk in the light, life becomes free and good, and my conscience is always good and easy. January 12, 2015 liju276 Leave a comment. It means we think we cannot afford to be known for who we really are, because we fear rejection, punishment, abandonment. (Isn’t this the message many of us grew up with?) The light we walk in is for others to see….and hopefully, through us, they will see Christ. The only Old Testament occurrence of this precise phrase is in Isaiah 2:5, “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” This terrifies most people, but it’s the only way we ever really find life. Walking in the light means actuality over appearance. 1 John 1 God Is Light 5This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. How can you take a step “into the light” today, sharing more vulnerably with others? To "walk in the light" is a common metaphor within Christian culture. You can also The second part of the promise is that the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. light means by confessing, the blood of Jesus covers all our sin. given you something to think about – and pray about. It simply means giving up the games we play, letting down our defenses and pretenses and “get real” with God and others. Wisdom From Oswald Chambers It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but what he is in what he does. Correspondingly, walking in darkness had something to do with behaving badly. I hope this has given you something to think about – and pray about. Walking in the light has nothing to do with perfect behavior and everything to do with being known. Paul writes in Galatians 5:16, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh Sin is anything that goes against God’s will and His laws. All our sin were darkness, we won ’ t this the many... Light just a little while longer laziness, or any other lust to the light which is in be! Fellowship you have the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the blood of Jesus purifies us from all and. `` living openly ” message we ha… walking in the light acceptance and value from God others. Are great blessings and benefits promised to the person who walks in light... 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A comment or share this post with the scriptures '' means to have fellowship with us our sin better we!