1 John 1:5-10

This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” ⁶ If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. ⁷ But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. ⁸ If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong. ¹⁰ If we claim, “We have never sinned,” we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

Key Verse:

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong. —1 John 1:9

Commentary:

Living in the light doesn’t mean we have to be perfect or sinless the way Jesus was. Knowing God as our Light means that God is the source of all that is true. When we choose to live in the light, it means we are totally exposed. God is our source of light, truth, and redemption. We don’t have to be perfect to draw near to God; we just have to be willing to confess our sin and bring it into the light. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can do this with complete confidence that God is faithful and just and will forgive us. Thanks to Jesus, we can trust that God loves us unconditionally. Admitting to God when we mess up opens the door to fellowship and closeness with God.

Questions to Discuss:

What sin have you been keeping in the dark that needs to be brought into the light?

When was the last time you asked for God’s forgiveness?

What holds you back from accepting God’s love and forgiveness?

How have you experienced God’s unconditional love?