1 John 1:5-10 No more BS-Walk in the light

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Ever run into a guy who's always got a story, seems like he's done it all, and can't stop bragging? You know the type. When someone's that over-the-top, it's usually pretty easy to spot the fake – you just know they're full of it.

But sometimes, it's not so obvious. Especially when you're talking about faith. Some folks just sound like they really know their stuff. They'll drop big words, talk real smart, and pretty soon you're feeling like they've got some secret handshake you missed. Before you know it, they're making you question the basic stuff you thought you understood about being a Christian. They start pulling you away from what you know is solid, pushing you toward all these "new" ideas.

Right now, your screen is probably full of YouTube videos, self-proclaimed historians, and "experts" in old documents. These folks claim to have some special knowledge that makes your faith in Jesus seem incomplete, or just plain wrong. But honestly? Most of 'em are just spouting off stuff they heard somewhere else. Ask 'em to dig deeper or explain where their ideas even came from, and they'd probably just stare at their boots.

Like old Solomon said, "there's nothing new under the sun." These kinds of problems, these smooth-talking fakes, were messing things up in the early church too. That's exactly why the old apostle John sat down and wrote this letter – to cut through the noise and get right to the heart of what's true.

Diving into 1 John: No more BS - Let's walk in the light!

Today, we're digging into 1 John 1:5-10. This Bible passage gets right to the point about what it means to be hooked up with God. John, who was one of Jesus's main guys, wrote this letter to regular believers back in the day. See, even then, people were trying to twist what God said, just like today.

Back then, some folks were pushing a crooked idea that your spirit was good but your body was bad. It eventually became called "gnosticism." Think of it like this: You're building something important, and you've got the blueprints, right? That's the basic Christian message: Jesus came, died for our screw-ups, and rose again. That's how we get right with God. Simple. Clear. For everyone.

But then, some guys started whispering, "Hey, that blueprint? That's just the beginner stuff. We've got the real secret blueprints. Only a few of us truly 'get' it. And get this: the guy who drew the main blueprint (that's God, the Creator) actually messed up, so everything is kinda broken."

This "gnosticism" was like that. It messed with the simple Christian plan by pushing a few bad ideas:

• "Secret Knowledge is the Real Deal!" Instead of simply trusting in Jesus, they'd say, "Nah, you need special, hidden knowledge to really understand God and get saved. The plain stuff the apostles teach? That's for the rookies. We've got the deep, secret stuff."

  
  

• "Your Body Doesn't Matter, Only Your Spirit!" They figured anything physical, like our bodies or the world, was bad. So, they'd say, "Who cares what you do with your body? It's just a temporary shell. Go ahead, sin, party, whatever – your spirit is what really counts, and that's already 'saved' by our special knowledge." John is fighting this when he says, "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie." They were basically saying, "My spirit's good with God, so my actions don't matter."

  
  

• "Jesus Wasn't Really Human!" Because they thought physical stuff was crummy, some believed Jesus only seemed human. Like a ghost pretending to have a body. They just couldn't believe God would actually get dirty in a real human body. John blasts this idea too, making it clear Jesus "came in the flesh."

  
  

John kicks things off by laying down a foundational truth that smashes these false ideas: "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). This isn't just fancy words; it's a deep truth about who God is. Light in the Bible means truth, purity, holiness, and showing us how things really are. Darkness, on the flip side, means sin, lies, not knowing, and evil. John is basically saying, if you want to know God, you gotta get that He's absolutely pure and holy.

This truth immediately slams those who claim they're with God but keep living in the dark. "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth" (1 John 1:6). This directly challenges the messed-up idea that what you do on the outside doesn't matter. It's not just about screwing up once; it's about being a complete phony, saying one thing and doing another. "Walking in darkness" means living a life that goes against God's nature.

The fix, John says, is to "walk in the light, as he is in the light" (1 John 1:7). What's that mean for us? It means lining up our lives, our actions, and our attitudes with what God says is true. It means being straight-up, honest, and living right. And here's the killer promise: "we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." This isn't about being perfect on your own. It's about admitting you're flawed and letting Jesus's sacrifice clean you up. It's also about teaming up with other Christians, where we can truly walk in the light together, helping each other stay honest.

Then John directly confronts the lie of not having sin, which was a big part of that crooked "gnostic" thinking: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). This goes straight against the idea that a truly "enlightened" person was above sin, or that their physical actions didn't count. It's a tough reminder that being humble before God means owning up to our screw-ups.

But John doesn't leave us hanging. He immediately follows with this awesome truth: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Confessing isn't just saying you did wrong; it's agreeing with God about your sin, turning away from it, and trusting in His mercy. This verse beautifully shows God's character: faithful because He keeps His promises, and just because Jesus paid the price for our sin.

Finally, "If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us" (1 John 1:10). This is a strong statement, showing how serious it is to deny that we're sinners. It's an insult to God and a rejection of the very way He offers to save us. It's like saying God's blueprint for salvation, which includes dealing with sin, is actually wrong.

There's more to this STUDY GUIDE

BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN FURTHER FOR:

• Questions to chew on and discuss (or for your journal)

• A Journey Group Discussion Starter (use in your small group time)

• Modern Day Application Ideas

Want to watch the video version of the Daily Bible Podcast Episode that corresponds to this study guide? Here you go!

Things to Think About and Talk Over:

• Where in your life do you feel like you're keeping things in the dark, maybe living a "secret" way that doesn't quite match your faith?

  
  

• Why do you think it's so hard for some folks to admit their sins? What does 1 John 1:9 tell us about God that should make it easier?

  
  

• How can you start "walking in the light" in those areas where you might be keeping things in the dark?

Get Together and Talk:

• Do you see this "secret knowledge" idea, or the idea that your actions don't really matter, showing up in our world today, or even in some church circles? Discuss specific examples.

Want to learn more about our Journey Groups (Small Groups online or in person)

How This Hits Home for You:

For us today, these ideas are still spot on. Walking in the light means living real, no faking it. It means being honest with ourselves and with God about our struggles and failures, and not falling for any "secret knowledge" that says what we do doesn't matter. It means realizing that real connection with God and other believers grows when we're honest and open. It also means regularly admitting our sins and turning from them, trusting that Jesus's blood keeps us clean.

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN

Are you ready to stop stumbling around in the dark and start walking in the light with some good people? Don't let your spiritual journey be a solo mission to Mars! Join a Journey Group today and find the crew and the guidance you need. Head over to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups to learn more about joining a group, hooking up with one, or even kicking off your own. Because honestly, trying to figure out the Bible on your own is like trying to fix your truck with a butter knife—as in not recommended 🤣

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EXCITING DREAMS TAKING SHAPE

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As full-time traveling missionaries and founders of YourJesusJourney.com, we live on a modest income, relying on the generosity of others to support our three-fold ministry vision: helping people understand the Bible in context, finding Christian friends, and equipping disciple makers. So, you might be wondering, how are we able to pursue something this ambitious? About a year and a half ago, Kaila’s beloved dad passed away. With his passing, Kaila inherited their expansive family home and horse property on the breathtaking North Shore of Lake Superior, in beautiful Ontario—the place she grew up, where she rode her first bike and horse, and learned to drive. After much prayer and seeking God’s guidance, we decided to sell the property. What you see here came as a result of that incredible blessing, and all the work unfolding in the next year or two will also be funded by it.

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There’s a lot of exciting work ahead, but we're stepping out in faith, trusting God every step of the way. We’re so excited to share this new chapter with our family, friends, and all of you! If you want to learn more about our ministry, please visit YourJesusJourney.com. And if you have any questions, or just want to send your prayers or encouragement, please fill up that comment section or reach out directly at YourJesusJourney@gmail.com.

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