CHRISTIANS CAN NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS

          John and the other apostles preached the message that “God is light.” “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) There is no darkness in God. This message did not come from John or the other apostles. It was Jesus who declared that in God there is no darkness at all. John also wrote, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” (1 John 1:6) A person who claims to be a Christian but does not live by truth is only making a false claim. As Christians we are called by God to walk in the light. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) Those who walk in the light have left the darkness of this world and are walking in purity and godliness. The first consequence of a Christians walking in the light is fellowship with other Christians. A second consequence of walking in the light is forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus. Walk in the light; or to say it another way, live a holy life by following the word of God. As you walk in the light you enjoy fellowship with God and with His people.

Turning from darkness to light: Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles. He was called by God to “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18) Salvation is turning someone from darkness to light. To turn them from darkness to light is to turn from heathenism, superstition or religious error to the knowledge and worship of the one true God.

          You brethren are not in darkness: People are of the night when they turn away from the light and refuse to accept God and His truth. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5) These brethren are of the light, or they are of the day, because they have come to Christ for light. They have learned His word and they are living by His truth.

Delivered from the power of darkness: Paul wrote that Christians should be, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:12-14) When a person becomes a Christian he becomes a citizen in "the kingdom of God’s dear Son." This is the kingdom of light, as opposed to the kingdom of darkness in which we lived when we were outside of Christ.   

           Follow Jesus or walk in darkness: Jesus is the light of the world. Without Him everything is darkness, misery, and death. “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.” (John 8:12) Jesus said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46) It was prophesied, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1)

No Christian can ever walk in darkness and at the same time please God. If we are in fellowship with God we must walk in the Light. Being a Christian is a serious responsibility. Christianity involves your salvation. Your Christianity may affect hundreds of others. To become a Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), you must believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of every sin (Acts 2:38), confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21) After baptism the challenge for every Christian is to walk in the light.

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA