From Darkness to Light: The Power of Walking in the Light

“God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all”
1 John 1:5

In the opening chapter of 1 John, the apostle John invites believers into a deep fellowship with God, Christ, and fellow believers. This fellowship, which embodies the concept of walking in the light, is based on a fundamental truth about God’s nature: “God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). This powerful statement sets the stage for understanding what walking with God truly means and how walking in the light transforms our relationship with Him and others.

The Nature of God: Light Without Darkness

John’s declaration that “God is light” is more than a metaphor. It’s a statement about God’s actual nature. Light, in biblical terms, represents several attributes:

1. Holiness and Purity: God’s light signifies His absolute moral perfection. There is no hint of evil or impurity in Him. He is the source of all goodness, love, peace, and joy. God is omnipotent, but within that omnipotence, He cannot be impure or show partiality, selfishness, or indifference. He is the same today, yesterday, and forever, which leads to the following attributes.

    

2. Truth: The symbolism of light often represents truth in Scripture. Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” There is no deceit or falacy within God’s holy character. He stands in truth, He is the truth, and there is only darkness and error outside Him. His Word stands as absolute truth, the very thing that Satan, the Father of lies, despises and seeks to undermine.

    

3. Life: John’s gospel tells us, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). God is the source of all life, particularly spiritual life. Without Him, death must reign – first spiritual death, then physical, as a consequence of sin. For the born-again, spirit-filled child of God, He is the Father of their new life. As Jesus declared in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The absence of darkness in God emphasizes the completeness of His qualities. God’s kingdom has no room for sin, deceit, or death. Therefore, walking in the light is walking like Christ. God gave us His Spirit to empower us to live for Him. Salvation isn’t just in justifying us; on the other hand, it gives us the power to live a new life—one that is after the Spirit, not the flesh.

The Challenge: Walking in the Light vs. Darkness

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 1:6-7)

This passage instructs believers to examine their lives. Are we truly living in the light, or are we deceiving ourselves? Do we hold hatred in our hearts? We cannot claim to love God while hating our neighbor (1 John 4:20). Christ within us can only bring light and love. Therefore, if He is not manifesting the fruit of love through the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are deceiving ourselves and cannot be genuinely walking in the light. Instead, we are walking in darkness.

What Does It Mean to Walk in Darkness?

Walking in darkness transcends occasional transgressions or moments of weakness; it represents a habitual lifestyle contrary to God’s nature.

This state manifests in several areas: 

1. Moral Darkness: This involves the consistent practice of sinful behaviors. Such habitual sin quenches the Holy Spirit within believers (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and constitutes lawlessness. The absence of conviction regarding these actions raises significant questions about one’s spiritual state. As Jesus taught in Matthew 7:16, “You will know them by their fruits.” Authentic faith always produces noticeable transformation.

    

2. Spiritual Ignorance: The term “disobedience” refers to the intentional rejection of God’s truth. It reflects humanity’s initial act of disobedience in Eden and maintains a state of rebellion against divine revelation. While occasional lapses followed by genuine repentance are part of the Christian journey, consistently rejecting God’s Word aligns with being called “children of disobedience,” as mentioned in Ephesians 2:2.
   

    

3. Relational Discord: This results in ongoing conflict and lack of forgiveness in personal relationships. This discord goes against the unity and love that should define our interactions with other believers (John 13:35).

In John 3:19-21, Jesus highlighted humanity’s preference for darkness over light. People practicing evil avoid the light, fearing exposure of their wicked ways. This deliberate choice to remain in darkness is not ignorance but a conscious decision. Living in darkness shows the importance of living in the light and the need for genuine repentance and alignment with God’s nature.

The Call to Walk in the Light

In contrast to living in darkness, walking in the light involves:

1. Embracing God’s Truth: God’s Word has the power to make us holy. It can separate our born-again spirits from our flesh and allow our souls to love and pursue spiritual things rather than carnal ones. God’s Word is the source of our faith, as faith comes from hearing it. Everything we have from Christ, including our salvation, and requests to God, comes from faith.

    

2. Pursuing Holiness: In Romans 13:12, Paul urges us to “cast off the works of darkness, and… put on the armor of light.” This means that we are in a spiritual battle against the kingdom of darkness, which Satan rules. Although we are forgiven through the blood of Christ, we should still be mindful of the consequences of our actions. Just as planting leads to harvesting, toying with sin has consequences, like playing with fire that can ultimately scorch us.

    

3. Fellowship: In 1 John 1:7, John directly connects walking in the light with genuine fellowship among believers: “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.” This verse illustrates that true fellowship naturally results from walking in the light.

Practical Application

Walking in the light is not about achieving perfection but living honestly before God. Here are some applicable steps:

1. Regular Self-Examination: Use God’s Word as a mirror to reflect on your life. God’s Word is light. When we hear and read His Word, it exposes the darkness in our lives. Just as the sun removes darkness, the Word of God has the power to remove the sinful nature out of our lives.

    

2. Confession and Repentance: When the light exposes sin, confess it immediately. God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. By confessing our sins, we give the devil no chance to attach himself to our lives. This also includes confessing our sins to those we have wronged and forgiving others.

    

3. Accountability: Engage in authentic fellowship that encourages growth. There’s nothing like being around genuine believers. This isn’t always the case with today’s church, but if we pray diligently and truly desire fellowship, God will open up a way for true fellowship with real brothers and sisters in Christ.

    

4. Pursuit of Truth: Regularly study and meditate on God’s Word. By learning more about who we are and what God has done for us, we can grow in faith. The Word nourishes our spirits, so we should partake in it as our daily bread. The ultimate result of being in Christ is to become like Christ. We are to be transformed into His image, and the process of sanctification will continue until the redemption of our fallen bodies. Staying close to God’s truth keeps us spiritual and helps to keep the contamination of the fallen world around us at bay.

Our Continuous Transformation

As we walk in the light, we reflect God’s nature in a dark world. Our lives testify to the gospel’s transformative power, drawing others to the light of Christ.

Walking in the light is a continuous journey, not a destination. Daily choices require turning away from darkness and staying within God’s will. Through regular self-examination, confession of our sins, accountability, and abiding by God’s Word, we can continue to grow in Christ.

May our lives shine brightly, reflecting the glorious light of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and may we continually grow in understanding and applying what it means to walk in His light.

Written by: David Matthews Jr