From the Epistles of John: Who will go with Jesus?

Good day dear friend

We are busy discussing 1 John 1:5-6.

Last time I promised that we will look at the kinds of deceptive darkness we walk in, which do not go along with God, the light.

What is it that you do but do not feel comfortable about? You maybe justify yourself that it is not that wrong. 

Perhaps you excuse your behaviour from 1 Corinthians 6:12 as we often do, thinking that everything is permissible. Or do you tell yourself that God would not mind? Yet you have that lack of peace - something keeps niggling at the back of your mind that this is not right. It could be a known sin that you justify, like deciding that a lie is only a white lie. It could also be petty theft; you take small things like stationery from work and justify it by saying they don’t pay you enough anyhow. Then it could be a matter of relationship. You feel that the person deserved it and therefore you are not going to forgive them. Or it was not your fault, so the other person should be the one to apologise.

While we’re on this topic, I’d like to point out how wise the Lord is. Why do you think it is written in Matthew 5:23-24 that when your brother or sister sins against you, you should be the one to make right with them? Is it possibly because they might feel condemned and find it difficult to ask for forgiveness? Therefore, the loving thing to do is for you to recognise it and be humble enough to go and forgive them without their asking.

Do you have an idea how bright God’s light is and how little darkness He tolerates? Yes, we are forgiven in Christ and we live by grace, but we do read in Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil His good purpose”. If we have been saved by grace and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-10), why would the Lord have put Philippians 2:12-13 in the Bible? If we are not saved by works but by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, what salvation is Philippians 2 referring to? It is being saved from the power of our flesh and Satan’s attempts to keep us from becoming like Jesus, from becoming the light God is. We have to work at it along with the Lord.

Consider the following:  “…as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless”, (Ephesians 5:25-27), “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel”, (Colossians 1:22-23), and “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.  So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him”, (2 Peter 3:13-14). Doesn't this set a standard for us, something to work toward?

We so easily justify the things our flesh likes to do, but which are condemned by the Word of God. There are many small things we do and are convicted of by the Holy Spirit, but because we like it, we ignore His promptings. This is the darkness that John referred to in our passage under discussion. Purity and holiness open the canal for God’s power and peace to work in and through us. When Jesus comes to rapture His church, He comes for a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless, (Ephesians 5:27). I don’t know whether you experience the same, but it is as if the Lord is intensifying the promptings for me to live holy and blameless. He prompts me daily to confess behaviour not previously confessed and to deal with relational issues and bad habits, such as being critical and judgemental. It is as if He desperately wants me to be ready for the rapture, and the tempo with which He works on me (Philippians 2:13) seems to be extremely urgent.

People, the time for playing church and having a form of godliness is over. It’s time to get serious with your sanctification.