Walking in the Light
I. Introduction
A. Learning How to Race Walk
1. Judy Heller founder of ERO-FIT guide to race walking.
a) First consult a doctor to see if you are ready for program.
b) Stretch and warm up for 10-15 minutes.
c) Hold head so that you are fixating 20 yards ahead.
d) Bend arms 90 degrees at the elbow and swing in cadence with steps.
e) Keep torso straight with abs held firm.
f) Walk heel-to-toe keeping one foot in constant contact with the ground.
g) Rotate hips in a motion similar to “The Twist.”
h) Avoid over-striding with the legs and try to achieve 160 steps-per-minute.
i) Cool down for 5 minutes.
2. Race Walking in the Olympics since 1906
B. John teaches us about Light Walking – 1 John 1:5-2:2
1. A spiritual exercise rather than a physical one.
a) We are to exercise ourselves unto godliness – 1 Timothy 4:6
b) While body exercise profits some, spiritual exercise is profitable for all things.
2. In this passage we find four keys to walking in the light.
II. Walking in the Light – 1 John 1:5-2:2
A. Recognize the Source of Light (5)
1. God is Light
a) Designed in Creation – Genesis 1:3
b) Demonstrated to His People – Exodus 13:21 (Pillar of fire in the darkness of the night).
c) Declared by Word – Proverbs 6:23, “For the commandment is a lamp and the law a light.”
d) Demanded by God – 2 Corinthians 4:6
2. God is in opposition to darkness.
a) Light in the scriptures represent goodness and enlightenment – Psalm 19:8
b) Darkness represents ignorance, superstition, and sin – Psalm 82:5, “They do not know nor do they understand. They walk about in darkness.”
c) Satan is a ruler of the darkness – Ephesians 6:12
d) Thus God cannot be both dark and light.
e) His character is altogether good and holy – 1 Peter 1:16
f) He hates every false way – Psalm 119:104
B. Realistic Self-Examination (6)
1. An escape from the “Dark Side”
a) Colossians 1:13 – “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”
b) To return to darkness is much like a man that has been escaped from a burning building that decides to race back into and take a nap.
2. Where are we really walking?
a) To walk in darkness is to walk in secret and to walk contrary to God.
b) Good and evil look the same in darkness, but light will expose the unfruitful works of darkness – Ephesians 5;11
c) Isaiah 5:20 – “Woe to those that call evil good and good evil; Who put darkness for light and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
d) We can’t have it both ways – 2 Corinthians 6:14, “…And what communion has light with darkness?”
3. God want sincere followers and not hypocrites – Matthew 23
a) To love God is to obey God – John 14:15
b) To walk with God is to walk as light – Ephesians 5:8
C. Resolve to Stay In the Light (7-10)
1. Growing in the Light
a) The verb translated walk denotes a continual action.
b) It would also include the idea of progress and growth.
c) To walk in the light is to grow in the Light – 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Timothy 4:15
d) To walk in the light is to always abound in the work of the Lord – 1 Corinthians 15:58
e) To walk in the light is to remain steadfast in the doctrine of Christ – Ephesians 4:13-14, Hebrews 13:9, 2 Timothy 1:13
f) To walk in the light is to be open and sincere – Philippians 1:10
2. Gaining from the Light
a) Fellowship with others in the light – Sharing a like precious faith (2 Peter 1:1).
b) Fellowship with Christ – John 17:21
c) Freedom from sin – Ephesians 1:7, Romans 6:7
d) Forgiveness with confession (agreeing with God) – James 5:16
D. Respect for the Saving Work of Jesus (2:1-2)
1. His Purpose
a) John 3:17 – “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
b) John 20:30-31 – “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son if God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
c) 1 John 2:1 – “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin…”
2. His Position
a) He is an Advocate
b) From the Greek word “parakletos” that literally means called to one’s side.
c) It primarily describes and that has the capacity and aptitude to give aid.
d) In the justice system it denotes one that pleads a case for another as in this verse.
e) He is our High Priest that makes intercession for us – Hebrews 7:25
3. His Personal Action (2:2)
a) He is the propitiation of our sins.
b) Propitiation denotes one that is merciful.
c) It denotes a means whereby sin is covered and remitted.
d) 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
III. Conclusion
A. Darkness and Light
1. Cannot occupy the same place at the same time.
a) God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
b) We cannot walk in the light and sneak in the shadows of darkness.
2. The Key to the Light
a) Jesus the Light of the world – John 8:12
b) The word is the light unto our feet – Psalm 119:105
c) We must be the light – Philippians 2:15
B. Invitation
