Gateway Visalia

Question: How do we live in the light & walk away from Spiritual darkness?

1 John 1
God Is Light

5This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

Back to Basics: God is the Light.

- God’s light lives in you

1 John 2
Christ Is Our Advocate

1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Love is perfected when people understand the cross through you.

- Remain in the light: Walk as Jesus walked

7Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Love invites – Hate excludes

“Hell is where no one has anything in common with anybody else except the fact that they all hate one another and cannot get away from one another and from themselves.”
Thomas Merton (New Seeds of Contemplation)

How much more does light shine, in a darkened world?

Follow the Light
1 John 1:5 – 2:11
Sam Nicholson


Discussion Questions:


1. Where was your favorite trip you ever took?



2. What signs do you look for when you’re wondering if you’re following God on the right path?



3. What is the greatest expression of love/kindness you've ever seen from another person?



4. What is one thing I can do this week to better follow in Jesus’ footsteps?