Walking in Light: The Call to Love

In 1 John 1:5, we are reminded that "God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all." This profound truth is foundational for our fellowship with God and with one another. To truly walk in fellowship with God, we must understand that He cannot tolerate even the smallest sin. Walking in darkness, even in minor ways, disrupts our fellowship with Him. However, if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we experience true fellowship and the cleansing power of Jesus' blood.

The essence of God's light is love. True holiness is not just about moral purity but is deeply intertwined with love. As 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 teaches, our hearts are established in holiness as we increase and abound in love for one another. Holiness and love are not separate; they are two sides of the same coin. To be holy is to love deeply and sacrificially, as Jesus did.

Our goal should not be to outlive others but to outlove them. Jesus, who lived only 33 years, is our example. He outloved everyone, and our aim should be to love more than those around us. This love is not just a feeling but a commitment to lay down our lives for others, just as Jesus laid down His life for us. It involves dying to ourselves and putting others first, especially within our families and church communities.

In John 13:34, Jesus gives us a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved us. This love is demonstrated through sacrifice and self-denial. It is not about giving gifts or saying kind words but about being willing to die to our own desires and needs for the sake of others. This kind of love is the hallmark of true discipleship.

Finally, we must recognize that our ability to love and do God's will is not of our own making. Philippians 2:13 reminds us that it is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose. We must humbly acknowledge that even our desire to do God's will is a gift from Him. As we rely on His strength, He will enable us to love as He loves and to live lives that are blameless and holy.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God's Light and Our Fellowship: Understanding that God is light and cannot tolerate sin is crucial for our fellowship with Him. Walking in the light means being sensitive to sin and repenting quickly, ensuring our relationship with God remains unbroken. [01:06]
• 2. Holiness and Love: True holiness is inseparable from love. As we increase in love for one another, our hearts are established in holiness, preparing us for the coming of the Lord. Holiness without love is incomplete. [06:17]
• 3. Outloving, Not Outliving: Our goal should be to outlove others, not outlive them. Jesus' life exemplifies this, as He loved deeply and sacrificially. We are called to love more than those around us, reflecting Christ's love. [09:18]
• 4. The New Commandment of Love: Jesus commands us to love one another as He loved us, which involves self-sacrifice and dying to our own desires. This love is the true mark of discipleship and is demonstrated through actions, not just words. [14:50]
• 5. God's Work in Us: Our ability to love and do God's will is a result of His work in us. We must humbly acknowledge that even our desire to follow Him is a gift from God, and rely on His strength to live out His commands. [29:00]
  ** [29:00]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:25] - God is Light
• [01:06] - Walking in Darkness
• [02:25] - Sensitivity to Sin
• [03:28] - Fellowship in the Light
• [04:16] - Holiness and Love
• [05:20] - Established in Holiness
• [06:33] - Increasing in Love
• [07:45] - Ready for Christ's Coming
• [09:01] - Outloving Others
• [11:29] - Love in the Church
• [12:39] - The New Commandment
• [14:50] - Love Like Jesus
• [19:21] - Love and Discipline
• [29:00] - God's Work in Us

1. 1 John 1:5-7
2. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
3. John 13:34-35

1. According to 1 John 1:5, what is the nature of God, and how does this affect our fellowship with Him? [01:06]
2. In 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, what is the relationship between love and holiness? How does increasing in love prepare us for the coming of the Lord? [06:17]
3. What new commandment does Jesus give in John 13:34, and how is it different from the Old Testament commandment to love your neighbor as yourself? [14:50]
4. How does the sermon describe the way Jesus demonstrated His love for us, and what does this imply about how we should love others? [15:06]

1. What does it mean to "walk in the light" as described in 1 John 1:7, and how does this relate to our sensitivity to sin? [03:28]
2. How does the concept of "outloving" others, as mentioned in the sermon, challenge the typical goals we set for ourselves in life? [09:18]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our ability to love and do God's will is dependent on God's work within us, as seen in Philippians 2:13? [29:00]
4. How does the sermon explain the connection between love and discipline, and why is this important for understanding true love in a Christian context? [19:21]

1. Reflect on a time when you ignored a small sin in your life. How did it affect your relationship with God, and what steps can you take to be more sensitive to sin in the future? [02:07]
2. Consider the relationships in your life where love is lacking. What practical steps can you take to increase and abound in love for those individuals, as encouraged in 1 Thessalonians 3:12? [06:33]
3. Jesus calls us to love one another as He loved us, which involves self-sacrifice. Identify one area in your life where you can practice this sacrificial love this week. [15:06]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of "outloving" others rather than "outliving" them. How can you shift your focus from personal achievements to loving others more deeply? [09:18]
5. Think about a recent situation where you felt offended by someone. How can you apply the principle of dying to yourself in that relationship to demonstrate Christ-like love? [17:28]
6. The sermon mentions that God's love includes discipline. How can you embrace correction and discipline in your life as a sign of God's love and a path to growth? [19:21]
7. Reflect on the idea that even our desire to do God's will is a gift from Him. How can this understanding change the way you approach your spiritual growth and reliance on God? [29:00]