Walking in the Light: Confession and Healing

Today’s gathering centered on the profound truth that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. This reality is not just a theological statement, but an invitation to step out of the shadows of sin, shame, and isolation, and into the illuminating, healing presence of Christ. We all carry the sickness of sin—none of us are immune, whether we are weary, successful, or in failure. The temptation is to hide, pretend, or ignore our brokenness, hoping it will resolve itself. But just as ignoring physical symptoms leads to greater harm, so too does ignoring our spiritual sickness.

The call is to walk in the light, not by our own effort or perfection, but by honest confession and dependence on the finished work of Jesus. Walking in the light is not about having our sins exposed for condemnation, but about experiencing cleansing, freedom, and true fellowship with God and one another. The light of Christ dispels darkness—not by our striving, but by His righteousness and revelation. When we confess our sins, we are not informing God of something He doesn’t know; we are agreeing with Him, naming our sin as He does, and opening ourselves to His faithful and just forgiveness.

Confession is not a one-time event, but a continual practice—done quickly, honestly, and relationally. It is the pathway to intimacy with God and others, breaking the cycle of isolation and shame. We are called to have people in our lives with whom we have no secrets, who can help us sabotage our own sinful tendencies and walk together in the light. The church is uniquely equipped for this kind of community, where we are fully known and fully loved.

Ultimately, the cleansing we need has already been accomplished at the cross. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin—past, present, and future. Shame loses its power when we realize that God already knows our darkness and has chosen to love and forgive us anyway. The invitation is to stop pretending, to step into the light, and to receive the freedom and healing that only Christ can give. This is not just for a select few, but for all who will come, confess, and believe.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Light Reveals and Heals, Not Condemns God’s light is not merely about exposing our flaws, but about illuminating the path to healing and freedom. When we step into His light, we receive revelation and righteousness that dispel the distortions and hopelessness of darkness. The invitation is not to fear exposure, but to embrace the cleansing and hope that come from being fully seen and fully loved by God. [54:15]
• 2. Confession Is the Doorway to Fellowship and Freedom True fellowship with God and others is not found in pretending to be perfect, but in honestly confessing our sins. Confession is agreeing with God about the reality of our brokenness, naming our sins as He does, and refusing to sugarcoat or hide them. This practice brings us out of isolation and into the community of grace, where forgiveness and cleansing are continually available. [61:18]
• 3. Quick, Honest, and Relational Confession Breaks the Power of Sin Confessing quickly prevents small offenses from becoming insurmountable barriers in our relationships. Honest confession—calling sin what God calls it—cultivates intimacy with God and others, while relational confession (to trusted believers) brings healing and accountability. The church is called to be a place where such vulnerability is met with love, not condemnation. [68:38]
• 4. Cleansing and Forgiveness Are Already Accomplished in Christ The forgiveness and cleansing we seek are not earned by our efforts, but received as a gift through the blood of Jesus. All our sins—no matter how dark—are covered by His sacrifice. We are invited to step into what has already been done for us, letting go of shame and striving, and resting in the faithfulness and justice of God who forgives and cleanses completely. [164:09]
• 5. Shame Is Defeated by the Love and Knowledge of God Shame thrives in secrecy and isolation, convincing us that if others or God truly knew us, we would be rejected. Yet God already knows every detail of our darkness and has chosen to love, forgive, and cleanse us through Christ. The path to freedom is to give Him what He already knows, trusting that His response is always grace and restoration, not condemnation. [165:37]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [10:25] - Opening Worship: Declaring God’s Worth
• [27:49] - Waymaker: God Never Stops Working
• [36:40] - Community Life and Kids Ministry
• [37:42] - Outdoor Service Recap & Church as People
• [39:34] - 11 Years of Phoenix Bible Church
• [40:07] - Prayer for God’s Movement
• [41:32] - The Sickness of Sin
• [43:07] - What Do We Do With Sin?
• [44:26] - Walking in the Light: Cleansing, Not Condemnation
• [45:40] - God is Light: Revelation and Righteousness
• [50:37] - The Reality of Darkness
• [54:15] - The Power of God’s Light Over Darkness
• [56:54] - Truth Over Lies: Diagnosing Our Walk
• [61:18] - Confession Over Pretending
• [68:38] - How to Confess: Quickly, Honestly, Relationally
• [75:30] - Cleansing Over Shame
• [80:29] - Time of Confession and Worship
• [86:23] - Closing Worship: Nothing But the Blood
• [128:17] - Second Service Welcome
• [131:36] - The Miracle of the Church
• [136:43] - Walking in the Light: The Invitation
• [140:22] - God is Light: Revelation and Righteousness (Second Service)
• [144:29] - Illustration: Light and Darkness
• [147:22] - Walking in the Light vs. Darkness
• [152:46] - Confession: The Practice of Freedom
• [164:09] - The Blood of Jesus Cleanses All Sin
• [170:03] - Extended Time of Confession
• [176:22] - Final Declaration: Forgiveness and Freedom
• [181:01] - Benediction and Dismissal

Bible Reading

1 John 1:5-10 (ESV) — 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 John 1:5, what does it mean that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”? How does John use the imagery of light and darkness throughout this passage?
2. What are the results listed in verses 6-7 for those who walk in the light versus those who walk in darkness?
3. In verse 9, what does John say happens when we confess our sins?
4. The sermon described confession as “agreeing with God” about our sin. What are some examples the pastor gave of how we might avoid calling sin what it really is? [[01:02:06]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon compared ignoring sin to ignoring physical symptoms and not going to the doctor. Why do people tend to hide or ignore their sin, and what are the consequences of doing so? [[42:06]]
2. John says that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and make God a liar. Why is it so tempting to pretend we have it all together, and what does this do to our relationship with God and others? [[01:00:11]]
3. The pastor said, “God’s light reveals and heals, not condemns.” How does this change the way we think about bringing our sin into the light? [[54:15]]
4. The sermon emphasized that cleansing and forgiveness are already accomplished in Christ. How does this truth affect the way we approach confession and shame? [[02:44:09]]

Application Questions

1. The pastor challenged us to stop pretending and step into the light. Is there an area of your life where you are tempted to hide, pretend, or ignore your brokenness? What would it look like to bring that into the light this week? [[01:07:50]]
2. Confession was described as something to be done “quickly, honestly, and relationally.” Which of these is hardest for you, and why? What is one step you could take to practice confession in that way? [[01:08:38]]
3. The sermon asked if we have someone in our lives with whom we have no secrets—someone who can help us “sabotage” our sinful tendencies. Do you have a person or group like this? If not, what would it take to build that kind of relationship? [[01:14:30]]
4. The pastor said, “Shame thrives in secrecy and isolation.” When have you experienced shame keeping you from community or from God? How can you remind yourself of God’s love and forgiveness in those moments? [[02:45:37]]
5. The church was described as a place where we can be “fully known and fully loved.” How can our small group or church become a safer place for honest confession and support? [[02:40:45]]
6. The sermon said, “What needs to happen in your life has already happened. What you need to do has already been done.” How does this truth help you let go of striving and rest in what Jesus has done for you? [[01:16:43]]
7. The pastor encouraged us to memorize 1 John 1:9. What would it look like to make this verse a regular part of your spiritual life? How might it change the way you respond when you sin? [[01:03:59]]