Leader Guide

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Leader Guide February 4, 2018

The Light - 180 Weekend Sermon Text:​ Galatians 5:13-15 Study Texts:​ 1 John 1:5-10 180 Connection:​ This week, our Growth Group Bible Study is connecting with the teaching that has taken place throughout the entire 180 Weekend. 180 weekend is a Parkwood Student Ministry discipleship weekend. The theme for 180 has been “The Light.” The focal passage for the weekend was 1 John 1:5-7. John has a unique message. Its source: Jesus. Its audience: us. Its content: God. What about God? ​“...God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”​ What a statement! Often we would complete the statement, “God is love.” However, John begins his letter with the foundational truth that God is light. This is a big theme throughout Scripture. The word “light” occurs in some form over 275 times in the Bible (95 times in the New Testament). This word is used to point out God’s holiness, moral purity, and goodness. It also conveys His truthfulness and revelation. In this study, we will look at what “God is light” means (v. 5) and that as a believer, we are to “Walk in the light” (vv 6-7). And in verses 8-10, we will study that believers must confess their sins as they walk in the light, in fellowship with God. Lesson Plan Lesson Goal: ​To understand that as a believer as we Walk in the Light, we will follow His Word, live in His power and grow in His grace as we fellowship with God, now and for eternity. Lesson Points: Point 1 - God is Light ​(v. 5) Point 2 - Walking in the Light ​(vv. 6-7) Point 3 - Don’t Claim to Be Without Sin ​(vv. 8-10) The Context: ​There are​ ​three parts to John’s discussion in these verses. First, verse 5 gives the message of Christ that John has personally heard. Second, verses 6 and 7 1

talk about some practical implications for life that come from this passage. Third, verses 8-10 answer a misunderstanding of verses 6 and 7 and give clarity to their meaning. So, verse 5 lays the foundation. Verses 6-7 apply the truth, and verses 8-10 clarify the truth. Opening Question: ​Owls, bats, and raccoons are creatures of darkness. -- Describe a time when you had to walk in the dark. What happened? What was it like? Transition Statement: ​“...​God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.​” The fact that God is light sets up a natural contrast with darkness. If light represents holiness and goodness, then darkness signifies sin and evil. Point 1 - ​God is Light​ (v. 5) What does John mean that “God is light?” “God is light” means that God is the source and measure of all that is true, holy, pure and good. “​...God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”​ John is saying that nothing, no one, compares to God. He is not only true, but He is holy, pure and good. He has no flaws, ​“...in him is no darkness at all.” “God is light” means that as God draws you; you find freedom from sin and hope and joy. He is all light. He is the pathway to eternal joy. In the light of God, you will not be destroyed by sin. Darkness is the threat of despair, of misery and separation from God. “...God is light ,and in him is no darkness at all.”​ This is the message that John heard from Jesus. Jesus came into the world and said, ​“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ​(John 8:12) This the foundational message of this book. What is the main value of light? Negatively, it helps you avoid danger. Positively, it helps you reach what you are after. Darkness is full of threat. You may stumble over things or hit your head in the dark. It frustrates your ability to attain your goal. But light changes all that. It exposes dangers and frees you from the power of darkness. It illuminates the way to your path. It gives hope and promise. John chooses the word light because it promises that the truth of God is a truth full of joy and hope. We value light as we are given understanding that “God is light.” We walk in the light by following His Word, living in His power and growing in His grace. Transition Statement: ​“​(Therefore), if we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth​” (v. 6). That’s the negative implication from the foundational fact that God is light. ​“But if we walk in the light, as he 2

is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” ​(v. 7). That’s the positive implication from the foundational fact in verse 5 that God is light. Point 2​ - ​Walking in the Light​ ​(vv. 6-7) What does it mean to “walk in darkness?” (v. 6) “Walking in darkness” means that people desire their own wills and wants more than God’s; they are blind to the light of God. If we are controlled by desires for the world instead of desires for God, it doesn’t matter whether we say we have fellowship with God or not; we don’t have it. Instead we walk in darkness. ​“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth​.” From this, we understand that walking in darkness means being controlled by desires for this world instead of desires for God. 1 John 2:8-11 gives some real clear indications. It says that he who hates his brother is in darkness, and he who loves his brother abides in the light. Walking in the light means being a loving person, and walking in darkness means being a person of hate. According to v. 7, what two things accompany walking in the light: “​...if we walk in the light,...” 1. “we have fellowship with one another,” 2. “and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” What is “walking in fellowship with one another?” (v. 7) “​Fellowship with one another”​ refers to our fellowship with fellow believers. The way we live day to day and our actions and attitudes will be God-like. People who walk in this way are believer, and they will experience fellowship with one another. This fellowship is derived or comes from our union and fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. So we would think that the ​“one another”​ in verse 7 refers both to God and to fellow believers. Walking in the light is the condition of fellowship, not only with God, but also with fellow believers. What does it mean to be cleansed from all sin by the blood of Jesus? To everyone who walks in the light, God gives His grace, so that throughout their lives, “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses them from sin.” This does not mean that Christians no longer struggle with sin. This side of heaven, we will continue to struggle with sin in our flesh. But, because the blood of Jesus Christ continually cleanses away every sin, our sins will never, or can never, change our position in Christ before God. This 3

salvation cleansing that John writes about covers ​all​ the sins we have committed in the past and future. Another way to look at this is: (1.) It refers to the justifying effect of Christ’s shed blood covering all our sins and giving us freedom and eternal fellowship with God, and (2.) It refers to the power of the blood of Jesus to help us overcome temptation, so that in the end, all our sin will actually be overcome, and we will stand holy, pure and sinless before God (​Philippians 1:6​). Transition Statement: ​“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us​” (v. 8). In other words, the claim of sinlessness is simply self-deception. Instead of denying our sinfulness, we should confess that it is real and ugly. Point 3 - Don’t Claim to Be Without Sin​ (​vv. 8-10) Does John teach that Christians don’t sin anymore? (v. 8) NO!! When we claim to be without sin, we are deceiving ourselves. The reason we are deceived is that the truth is not in us. When a person is converted, the truth takes up residence in the heart. Or we could say the light of God comes into the heart. And what John says here is not that it immediately drives out all falsehood and sin. That is a battle that lasts a lifetime. What he says is that when the truth enters in, its light reveals sin! The mark of the saint is not sinlessness but sin-consciousness! The dawning of God’s light in the heart is the revelation of remaining darkness. We are a new creation in Christ. As new creatures for whom “new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17), we will behave in a way that reflects the power of God’s righteousness in us. Why are we called to continue to confess our sins? (v. 9) Some people say that as a Christian, all our sins are already forgiven in Christ. It is finished in the cross, and no more forgiveness is possible. Confession of sin is absolutely crucial to entering into the light (justification) and walking in the light (sanctification). The word translated “confess” means “to say the same thing.” Believers are people who confess their sins, agree with God about their sin. They acknowledge the reality of sin and affirm that it is a sin against His Law, a sin that violates His will. As believers, they seek forgiveness by confessing their sins before a holy and just God. They are a transformed people. and as the Holy Spirit sanctifies them, He produces within them a hatred of sin.

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What is the strong warning in verse 10? What are we saying about God? “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.​” The claim to be sinless is not only self-deception but blasphemy. It is calling God a liar. This means that what God thinks of us is not positive. He calls us evil. If we deny our evil, we call him a liar. John uses strong words so we will be strong people. These are strong words. If this were not an apostle talking, I can imagine someone today saying, “Do you have to use such inflammatory words when you warn people about error?” John felt that so much was at stake, the words, “You make God a liar,” should not be softened. I think we need to get toughened up a bit. The Big Picture ● Verse 5: God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. His truth is bright and hopeful for all who come to Him. ● Verses 6-7: Walk in the light of God so that we can enjoy His fellowship and experience the cleansing of Christ’s blood. ● Verses 8-10: Don’t claim to be without sin. Do not presume to claim to be sinless as you walk in the light, but confess your sins to God. Application Questions ● When you walk in the light, how are you having fellowship with God? ● When and where are you having fellowship with other believers? ● Are there any ways in which you are not walking in the light but walking in darkness? ● How often do you confess your sins to God? ● How are you guiding your family to walk in the light?

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