Walking in the Light—Living Honestly with God (1 John 1:1–10)
Have you ever felt like you had to hide parts of your life from others—or even from God? Maybe because of shame, guilt, or fear? The apostle John writes in 1 John 1 to remind us that we don’t have to live in the dark. Instead, we’re invited to walk in the light—honestly, freely, and in relationship with God and others.
Let’s take a closer look at what this powerful little chapter says.
The Message Is Real
John starts by talking about something (or rather, someone) he experienced firsthand—Jesus Christ. He says:
“We saw Him with our own eyes. We heard Him speak. We touched Him with our hands.”
This isn’t a made-up story or a secondhand rumor. John and the other apostles actually lived and walked with Jesus. They saw Him after He rose from the dead. Because of that, they were eager to share this good news so that others could know Jesus too.
John’s goal is simple:
“We want you to share in this life with us—a life that’s centered on Jesus and filled with joy.”
God Is Light
John then shares the core message:
“God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
What does that mean? Light represents everything that is pure, true, good, and holy. Darkness represents sin, lies, and anything that separates us from God.
So, if we want to know God and be close to Him, we have to step into the light—which means living with honesty, truth, and a heart open to Him.
Be Honest About Sin
John makes an important point here:
“If we say we have no sin, we’re lying—to others and to ourselves.”
We all mess up. We all fall short. But here’s the good news:
“If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible. God isn’t waiting to punish you—He’s ready to forgive you, clean your heart, and help you walk in freedom.
But we have to be honest. If we pretend like we’ve never done anything wrong, we’re not just lying—we’re calling God a liar too. He knows the truth already. What He wants is for us to bring it into the light and let Him help us.
Final Thoughts
1 John 1:1–10 gives us a clear and simple message:
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Jesus is real, and His followers have seen Him, touched Him, and shared His message.
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God is light, and we’re invited to live in that light too.
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We don’t have to hide our sin—we just need to be honest about it.
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When we confess, God forgives us and makes us clean.
You don’t have to live in guilt or pretend to have it all together. God already knows your heart, and He’s ready to walk with you. So step into the light. Be honest with God. Let His love and forgiveness shine in your life.
1 John 1:1-10 (WEB)
1:1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life 2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us); 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.5 This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie and don’t tell 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 Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.