Who Am I? I Am Forgiving, Forgiven, and in Right Relationship.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  1 John 1:7

How many times have we heard this verse quoted to a sinner (someone who does not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior)?  

John is writing this book to believers, Christians, not to the world.  He wrote the book of 1 John to the Church.  

How do I know this?  

1 John 1:7 begins "if we walk in the light".  A nonbeliever cannot walk in something they do not have.  As believers we have the choice to walk in the Light.  

The focus of the verse and the ones that follow is the Church, the believer.  IF we walk in the light, as he is in the light.....  THEN what happens?  We have fellowship with one another.  (the believers, the Church).  

What else does this verse say?  

It implies that if you are not walking in the light, then you do not have fellowship with one another, the Body of Christ.  

Why is this?  

If a Christian, a believer, is not walking in the light they are not in "right relationship" with God.  They are out of fellowship with God, and in need of getting right with God.  

"Walking in the light, as he is in the light" means we have fellowship with ONE ANOTHER, the whole Body of Christ.  It is in this light, and this fellowship, that the BLOOD of Jesus Christ His Son CLEANSETH us from all sin.

Our Spirit Man has been renewed at our birth in Christ Jesus.  Our mind is being renewed as we continue to hear the Word of God and commune with Him.  Our bodies, however, are not yet redeemed.  We must keep it under subjection to our spirits.  As a result, we all make mistakes.  

However, as we continue to "walk in the light, as he is in the light", then even though we make a mistake, we are assured of continual cleansing of sin.  

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

When we know we have made a mistake.  1 John 1:9 tells us what to do:  Confess our sin, and he will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (sin).  

"Walking in the light" to a believer means we are cleaned by the Blood of Jesus Christ from all mistakes, intentional or unintentional.  

Maybe you are walking in hurt, guilt, or shame because of a mistake you made.  It seems to keep coming back and biting you in the butt.  You can choose to walk in the light, and know God has forgiven you because of what Jesus has done on the cross.  

The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  Once way of doing this is with your thoughts.  Do not entertain thoughts of shame and doubt.  

Entertain thoughts based on what God has said!  What has he said?  You are forgiven and cleansed by the BLOOD of Jesus Christ that was shed when he died on the cross and rose again. 

Walk in the "right relationship" that you have KNOW by the Word of God, you have with Him.