continued from (423)
So, walking in the light has to do with us confessing 'our sins' when we sin. (1 John 1:9). Our Advocate, Jesus Christ, defends us justly before the Father. Our sins have been paid and charges are dropped. We are cleansed from all sin and unrighteousness. (1:7-2:1) This is how our sins as a believer are dealt with. When we were lost and without Christ, the only Remedy for our sins was faith in Christ. Being born-again took care of our sins. It took care of all our sins. The difference then was that we sinned as a non-believer. Even though all our sins have been paid our sinning as a believer must be addressed. And it has been in (1 John 1:9-10).
Note this distinction in (1 John 2:2). "And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Our sins as a believer, and the sins of the rest of the unbelieving world. Christ is the propitiation for both kinds. To the world, the remedy is faith in Jesus Christ. To the believer, remedy is repentance and confession. Two types of sins and walk and remedies. The basis for both remedies is 'Jesus Christ the righteous'. (2:1) Interesting how John drops that description in there, 'Jesus Christ the Righteous'. For He alone is righteous.
1.) Believer---in the light and walking in the light---we sin---we confess our sins---we are cleansed from all sin and unrighteousness---our righteousness displayed.
2.) Unbeliever---in darkness, and walks in darkness---sins with no restraint or care---their lawless life, unrighteousness, displayed.
If a believer says he is abiding in Christ; if he says he is in the light, then he should walk with Christ as his example. (1 John 2:6) And when Christ walked in the world, His righteousness was displayed in that He did not sin. He did not break the Law. And sin is transgression of the Law. (1 John 3:4) Our righteousness however cannot so be displayed because we do sin. But, Christ remedies that. (3:5) "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." Thus if we abide, if we walk in the light, we wont sin in that our confessed sins are removed. (1 John 3:6) "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not..." Because we are in Him and our sins are confessed.
But, (1 John 3:6), "...whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." This is true of the unbeliever who is in darkness and walks in darkness. See #(2) above.
(1 John 3:7) "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness, is righteous, even as he is righteous. See #(1) above. The believers 'doing righteousness' is based upon his walking in the light. Sin confessed and cleansed. Such a one reflects Christ's righteousness which has been imputed to him, which he is declared to be.
This 'doing of righteousness' does not create the imputed righteousness of Christ in the believer. That is his by declaration only. It simply reflects that he has Christ's righteousness imputed or declared to him. It reflects that he is a child of God.
(1 John 3:8) "He that committeth sin is of the devil...." See #(2) above.
(1 John 3:9) "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." The child of God does not sin as the unbeliever sins. The child of God sins against light, because he has the light. If he is not abiding, if he is not walking in the light, his sin is still not as the unbelievers who is in darkness and walks in darkness. The believer sins against the light. Very serious, but different.
(1 John 3:10) "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God...." Contrast #(1) and #(2) above.
But, what of the child of God who neglects that which God has provided in walking with Him. (1 John 1:9) What of the child of God who gets caught up in the world and the sins of the world?
continued later. #(429)
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