Walking in the Light: Shine BCI
1 John 1:1-10 (ESV)
The Word of Life
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word[a] of life— 2the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.4And we are writing these things so that our[b]joy may be complete.
Walking in the Light
5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.7But 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.8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Introduction: Today, we celebrate our 43rd church anniversary. When John wrote this epistle, the church was facing internal threats. False teachers, likely early Gnostics (Docetic and Cerinthian), were denying the incarnation, claiming secret spiritual knowledge, and redefining sin (asceticism or licentiousness). Some professed fellowship with God while living in moral darkness. Others were tempted to compromise truth for acceptance. The result was confusion, division, and spiritual drift.
John responds with clarity and conviction. He reminds believers of what they have heard, seen, and touched.
● John is emphasizing the historical reality of the incarnation, and it continues to impact his life.
● John is stressing his authority as an eyewitness to the life,
death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
● John calls them back to the unchanging message: God is
Light. God is Life. And if we belong to Him, we must walk in the light and proclaim the Word of life.
This is our calling too. In a world that is spiritually blind, morally confused, and culturally hostile, we must shine. And we do so by living out the truth of 1 John 1:1-10. Let us walk through this passage using the acrostic BCI.
I. B – Begin with God
“That which was from the beginning… the Word of life… we proclaim to you…” (1 John 1:1–3)
“This is the message we have heard…God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
John begins with the eternal Word, which is Christ Himself. This echoes Genesis 1: “In the beginning, God…” and John 1: “In the beginning was the Word…” The gospel is rooted in the eternal, immutable character of God. The same God who said “Let there be light” now speaks through His Son, bringing light into the chaos of sin. Christ, the true Light, not only reveals God but restores communion where sin had brought alienation. Through His atoning work, the darkness is dispelled, and we are invited into fellowship with the Father and the Son. This fellowship is not self-initiated but flows from God’s gracious initiative, who sent His Son to reconcile sinners.
● Verse 5 functions as the basis for the two appeals in verses 6-10. The basis of the appeals is the character and nature of God as light.
A. God is light: God’s complete purity and holiness. “Incomparable, transcendent perfection” (Tim Keller).
● Two possible interpretations, which are less likely: (1)
A description of the visible manifestation of God’s
glory; (2) A reference to God’s self-revelation to man –
light enables us to see [David Allen, Preaching the
Word]
● It refers to God’s moral/absolute perfection: “no article before light, which stresses character and nature” and the following negative statement, “there is no darkness in him, none” (double negative is emphatic). God is not partly light. He is light in totality. This is the foundation of all true theology and the framework for life and ministry.
When John says, “God is light,” he is declaring the essence of God’s being. Light in Scripture represents holiness, truth, purity, and revelation. It is the first act of creation and the essence of God’s nature. There is no shadow in Him, no pockets of sin, no deceit, no compromise, no mixture, no fault, no failure, no falsehood.
B. God is life: The source of all vitality
John also calls Christ the “Word of life.” Jesus is the source of life because He is life itself. Without Him, we are spiritually dead. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:1, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins.” Dead people don’t move, seek, or respond unless God animates them.
Only God can breathe life into dry bones (Ezekiel 37). Only God can awaken the heart, renew the mind, and restore the will. The divine light is the only true vitality of the soul.
This is why John emphasizes “fellowship with the Father and with His Son” (1:3). The gospel not only informs, but also transforms. It reverses the curse of sin. It restores communion. It reanimates the soul.
Application: Let God dominate your worldview and motivate your walk. To begin with God means letting His holiness dominate our thoughts, His truth shape our convictions, and His life animate our ministry. In a world that begins with self, we begin with God. In a culture that defines truth by emotion, we
define it by revelation. In a society that seeks vitality through
pleasure, we proclaim life through Christ.
Let God be your starting point. Not your feelings. Not your
fears. Not your strategies. Let His light expose your sin. Let His life renew your soul. Let His word shape your walk.
II. C – Commit to Godliness
“If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie…” (1 John 1:6)
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive…” (1 John 1:9)
John now turns to the ethical implications of theology. If God is light, then fellowship with Him demands walking in the light. One common New Testament metaphor for behavior is the term “walk,” which signifies conduct or lifestyle. The tense of the verb “walk” is present and conveys a habitual lifestyle. You cannot walk in darkness and practice truth simultaneously. Notice that truth is not something to be believed, but rather something to be lived out.
The “if we say” (verses 6, 8, 10) statements expose hypocrisy (diagnostic) - those who claim spiritual intimacy while living in moral compromise.
A. Don’t live a lie, live in the light
They “lie,” John said, and the “truth (true message) is not in them.” Our words do not match our actions.
“The person who lies in this manner is not only speaking a lie but is also living a lie. His life is a practical falsehood.” (David Allen)
Verse 7 offers the alternative: walking in the light leads to true fellowship and ongoing cleansing through Christ’s blood. To walk in the light means to live in truth and holiness.
Notice two things: When we walk in the light (1) we have fellowship with one another; (2) we have cleansing from sin. The "blood of Jesus" not only removes our sins when we seek salvation, but it also provides ongoing benefits and abiding effects in our lives. It has the power to cleanse us every time we sin as
believers. Now “cleansing” or “purifying” refers to both the
“forgiveness of sin and the removing of guilt that sin incurs.”
Jesus’ blood purifies us from sin. As the old hymn says,
“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Such is the exclusivity and completeness of it.
B. Don’t conceal sin, confess it
“If we say we have no sin…” (V. 8)
Can we make such a claim? C.H. Spurgeon said, “He who cannot find water in the sea is not more foolish than the man who cannot perceive sin in his life.”
1. We all entered this world with a sin nature (a bent, propensity to sin). Sin defiles and corrupts.
2. Christians make excuses for their sins that they are quick to condemn in others.
3. No big deal syndrome. We try to minimize the seriousness of our own sin. 4. Solomon syndrome – we justify/rationalize our sins.
Don’t be self-deceived. A sinner is not a sinner simply because he sins; rather, he sins because he is a sinner. So, what can we do about our sins? Verse 9 offers the remedy: confession. Confession should always be our immediate response whenever we become aware of our personal sins.
What does it mean to confess? David Allen states, “To confess means to say the same thing as… When you confess your sin, you are agreeing with God that what he says about your sin is true. It is an admission of guilt.” When we confess, God acts.
● “Faithful and just” – He can forgive on the basis of Christ’s shed blood. ● This is the way in which you may come – Confess.
And verse 10 closes the loop—if we deny sin, we make God a liar, because His Word exposes our need.
Application: Holiness is not optional. We must be a church that takes sin seriously because we take God seriously. Sin in our lives should be the aberration, not the
norm. We walk in the light, not pretending, but repenting and pursuing holiness. Godliness is not perfection—it’s direction. It’s a life of honest confession and joyful obedience.
III. I – Illuminate the world with the Gospel
“This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you…” (1 John 1:5)
“Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” (1 John 2:6)
John’s use of “we proclaim to you” carries the weight of a herald: one sent by the king to declare His victory, His reign, and His summons. The church is a truth bearer. We announce the gospel like royal messengers, not entertainers.
A. The world is spiritually blind. Even religious institutions can obscure the truth. The Vatican recently issued a doctrinal note rejecting the title “Co-Redemptrix” for Mary, affirming that such language risks eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ in salvation. Scripture has always taught: “There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). The fact that this needed clarification shows how spiritual blindness distorts even foundational truths.
B. The world is morally confused. Sexual ethics are shaped by desire, not design. Justice is politicized. Greed is celebrated. The prosperity gospel thrives because people want God to serve their ambitions. But John says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves…” (1:8). The church must not echo the confusion. It must expose it.
C. The world is culturally hostile. Biblical truth is labeled intolerant. Churches are pressured to conform. Christians are marginalized. But Jesus said, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine…” (Matt. 5:14-16). Light does not argue with darkness; it dispels it.
Application: Proclaim with clarity and courage. We must proclaim the gospel faithfully: the unchanging good news for a changing world. Not with gimmicks.
Not with emotional manipulation. Not with health-and-wealth distortions. We proclaim Christ crucified, risen, and returning.
Conclusion: Shine, BCI (Poem)
Begin with God, the life and light,
Who spoke the word and won the fight.
In Christ we stand, redeemed and free,
Our hope is secured eternally.
Commit to walk in holy ways,
Confess our sins, pursue His praise.
No mask, no lie, no hidden sin,
Just grace that makes us whole within.
Illuminate with gospel flame,
Expose the dark, exalt His name.
Proclaim the cross, the risen Lord,
And shine until Jesus is adored.