“The New Creation” Day 6: We must choose to walk in the light.
Make no mistake, our spiritual journey, though it begins with repentance and a declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, does not end there. We have here discussed the fact that we still live in a fallen world, and that we can still be lured by the world, the flesh, and the devil. However, as a new creation, we have been empowered to live a holy life, having been set free from the condemnation of our Fall from grace—in a general sense—as well as our own sin—in a personal sense. Even as a new creation, in order to live a life in fellowship with God, we must, as John instructs, “walk in the light as he is in the light.”
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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.”
I John 1:5-7 NKJV
Indeed, John makes clear that those who do not walk in the light, that is to say, those who do not walk in the truth of God, do not walk in His righteousness, are not in fellowship with Him at all.
Of course, we know that when we do fail, we have Jesus as an advocate.
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
I John 2:1-2 NKJV
Notice, after John instructs concerning that we have an advocate in Jesus Christ, he further warns against disobedience:
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
I John 2:3-6 NKJV
Clearly, the fact that our sins can be forgiven, is not an invitation to live however we may choose to live. We see that in the above scripture, John again says that we must “walk just as He walked.”
As a new creation through Jesus Christ, we are ABLE to walk as He walked; but we do so, by casting off the works of darkness in which we were formerly involved.
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
Romans 13:11-14 NKJV
But remember, we will not be walking His walk alone. The same Jesus Who died for our sins, the same Jesus Who rose again to give us a resurrected life, has—by way of His Holy Spirit—given us help to walk as He walked. As well, as a High Priest Who has been tempted in all points, yet without sin, He is well able to see us through, no matter the temptation we may face.
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV
We will talk further about “casting off the works of darkness,” next time.