Lesson 15 - 1 John 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

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Lesson 15 - 1 John 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Don't Walk In The Darkness. Practice the Truth.

Jeff M Newman

Jul 17, 2023

Welcome back to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John.

We just finished studying 1 John 1:5 in Lesson 14.

In Lesson 14 we learned that God is light. We learned that God is calling you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Let God light your path and be your guide through life. God is wrapped in light like a garment. His light is constant and reliable. When you believe in God, one day you will live in the city of God where there is no need of sun or moon because the glory of God will illuminate everything.

In this lesson we’re going to learn about walking in the darkness, what God thinks of lying, and practicing the truth.

Let’s read our verse: 1 John 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

If you say that you have fellowship with God, you are saying that you have a deep sense of intimacy, communion, and unity with God.

You are saying that you are dependent upon God, you obey Him, you pray to Him, you spend time with Him, and that you have been transformed by His grace.

To walk in the darkness means that you have an ongoing sinful lifestyle.

This means that you are behaving or acting in a way that consistently goes against God's moral standards.

It's impossible to have fellowship with God and walk in the darkness.

In lesson 14 we learned that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

If you believe that you can maintain a relationship with God while continuing in sin, you are mistaken.

There is no fooling God.

God knows who is walking in the darkness and who is not. God knows everything.

If you claim to have fellowship with God, when you are walking in the darkness, you are a liar.

To lie means to deceive, to speak falsely, or to utter an untruth.

God is not OK with lying.

If you are lying, this means that you are not practicing the truth.

Practicing the truth means that you are doing what God is asking you to do.

You are obeying Him.

The way you behave and act should reflect your relationship with God.

We learned in Lesson 12 that God wants to have fellowship with you.

If you want to live in the light and fellowship with God spend time hearing God, seeing God with the eyes of faith, gazing upon God, touching God by faith, understanding that He is the eternal Word of life, sharing your testimony, and fellowshipping with other believers.

Let's read some verses about walking in the darkness, about lying, and about practicing the truth.

First, let's go over some verses about walking in the darkness:

In Jeremiah 7:24 we read that the people that Jeremiah was speaking to didn't listen to God but rather followed the inclinations of their own evil hearts. They were walking in the darkness. They were backsliding.

Jeremiah 7:24 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

In Ephesians 2:1-3 we learn what walking in the darkness looks like. It means conforming to the ways of the world and of the ruler of the power of the air, also known as the devil. It means fulfilling the cravings of your flesh and indulging in its desires and thoughts.

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

In Galatians 5:19-21 we learn more about the acts of the flesh. If you have a lifestyle of doing these things, then you are living in the darkness.

Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Now, let's go over some verses about lying:

In Leviticus 19:11 we read one of God's commandments given to the Israelites through Moses. The purpose of the book of Leviticus was to instruct the Israelites on how to live a holy and righteous life. If you want to have a relationship with God, you must not lie.

Leviticus 19:11 You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.

In Proverbs 19:5 we read that a false witness will be punished and that you cannot escape your lies. God knows when someone is lying.

Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

In Proverbs 12:22 we read that lying is detestable to the LORD. If you want to walk in the light you can’t be a liar.

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

In Colossians 3:9 we read that we are not to lie to one another.

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,

In Revelation 21:8 we read that liars will have their place in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.

Revelation 21:8 But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Next, let's go through some verses about practicing the truth.

In James 1:22, we read that we are to be doers of the word. If you are just hearing God, you are deceiving yourself. Doing what God is asks is crucial to having a relationship with Him.

James 1:22 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

And finally in Ephesians 5:8 we are called to walk as children of light.

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

In conclusion, there is no fooling God. He knows who is walking in the light and who is walking in darkness. Walking in darkness means to live a life that conforms to the ways of this world and is filled with the acts of the flesh. If you are living your life in this way, you are a liar. God commands us to not lie. God says that liars will be punished and that you cannot escape your lies. He says that lying lips are detestable to Him. We are also not to lie to one another. God says that liars will have their place in the lake the burns with fire. God is calling you to practice the truth. This means to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. God is calling you to stop walking in the darkness and to walk as children of the light.

If you’ve been blessed by Hope Bible School please share it with others.

If you have any prayer requests, please share them in the comments.

Thank you and God bless you,

Jeff M Newman

VERSE BY VERSE BIBLE STUDY LESSONS (See all)

Lesson 14 - 1 John 1:5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (God is Light)

Lesson 13 - 1 John 1:4 We write these things so that our joy may be complete. (Experiencing Complete Joy)

Lesson 12 - 1 John 1:3..And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. (Fellowshipping with God)

Lesson 11 - 1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us... (Fellowshipping with Other Believers)

Lesson 10 - 1 John 1:2...that was with the Father and was revealed to us. (The Relationship Between Jesus and The Father)

Lesson 9 - 1 John 1:2 ...and we proclaim to you the eternal life... (Proclaim The Eternal Life)

Lesson 8 - 1 John 1:2...we have seen it and testified to it... (Share Your Testimony)