The Church of God of Prophecy

“The Quest for Holiness”

Bible Study: Lesson 3

Sept. 18, 2013

“Sanctified Living: Turn on the Light”

“Walking in the Light” John 1:5-7: 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. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 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. (NKJV)

The Contrast between “Light” and “Darkness”

Walking refers to our manner of life or conduct:

John uses the contrast to emphasize the following:

Light symbolizes truth, righteousness and purity.

God is the true, genuine, and authentic light that shines on every soul.

The mission of the light is to shine in the darkness so that it illuminates that which is in the darkness.

God is our source of revelation and illumination.

“Walking in the Light” In I John 1:6-10, 2:9-11: If we claim to have fellowship (be connected or

be in relationship) with God we are to:

Not walk in darkness - (falsehood and sin) but in light (truth and holiness)

Not claim perfection or be self-righteous but live a life of continual confession before the Lord.

Walk in the light and live a life of confession, then we are not easily given to hate, gossip or division, but we act in love toward others.

“Walking in the Light”

Walking in darkness : one is controlled by the desires of the world one is controlled by the desires of prestige and

power one tries to satisfy one’s own desires and

ambition one walks in sin, ignorance, and disobedience. one’s life is the absence of God who is the light one’s life is the opposite of having fellowship with

God one’s true nature is that of a liar, and the truth

(light) of God does not dwell in us

“Walking in the Light” If we walk in the Light our lifestyles

include: Our fellowship with one another the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son

cleanses us from sin We Walk in truth and holiness our Committal of our lives to Christ, so

that we become the children of God. Children of God conducting themselves

in a manner worthy of their title as children of God.

True Christians are not just hearers of the Word, but they are Doers of the Word!

“Walking in the Light” What does “Walking in the Light” truly mean?

I Peter 1:15,16: 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (NKJV)

Verse 16 is a direct quote from Leviticus 19:2 and is also found in Leviticus 11:44-45 and 20:7.

“Walking in the Light” God commanded His people in Leviticus in the

Old Testament to “be Holy” and gave them extensive, specific guidelines to govern a wide variety of actions both spiritual and physical.

Holiness is a separation from the impure so

there can be establishment of the wholeness

that God intends and requires of His People.

Dr. Jerald Daffe (Clothing a Naked Church), The Quest for Holiness, Adult Lesson, p.

18.

“Walking in the Light” In Leviticus:

God shows His concern for the Whole

Person:

a. restatement of the Ten Commandments

b. establishment of health regulations

c. separation visually from heathen

neighbors and pagan practices

d. intention to protect character

Dr. Jerald Daffe (Clothing a Naked Church), The Quest for Holiness, Adult Lesson, p. 18.

“Walking in the Light” What does it mean to Walk in the Light?

Our fellowship with God compels us to walk in the light therefore:

“Walking in the Light means that we are responsive to God’s moral guidance in our lives.”

What does it mean to be Sanctified?

To Be Sanctified means to be consecrated or set aside for the service of the Lord.

“Walking in the Light”

“If we walk in the Light, in fellowship with the Lord if each of us let our Light Shine, we can make a difference in this dark world.”

As we let our light shine we must be people of the light and not walk in darkness! Walking in the light implies a continual maintaining and moving forward, not in darkness, but in light, free from sin and depravity. The Quest for Holiness, Adult Lesson, p. 20.

“Walking in the Light”

I John 2:1-6: expresses that:

If we fail to walk in the light or metaphorically; fail to walk continually in the cleansing stream of Sanctification, God has made available a

Provision (something provided) for Our Sins-- which is Jesus Christ our Advocate (the one who speaks to the Father in our defense)

“Walking in the Light” The basis of His defense is His death on the

cross as the ULTIMATE “Atoning Sacrifice.”

I John 2:1-2:

1 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.

2  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, (His

death turns aside God’s anger at our sins) and not for

ours only but also for the whole world. (NKJV)

“Walking in the Light”

Our Advocate does not “beg” for mercy for us, He presents to the Father that the Price has already been paid for Our sins therefore, forgiveness is warranted to us through His sacrifice on the cross.”

The Quest for Holiness, Adult Lesson, p. 20.

“Walking in the Light”

When we fail to meet the standard of holiness (which is found in the Word of God)-- our Lord, Jesus Christ, intervenes for us before the Lord --showing the Father that the penalty for our sin has already been paid.

We are cleansed and purified by the blood of Jesus as we continue to walk in the light of God’s love.

 

Jesus did the complete job. He is the complete sacrifice as found in Leviticus 4.

 

“Walking in the Light” Real cleansing from sin came when

He, the “Lamb of God” took away the sins of the world.  There is enough power in the blood of

Jesus to forgive our past, present, and future sins.

True believers no longer brag about sin, they no longer want to remember sin, they no longer plan to sin; they avoid sin altogether.

“Walking in the Light” On the other hand, those who “Walk in the light”

still find themselves battling with sin.

The struggle between the old nature and the new nature will continue until Christ comes to make His people perfect.

Until that time we must walk in the light to the best of our knowledge and ability.

Confession to God leads to us not engaging in sin again: through our Advocate Jesus Christ, we do not need to confess our past sins over and over

continually.

“Walking in the Light”

We have the best “Advocate,” Defender, or Lawyer –

Jesus Christ who is

Faithful and True to His Word!

 

“Walking in the Light” I John 2: 8-11: “Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.”

9  He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (NKJV)

“Walking in the Light” Love is the Key! We have a divine mandate to walk in the light, and this involves much more than simply avoiding sin. It involves truly loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.

If we ever hope to find true holiness, we must resolve our differences and put others ahead of ourselves.

“Walking in the Light”True Holiness

and Sanctified Living:

involves living in love, and that means we must love our

brothers and sisters in Christ, and Resolve Our conflicts!

“Walking in the Light”Sanctified Living requires Walking in the Light:

In Summary:

1. Walking implies a continuing experience We must walk in the Light / not to the Light

2. Walking in the Light requires more than just avoiding sin: We must love, help, and put others before ourselves.

3. To walk in the light, we must…

“Walking in the Light”Flip On the Switch of God’s Word

in our Lives and…

“Walking in the Light”Receive the great Gift of God to Us – Jesus Christ: Who flipped the light

switch “on” in our lives so that We can Walk in the Light of Holiness Through His

Love!