1 John 1-5

Today’s Bible study took us deep into 1 John chapters 1 through 5, and wow, there was so much revelation and real talk. If you missed it or just want to reflect further, here’s a breakdown of the conversation, the lessons, and how we can apply them to our everyday lives.

God is Light. Darkness is Ignorance.

One of the biggest truths we landed on today is that when 1 John talks about "light" and "darkness," it's more than just poetic language. In the Greek, "light" (phōs) points to knowledge, truth, and divine understanding. "Darkness" (skotia) speaks of ignorance and separation from God's truth. So when we walk in the light, we're walking in truth, awareness, understanding, and alignment with God's ways.

And here's the key: it's a choice. We choose whether we walk in light (knowledge) or darkness (ignorance).

Stay close to the Light.

We talked about how the closer you get to light in real life, like shining a flashlight into a dark space the more visible and clear everything becomes. The same goes with our relationship with God, the closer we draw to Him, the more clarity we receive, the more of His truth fills us, and the less room darkness (ignorance, sin, confusion) has in our lives.

Flee from darkness. There is no room for it if we're truly walking with Jesus.

Real Salvation = Real Change.

We also dove into the difference between repeating a prayer and actually repenting. Salvation isn’t just about words. It’s about heart posture. It's about a sincere, true turning away from sin. If salvation is real, then change should follow. The Word of God says if He abides in us, we shouldn't continue living in sin.

Yes, we all sin. But there's a difference between committing sin and practicing sin.

Jesus died for our sins, the ones we commit. But if we're practicing sin, living in it without conviction or repentance, then 1 John says we're walking in darkness. That means we don't truly know Him. Because if we really knew Him, our hearts would not be okay with staying in that place.

So this is a call to true repentance, a true, humble, broken turning toward Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Stop Holy Shaming.

One powerful reminder we shared today was this, Don’t holy shame people. Just because someone is new in their walk with Christ, or their relationship with Him looks different than yours, doesn’t mean they’re less. If they are walking in righteousness and seeking Him sincerely, then the Word says they are called righteous.

Let us reflect God's love in how we speak, treat, and walk with each other. Correct in love, not pride. Lead by example, not shame. We're all growing.

Test the Spirit. Stay Grounded.

In 1 John 4, we were reminded not to believe everything we hear. Not every teaching, trend, or spiritual vibe is from God. Test it. Check if it lines up with the truth of Jesus Christ.

God is love, yes! But not the watered-down version. His love is powerful, holy, and rooted in truth. Real love starts with Him. If we say we love Him, we must also love others. And if we hate others, 1 John makes it clear: the love of God is not in us.

Ask Yourself the Real Question:

If you keep stumbling, ask, Am I walking in the light (knowledge)? Or Am I walking in darkness (ignorance)?

It’s a hard truth, but it’s in the Word. We can’t say we know Him and not walk like Him. Let’s stop being spiritually ignorant and start being obedient.

Walk in love. Walk in truth. Walk in the light.

Let this be a reminder to stay rooted in the Word, to love boldly, and to walk closely with God. The closer you are to Him, the more clearly you’ll see.