"... was blind, but now I see."

The Lie of Ethical Apostasy

(1 John 1:6, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 24, 2016)

[6] If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Koinonia reviewed

This word (see etymology back from “fellowship” to “partner” to “common” to “with”) is barely used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX), and was only tasted by prophets and worshipers prior to the incarnation of the Son of God. It comes to life in the New Testament community and appears about twenty times, with this rich theology:

1. Through Christ, it is possible for humans to have a real koinonia with God including all three persons of the Godhead (1 John 1:3, 1 Cor. 1:9, 2 Cor. 13:14).
2. This fellowship with God results in a deeper fellowship with others who share in this koinonia with God, His message, and His mission in the world (1 John 1:3, Phil 1:5).
3. This church connection with God and His people of faith is reflected in a sacramental koinonia that we experience at the Lord's table (1 Cor. 10:16).
4. That sacramental communion is to shine forth in a living and giving togetherness that is an essential part of what the church did from the beginning (Acts 2:42).
5. All of this rich theology and Christian experience leads us to view even our sufferings in a very new and powerful way because of our fellowship with Jesus and His church (Phil. 3:10, Phil 2:5-11).

“If we say...” It is not enough to be able to say that we have this koinonia. There needs to be plain evidence in our life that we are walking with the God who “is light” in whom is “no darkness at all.” The light that is the true light of God is not just ceremonial. It is a moral light. If we say that we are walking with the God who is light, then we must love the light, and we cannot walk in darkness.

What does it mean to walk in darkness?

If the whole direction of our life is moving toward what God hates, how can we claim that we are followers of Jesus? But there is hope for people who will receive the powerful grace of God, turn around toward Him, and walk in the light of His Word. (1 John 2:4-5)

In trying to understand John's point in today's verse we need to remember that he states his purpose for writing plainly in 2:1. “I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.” He knows that we will have struggles and moral failures, but the clarity of this verse will help us to be honest in the fight against our sin, and that honesty can be a very powerful weapon. (2:12-13)

Steps of sin are lies for the one who claims koinonia with the sinless Jesus and His church. When we yield to temptation over and over again we lie over and over again and we become morally weak. We need to be clear that we are talking here about real sin according to God's Word and not about false guilt which is often based more on what someone else might think of me. False guilt is not our friend. A true recognition of sin is. But if we ignore the entreaties of a good friend and continue to walk in darkness, after awhile we may not be able to see the friend's face or to hear his voice. We are walking in one direction and he is walking in another. Both of us have destinations, but they are not the same. One road leads to the fullness of grace, the other leads to ethical apostasy. The word “apostasy” has to do with a defection or a revolt from something that a person once claimed to be true. We most frequently think about it in terms of our beliefs, but it can also be ethical. “Walking in darkness” is equivalent to the willful rejection of God's commandments. When entire churches begin to reject the clear moral teachings of the Lord, we have full-blown ethical apostasy. Then instead of two individuals that no longer can see eye to eye, we could instead have whole denominations that are moving toward different destinations. If a church willfully claims the right to reject the beliefs or the ethical practices of the Scriptures, that body is no longer in koinonia with the truth of Jesus. That should be obvious.

Before we get insensitive or just plain annoying about this, we need to distinguish between “walking in darkness” and struggling with remaining sin. Walking in darkness is also different from the horrors of ongoing addiction. But where we love sin, rejoice in sin, and despite every warning inside and outside of us, continue making progress toward perfect sin, we are most definitely walking in darkness, and heading toward a very dangerous destination. Then we have to ask ourselves, “Is this really wise? Could it be that I am going in the wrong direction?”

None of us are claiming sinlessness, least of all the apostle John. Saying we have no sin is a lie. More on that another day. But neither are we asserting a right to cling to sin and to become more and more sinful. Remember John's purpose in writing these things: “that you may not sin.” His clarity regarding these matters here and in other places is powerful. His goal is not self-accusation followed by self-condemnation, nor is it the accusation and condemnation of others. Only that we “may not sin.” Would that not be good for all of us? Wouldn't it be great for us to make good progress in grace?

Why is it inconsistent to walk in darkness and to have koinonia with God?

If God is perfect light, including moral holiness, of course he cannot have fellowship with sin. But then what kind of God would think it would be OK to get closer to Him and to ignore what He says more and more? What kind of Lord would say it was OK to have fellowship with Him and also have more and more signs that our life is largely consistent with the deeds of the flesh rather than with the fruit of the Spirit? (Galatians 6 – These helpful lists give us some specifics to consider.) And what kind of divine Friend would let us keep on walking on the same dangerous road without saying a thing about it until we were so far away from Him that we could not even hear His voice? Do we really want a God who thinks that progress in sin is fine?

The dangerous lie of ethical apostasy

Hardened and deliberate ethical apostasy is inconsistent with true Christian spirituality. Lord have mercy on us if we are stuck in this mess. May God help us to see His glory again today and to walk in the light. But how can we do that?

Consider the illustration of a movie that you love. You remember not only the words but the way that they are said. You walk in that movie by continually watching it and even thinking about it. Somewhere at the core of our life we need to have the Jesus of the gospel there, the Jesus who healed the man that was born blind. (John 9)

The Pharisees who were against Jesus healing on the Sabbath were convinced that Jesus was a sinner (John 9:24), but they were quite wrong. He came into this world that “those who do not see may see.” (John 9:39), We need to see. We need to yield to His way of life. We need to acknowledge even our worst moments of sin as sad and foolish missteps away from a general path of following the Lord, and then we need to get back on the path of the grace of the God who is perfect light.

Old Testament Reading—Numbers 12:1-16 – Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

Gospel Reading—Luke 4:1-13 – Temptation of Jesus