Illumination

 

12/26/2020

1 John 1:7 “If we walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

I am so grateful for forgiveness. I am grateful when it is extended to me, and I am grateful that I am able to extend it to others, for forgiveness brings freedom and healing. Sometimes we forgive others that are never remorseful, because all that is created from a grudge is continued suffering on the part of the one who carries the resentment.

There is, however, no more transforming forgiveness than the one that we are able to seek only through the Atonement. This forgiveness, bought with the blood of our Savior, is extended to all people throughout all time, we only need to yield to Him and accept this gift freely to become truly free. It is only through the cross of Christ that we can be redeemed. Chambers writes this about the verse above: “This does not refer to conscious sin only, but to the tremendously profound understanding of sin which only the Holy Ghost in me realizes. 

This passage also speaks about walking in the light. 1 John 1:5-8 (NIV) “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out 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, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” How then, can we walk in the darkness if we are redeemed through the blood of Christ? I am a sinner who has been forgiven; because of this, I should always be seeking the light. Darkness will try to draw me in, but in the name of Jesus I must flee from it. I must always seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and be sensitive to God’s leading; He will never lead me into darkness, for He is light. Chambers writes, “To walk in the light means that everything that is of the darkness drives me closer into the center of the light.” I should never compromise with the darkness of this world no matter how unaffected I think I may be, for darkness breeds darkness. I also should never hide the light that comes from my Lord, for just one candle can vanquish the most profound darkness.