Introduction

1.          Every form of life has its enemies.

2.         The real enemy of our Christian life is sin.

a.          John mentioned 9 times about sin in the passage we read (1:7, 8, 9, 10; 2:1, 2)

b.         He illustrates his theme by using the contrast between light and darkness.

c.          There is also another contrast here: between saying and doing.

3.         The New Testament calls the Christian life a “walk.”

a.          This “walk” begins when we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour.

b.         “Walking” involves progress.  Christians are supposed to progress or grow in the spiritual life.  The problem involved here is sin.

(1)        Sin is not simply outward disobedience.

(2)        It is also inward rebellion or desire of the things of the world (2:16).  John says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 Jn 2:16).

(3)        Sin is transgression of the Law (3:4).

(4)        John explains: “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all (1:5).  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1:6).

4.         Christians do commit sin.

a.          Abraham

b.         Moses

c.          Peter

d.         Christians do sin. 

I.      We  can  try  to  cover  our  sins

1.          God is light

“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 Jn 1:5).

a.          When we were saved, the Bible says that we are called out of darkness into His light (1 Pet 2:9).

b.         Paul said that we are children of light (1 Thess 5:5).

2.         How do Christians try to cover up their sins?

a.          By telling lies!

 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 Jn 1:6).

b.         We lie to ourselves.

            1 John 1:8 deals with this problem.  “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

David is the classic example (2 Sam 11; 12).

c.          The next step is trying to lie to God (1 Jn 1:10).

(1)        We think it is alright.  In so doing, we make God a liar.

            1 John 1:10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

(2)        God says, “all have sinned.”

(a)        It is not alright.

(b)        We maintain that we are exceptional. 

“We have not sinned” (1:10).

(3)        We apply God’s Word to others, but not to ourselves.

(a)        We sit through the Worship Service and are not touched by the messages.

(b)        Believers who have reached this low level, are usually very critical of other Christians, but they resist applying God’s Word to their own lives.

(c)        They can see the fault of others, but not of themselves.

3.         The consequences of covering sins

            What happens to the one who covers up or tries to? 

a.          He will forfeit God’s blessing in his life.

            “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper…” (Pro 28:13).

b.         Physical illness may be another result of covering up.

(1)        David testified in Psalm 32:3, 4.

            He says, “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long (v.3).  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer” (v.4).

(2)        David was probably about 55 years old at this time.

(3)        He began to feel and look like a sick old man.

c.          A day of judgment is coming.

(1)        God will judge all sins that have been covered up; all sins that are hidden will be revealed (Rev 20; 1 Cor 3:13–15).

            Jesus said, “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed… whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light” (Lk 12:2, 3).

(2)        If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9).

(3)        But unbelievers who attempt to cover their sins have no such promise.

c.          The one who covers his sin loses his character (1 Jn 2:4). 

II. We  can  Confess  Our  Sins

David did it.

1.          He was a man of God.

a.          In his weakness, he had committed sin.

b.         Guilt caught up with him and he was so troubled.

(1)        Psalm 51 records the confession of his sin.

(2)        In Psalm 51:3, he said, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”

2.         In his prayer, he made his confession of sin and asked for cleansing and forgiveness (Ps 51:1, 2).

a.          He honestly says, “I am guilty, and 1 need forgiveness.”

b.         He asked for personal cleansing.

            First he admitted his sin, and now he prayed for pardon.

            Psalms 51:7, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

c.          He prayed for restoration

            In Psalm 51:12, David asked God, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation….”

d.         He dedicated himself to the service of God.

            In Psalm 51:13–15, David told God.

            “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee (v.13).  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness (v.14).  O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise” (v.15). 

III.    We  Can  Conquer  Our  Sins

John makes it clear that Christians do not have to sin.

“These things write I unto you, that ye sin not” (1 Jn 2:1).

What is the secret of victory over sin?

The secret is found in 1:7.

“Walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.”

1.          To “walk in the light” means to be open, honest and to be sincere.

2.         “Walking in the light” also means “obeying God’s Word” (1 Jn 2:3, 4).

3.         To “walk in the light” involves following the example of Christ.

            We are to “walk, even as he walked” (1 Jn 2:6b).

*                  Are you living a defeated life?

*                  Have you lost the joy of salvation?

*                  Ask God for cleansing, forgiveness and restoration, as David did.

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