S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

To "walk in the light" is a common metaphor within Christian culture. It is often taken to mean "acting correctly" or even "living openly." Biblically, however, the phrase has the idea of relinquis...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Al Mark Supporter

"Walking in the light" comes from 1 John 1:5-10. Here, John starts off with an explanation of the nature of God, and proceeds from there to how we can have fellowship with Jesus and with fellow believers.

In order to guard against false doctrine, John presents what is the truth about the nature of God. There are other descriptions about the nature of God which are easier to understand, such as God is spirit (meaning God is immaterial in form) and God is love (meaning that the persons of the Trinity love one another and mankind), but God is light is harder to understand.

In the Old Testament, God appeared to the Israelites in the form of light.
The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (Ex 13:21-22)
Coming down from the mountain after meeting with God, Moses’ face shone with the reflection of God’s light: When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. (Ex 34:29-30)
At the transfiguration, Jesus gave the three apostles a glimpse of his full glory: “There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. “ (Matt 17:2)
What is the divine light?
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalms 36:9)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

In the Psalm, light and life are equated. God is light in the sense that he is life, and he is the source and sustainer of physical and spiritual life.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12)

Light represents the truth of God, embodied in his Word – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psa 119:105)
Light is also linked with virtue and moral conduct – "You were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth)" (Eph 5:8-9)
These two qualities of divine light will distinguish genuine faith from fake – one who professes to possess the Light and to live in it will show evidence of it by devotion to the truth and to righteousness.
If truth and righteousness are absent from one’s life, that person does not possess eternal life, because a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit (Matt 7:17-18).

Walk is a term used in the New Testament to describe the effect of sanctification. Salvation is a change in legal status to denote divine righteousness credited to one’s account. It is also a change in behavior as the Spirit indwells believers and enables them to live righteously. This is the walking in the Light, just as God himself is in the Light – day-to-day actions and attitudes will be godlike. People who practice this will experience fellowship with one another. For them, the blood of Jesus cleanses them from all sin. It doesn’t mean they will no longer struggle with sin, but that sin can never change a believer’s standing before God.

May 12 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft Supporter 74 year old retired pipeline worker

Walking in the light is the choice of the believer who does not want to be chastened by the Lord. 

We all make choices everyday. Some good and some not so good. 

Our rewards in heaven depend on those choices. First Corinthians 3:11-15. 

The first choice we make for salvation is to believe on Jesus for the free gift of eternal life. John 3:16-18. After that we make our our own choices either good or bad. 

But none of us make all the right decisions all the time. First John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the TRUTH is not in us. We cannot even keep the first commandment for a day. Let alone for a week. We all make mistakes. God calls that sin. No one is perfect in the flesh, only in the Spirit. 

Ephesians 1:13-14. Our sin debt is paid in full so we can never be condemned again when we believe the gospel. First Corinthians 2:13 We have been forgiven all trespasses. John 3:18.

But we still reap what we sow here on earth and in heaven. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. We all die because of sin. That is the bad news.

Jesus paid our sin debt in full so we can never be condemned to hell again. John 3:18. John 6:40, John 6:47. Acts 16:31

January 24 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What does it mean to walk in the light?

Walking in the light is a biblical metaphor representing a lifestyle of honesty, righteousness, and intimate fellowship with God, rather than hiding sin or living in darkness. It implies following Jesus—the "light of the world"—by obeying God's Word, practising humility, and walking in love toward others, allowing His truth to convict and cleanse.

Some aspects of "walking in the light" include:

Honesty and Transparency: It is not about being perfect, but about being open and truthful, not hiding from God or pretending to be without sin.

Following Jesus: Walking in the light is directly related to following Jesus, as described in John 8:12, which contrasts with walking in darkness.

Submission to God's Word: Using the Bible (the "lamp to my feet") to guide life's choices and to reveal what brings joy or offence to God.

Confession and Cleansing: It involves regularly confessing sin, which leads to receiving forgiveness and ongoing purification from Jesus.

Love and Unity: Walking in the light is inherently social; it results in genuine, loving fellowship with other believers and is evidenced by love for one's neighbour. 

Practically, this means allowing the light of God to reveal hidden faults, such as pride or ego, and choosing to walk in truth rather than hiding in spiritual darkness. 

John 8:12 ESV: "Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."

When Jesus spoke those words, he may have alluded to the lighting of Jerusalem with lamps and torches in the temple area during the festival.

At night during the festival, this area of the temple is specially illuminated. Four giant lampstands are there, each with four large basins filled with oil. The light from these lamps is strong enough to illuminate the surroundings to a great distance. 

Long before Jesus' birth on earth, the prophet Isaiah foretold: "The people that were walking in the darkness have seen a great light. As for those dwelling in the land of deep shadow, light itself has shone upon them." (Isa. 9:2) The apostle Matthew explained that Jesus fulfilled that prophecy when He commenced preaching.

In what ways and for what purpose, then, did Jesus serve as the light of the world? He devoted himself to preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 4:43; John 18:37) 

Jesus' ministry brought to the people spiritual enlightenment and freedom from enslavement to false religious teachings.

Jesus began removing the veil of darkness from humanity shortly after his baptism. Matthew 4:12-16 tells us that this fulfilled Isaiah 9:1-2, which spoke of the "great light" that would begin to shine on those walking in spiritual darkness. 

Outstandingly, he proved to be the light of the world by laying down his perfect human life as a ransom, thus opening the way for those who exercise faith in this provision to have forgiveness of sins, an approved relationship with God, and the prospect of eternal life.

Conclusion:

Zebulun and Naphtali lay in the northern extremity of Israel and included the district of Galilee. Naphtali bordered the entire western shore of the Sea of Galilee. So it was by preaching the good news of God's Kingdom in those areas that Jesus, along with his disciples, caused the light to shine on the people there who had so long been sitting in darkness. Which fulfilled the words of Isaiah 9:1, 2.

9 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report