The Proclaimer

Love Reciprocated

John writes, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).  Throughout the Bible we see light and darkness used metaphorically in several senses.  Sometimes light symbolizes truth while darkness symbolizes ignorance or error (see Prov. 6:23; Psa. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19, etc.).  Other times light symbolizes purity or righteousness while darkness represents evil (see Eph. 5:8-14; Rom. 13:11-14, etc.)  Certainly we recognize that light enables us to see.  But the effect of light is not just to make people see, but to enable them to walk. 

The benefit of light is right conduct, not just clear vision. We are not just to know the truth, we are to do it.  We are not only to see the light, but to walk in it.  “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).  This passage shows our salvation dependent upon fellowship with God, and our fellowship with God conditioned upon our walking in the light.  James puts it this way, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 2:22). 

And so, the word “light” is used to metaphorically represent the divine attribute of God’s holiness.   In fact, the holiness of God is absolute, for “in Him is no darkness at all.”  God simply cannot tolerate that which is evil or unholy.  For this reason, the sin that we commit separates us from God.  “The soul that sins, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:20), such spiritual death being separation from God.  Since “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), all have been separated from God by their sin. 

But John not only says, “God is light,” he also says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).  While God’s holiness will not allow Him to love or condone the sin man commits, God does love man.  “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).  You see, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).  Eternal life is a gift because “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).  Man did not deserve this gift. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).   Only in Christ are we “light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8).  Only in Christ do we receive God’s love.

But God’s love must be reciprocated. John clearly identifies the way that we exhibit and demonstrate our love for God, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).  This is really a reiteration of what Jesus taught, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Such a command must sound strange to the ears of those that have left obedience out of the equation of salvation.  There are many, perhaps, that look upon the commandments of God as burdensome.  But however you view God’s commands, you view God Himself.  God has not given His law to make our lives miserable and more difficult.  To the contrary, God’s law is given for our benefit.  Paul writes, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8).  To profess love for God but to fail to obey his commands is nonsense.

                                                               -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer