Ep. 26 - Sermon - 1 John 1:5-2:2 "Living in the Light"

How could you understand or explain something you have never seen, heard, tasted, touched, or experienced in any way? If you had never seen the sky, how would you conceptualize it? If you had never seen color, how would you describe it? If you never felt something soft or rough, how would you tell the difference? This is our experience of God and the reality of our existence and world. Without the "light" of God's Spirit enlightening our understanding and experience of reality, we can't understand the truth about anything, including who he is and who we are. How does this concept affect the way we treat unbelievers and talk to them? How does this concept affect the way we view ourselves? How does this help us see why Jesus' makes clear that those who have been enlightened by the gospel will willingly give up their previous life and follow him even to death? Join us on this philosophical and spiritual journey with God's Word and one another. This sermon was first delivered on April 14, 2024 by Pastor Titus Buelow at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Helenville, WI. Our sermon text: 1 John 1:5-2:2 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. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.