Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
life and light. this chapter actually sent me rabbit trailing. john speaks of “the light” and it made me wonder what “the light” actually is. so i searched out the uses of the term “the light” throughout the bible and mostly it is used of natural light. no surprise there.
but what i did find interesting is that john, in his gospel, records jesus speaking of himself as the light. “which coming into the world enlightens every man.” remember? we just studied that 🙂 so it is obvious that john feels that way about it.
but jesus spoke of US as also being the light of the world in matthew 5:14 “YOU are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden;”
i think i found the answer i was looking for in john 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”
which is what john speaks of here. the intimate tying of life and light. so, it would seem, that “walking in the light” is the same as “walking in the life”. the life that was in jesus.
life and light. this chapter actually sent me rabbit trailing. john speaks of “the light” and it made me wonder what “the light” actually is. so i searched out the uses of the term “the light” throughout the bible and mostly it is used of natural light. no surprise there.
but what i did find interesting is that john, in his gospel, records jesus speaking of himself as the light. “which coming into the world enlightens every man.” remember? we just studied that 🙂 so it is obvious that john feels that way about it.
but jesus spoke of US as also being the light of the world in matthew 5:14 “YOU are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden;”
i think i found the answer i was looking for in john 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”
which is what john speaks of here. the intimate tying of life and light. so, it would seem, that “walking in the light” is the same as “walking in the life”. the life that was in jesus.
The life meaning the everlasting life … the life that breathed the clay form of man to his feet.
I am the way the truth and the life.
The life.
This is interesting…
Leviticus 17:11
‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’
Just throwing some things out there that Jon has brought to mind … haven’t read the chapter yet but I will and will be back 🙂
🙂
The life meaning the everlasting life … the life that breathed the clay form of man to his feet.
I am the way the truth and the life.
The life.
This is interesting…
Leviticus 17:11
‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’
Just throwing some things out there that Jon has brought to mind … haven’t read the chapter yet but I will and will be back 🙂
🙂
Yes the connection between life and light is very interesting. The Message has an interesting take on John 1:4-5 “What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.”
Also v.9 “The Life-Light was the real thing; Every person entering Life he brings into Light.”
I think we are the light of the world because of his Life in us.
And Life is more than everlasting life although it is that too. I think of it as spiritual life.
Looking forward to hearing more from you Valorosa.
Yes the connection between life and light is very interesting. The Message has an interesting take on John 1:4-5 “What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.”
Also v.9 “The Life-Light was the real thing; Every person entering Life he brings into Light.”
I think we are the light of the world because of his Life in us.
And Life is more than everlasting life although it is that too. I think of it as spiritual life.
Looking forward to hearing more from you Valorosa.
In the Old Testament God made provision for sins committed unintentionally and even for sins committed in ignorance (Ezekiel 45:20). Since by his death, Jesus replaced the sacrificial system, Jesus covers the sins we commit unintentionally or in ignorance. I think we see this happening v. 7. It is as we live the way God intends that the blood of Jesus is purifying us from all sin. I heard someone refer to it as up to the minute forgiveness. We don’t need to keep mental lists of our sins, our wonder if we have forgotten to confess something because it is as we seek to follow God’s ways he is automatically covering our sins
In the Old Testament God made provision for sins committed unintentionally and even for sins committed in ignorance (Ezekiel 45:20). Since by his death, Jesus replaced the sacrificial system, Jesus covers the sins we commit unintentionally or in ignorance. I think we see this happening v. 7. It is as we live the way God intends that the blood of Jesus is purifying us from all sin. I heard someone refer to it as up to the minute forgiveness. We don’t need to keep mental lists of our sins, our wonder if we have forgotten to confess something because it is as we seek to follow God’s ways he is automatically covering our sins
v.1-2 … this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared … and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
“The life appeared …” certainty no ordinary life – eternal life, spiritual life, abundant life, Life-Light, and it is ours when we accept Jesus. How wonderful!
v.1-2 … this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared … and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
“The life appeared …” certainty no ordinary life – eternal life, spiritual life, abundant life, Life-Light, and it is ours when we accept Jesus. How wonderful!
Lots of emphasis on the fact that he had seen and touched and heard the Word of Life and he wanted to share so our joy would be made full. 🙂
There is no darkness in God.
I take this as nothing about God is hidden and yet we miss so much as our understanding is darkened.
1 Timothy 6:16
Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in ‘unapproachable’ light, whom no man has seen or can see
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Lots of emphasis on the fact that he had seen and touched and heard the Word of Life and he wanted to share so our joy would be made full. 🙂
There is no darkness in God.
I take this as nothing about God is hidden and yet we miss so much as our understanding is darkened.
1 Timothy 6:16
Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in ‘unapproachable’ light, whom no man has seen or can see
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
What do you think walking in the light means exactly?
What do you think walking in the light means exactly?
I think walking in the light is having a heart that wants to obey God. That is being committed to following Jesus, living in a way that is pleasing to God. It doesn’t mean being perfect and never sinning which is why the next verses talk about what to do when we are aware we have sinned.
I think walking in the light is having a heart that wants to obey God. That is being committed to following Jesus, living in a way that is pleasing to God. It doesn’t mean being perfect and never sinning which is why the next verses talk about what to do when we are aware we have sinned.
i’ll take a quote from you, v, just a bit ago to answer your question about walking in the light.
“There is no darkness in God.
I take this as nothing about God is hidden…”
now, this is just my opinion, but i think ONE aspect of “walking in the light” means there is nothing hidden about you. nothing secret. nothing underhanded. everything about who you are and what you do is laid bare for all to see.
“a city on a hill cannot be hidden. in the same way, let your light shine before men.”
i know this doesn’t encompass everything, but it was the first step for me in the journey of living a life “walking in the light.” and, i think john backs it up quite well so taht once nothing about us is hidden anymore, we need not fear for the things that are exposed. for he is faithful and just.
i’ll take a quote from you, v, just a bit ago to answer your question about walking in the light.
“There is no darkness in God.
I take this as nothing about God is hidden…”
now, this is just my opinion, but i think ONE aspect of “walking in the light” means there is nothing hidden about you. nothing secret. nothing underhanded. everything about who you are and what you do is laid bare for all to see.
“a city on a hill cannot be hidden. in the same way, let your light shine before men.”
i know this doesn’t encompass everything, but it was the first step for me in the journey of living a life “walking in the light.” and, i think john backs it up quite well so taht once nothing about us is hidden anymore, we need not fear for the things that are exposed. for he is faithful and just.
I think that is a good point Jon, however sometimes our own motives can surprise us. I know one time God allowed a set of circumstances to happen which revealed my true motives and I was shocked. Sometimes even in our attempts to be open and honest we don’t always know ourselves.
I think that is a good point Jon, however sometimes our own motives can surprise us. I know one time God allowed a set of circumstances to happen which revealed my true motives and I was shocked. Sometimes even in our attempts to be open and honest we don’t always know ourselves.
very true.
very true.
but that’s where the forgiveness comes in, i think. and why john links the two thoughts together. as we live to be honest and open, even when we don’t know ourselves, those circumstances that you speak of eventually lead us to the place where we do gain a greater understanding of our hearts and selves. which then allows us to confess and feel the lifting of the burden. so that our consceince can be clear as we live until the next such moment and on and on it goes. at least, that’s how it has been for me.
but that’s where the forgiveness comes in, i think. and why john links the two thoughts together. as we live to be honest and open, even when we don’t know ourselves, those circumstances that you speak of eventually lead us to the place where we do gain a greater understanding of our hearts and selves. which then allows us to confess and feel the lifting of the burden. so that our consceince can be clear as we live until the next such moment and on and on it goes. at least, that’s how it has been for me.
Yes that’s a good thought Jon
Yes that’s a good thought Jon
v.1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
John proclaimed what he heard, saw, and touched – Jesus. He wasn't making it up. He was an eye witness.
v.1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
John proclaimed what he heard, saw, and touched – Jesus. He wasn't making it up. He was an eye witness.