Walk In The Light, Run To Christ | 1 John 1:5 - 2:2
Welcome, dear friends! In today’s message, Pastor Abel Rivera takes us through a powerful passage from 1 John 1:5–2:2, urging us to walk in the light and run to Christ. This blog post is a plain English transcript of his sermon, crafted to be easily discoverable and digestible for seekers and believers alike.
The True Nature of God: Light Without Darkness
Pastor Abel opens his sermon by challenging a common cultural view: many people want a God who never judges, never confronts, and always approves. But the God of the Bible is not a passive figure who ignores our faults. As quoted from R.C. Sproul, the real terror is not that God is a judge, but that He is a good judge.
John’s message is clear:
“God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
This isn’t just poetic language—God’s light means He is utterly pure, holy, and the source of all truth. Where God’s light is present, darkness cannot exist. This fundamental aspect of God shapes everything about the Gospel.
What God’s Light Reveals
God’s light not only displays His holiness; it also exposes our sin. But Pastor Abel emphasizes the purpose is not to leave us condemned. Instead, as John writes, God’s light leads us to hope in Jesus. The main thrust of the sermon:
The light of God exposes our sin, but it also reveals the assurance we find in our Savior.
Three Profound Truths from John’s Letter
Pastor Abel outlines three key points drawn from 1 John 1:5–2:2:
1. The Nature of God (Verses 5–7)
John begins not with man, sin or the world, but with God Himself. To grasp the Gospel, we must first understand who God is. If we claim to have fellowship with God but walk in darkness, we deceive ourselves. Walking in the light results in fellowship and cleansing by the blood of Jesus.
“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.”
2. The Danger of Denial (Verses 8–10)
Addressing our tendency to deny or justify our sin, Pastor Abel highlights that denying our sin does not cleanse us—it deceives us. To claim we haven’t sinned is to call God a liar, rejecting both His truth and His provision through Jesus.
In our culture, it’s common to hear, “I’m not perfect, but at least…” or to blame others. John warns this mindset reveals spiritual blindness and potentially a lack of true conversion.
“Ongoing denial is a sign of spiritual death.”
But there is hope!
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
3. Assurance in Our Savior (Chapter 2:1–2)
Pastor Abel brings comfort and hope, reminding us:
Even believers struggle with sin.
John calls us “little children,” assuring us we are still part of God’s family.
If we sin, we have an Advocate—Jesus Christ the Righteous.
Jesus doesn’t ignore or excuse our sin; He presents His righteousness and His blood as complete payment. He is the propitiation—He absorbed the full wrath our sins deserve, finishing the work on the cross. This grace is offered across all borders and backgrounds.
When you fail, don’t run and hide—run to Christ. He forgives and defends you and has never lost a case.
Final Thoughts & Invitation
As Pastor Abel concludes, he urges:
Don’t ignore your sin.
Confess and turn to Christ, our Advocate and the Light.
Grace calls for repentance—come to Jesus with humility and faith.
“Jesus fully saves all who surrender to Him.”
If you don’t know Christ yet, come to Him. He will not turn you away if you come in repentance and faith.
Let’s Pray
“Lord, thank you for your light, for revealing our sin and offering grace through Christ. Help us walk in the light—not denying our needs, but always running to Jesus, our faithful and righteous Advocate. Amen.”