Going To God With Our Sin
When I do mess up, through my obedience and my repentance, I find God’s grace, His light.
1 John 1:5-10 (NLT)
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
Reflection
My husband and I recently installed a small water feature in our front yard, a fountain with four small waterfalls that cascade down into little pools. The sound of the water falling into the pools is so relaxing and soothing. But the fountain also has another feature – LED lights that emanate up from the pools. I really didn’t see the point of the lights until the first time my husband turned on the fountain after dark. Oh, those lights! The fountain seemed to come to life with the addition of the lights glowing up from each little pool of water. The lights make the fountain seem complete, perfect.
As Christians, God is our light. There is no darkness in Him. In His light, we can experience love, grace, hope, knowledge, wisdom, and the revelations He has for us. The light of God stands in direct contrast to the evil, lies, deceit, and despair found in the darkness of sin. But God’s holy light can break through into the hidden, dark corners of our hearts and illuminate us so that we can escape the darkness that is sin.
Sometimes a simple formula can help me remember things like this:
Sin + Repentance = Light
Sin – Repentance = Darkness
Notice how both formulas start with sin? Sin is inescapable. Sin is in our nature. And you simply cannot be in right standing with God if you live a life of habitual sin.
Sin isn’t simply doing something I know is wrong. It is more than that. Sin is not listening to God and not doing as He commands. That is the equivalent to walking in darkness.
Walking in the light doesn’t mean I live a perfect, sinless life. It means I am striving to seek after God and make life decisions based on God’s will, not my own. When I do mess up, through my obedience and my repentance, I find God’s grace, His light. As Christians, we will sin. But when we acknowledge and ask forgiveness of our sin, we will continue to walk in the blessed light of Jesus.
Walking in the light of God means walking in obedience to Him. There is no better way to receive God’s blessings, as obedience and blessings go hand in hand.
Action Steps
1. Sin + Repentance = Light Sin – Repentance = Darkness
Write down these two formulas, or better yet, come up with two that you can relate to. Carry them with you as a reminder of the importance of God’s light.
2. Read John 12:46. Then find 3 other verses that talk about the perfect light of Jesus.
Prayer
Lord God, help me to trust that You know me better than I know myself. Thank You for exposing whatever darkness there is in me and leading me away from it and towards the perfect light of Your love and grace. Amen.
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
Reflection
My husband and I recently installed a small water feature in our front yard, a fountain with four small waterfalls that cascade down into little pools. The sound of the water falling into the pools is so relaxing and soothing. But the fountain also has another feature – LED lights that emanate up from the pools. I really didn’t see the point of the lights until the first time my husband turned on the fountain after dark. Oh, those lights! The fountain seemed to come to life with the addition of the lights glowing up from each little pool of water. The lights make the fountain seem complete, perfect.
As Christians, God is our light. There is no darkness in Him. In His light, we can experience love, grace, hope, knowledge, wisdom, and the revelations He has for us. The light of God stands in direct contrast to the evil, lies, deceit, and despair found in the darkness of sin. But God’s holy light can break through into the hidden, dark corners of our hearts and illuminate us so that we can escape the darkness that is sin.
Sometimes a simple formula can help me remember things like this:
Sin + Repentance = Light
Sin – Repentance = Darkness
Notice how both formulas start with sin? Sin is inescapable. Sin is in our nature. And you simply cannot be in right standing with God if you live a life of habitual sin.
Sin isn’t simply doing something I know is wrong. It is more than that. Sin is not listening to God and not doing as He commands. That is the equivalent to walking in darkness.
Walking in the light doesn’t mean I live a perfect, sinless life. It means I am striving to seek after God and make life decisions based on God’s will, not my own. When I do mess up, through my obedience and my repentance, I find God’s grace, His light. As Christians, we will sin. But when we acknowledge and ask forgiveness of our sin, we will continue to walk in the blessed light of Jesus.
Walking in the light of God means walking in obedience to Him. There is no better way to receive God’s blessings, as obedience and blessings go hand in hand.
Action Steps
1. Sin + Repentance = Light Sin – Repentance = Darkness
Write down these two formulas, or better yet, come up with two that you can relate to. Carry them with you as a reminder of the importance of God’s light.
2. Read John 12:46. Then find 3 other verses that talk about the perfect light of Jesus.
Prayer
Lord God, help me to trust that You know me better than I know myself. Thank You for exposing whatever darkness there is in me and leading me away from it and towards the perfect light of Your love and grace. Amen.
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Don’t Stop Short of JesusThe Cross Is God’s Invitation to YouRemembering the OwnerThe OwnerThe Illusion of Self-Made SuccessActs 26:12–23 | Paul’s Encounter with JesusActs 26: 1–11 | Agrippa Grants PermissionInvited From The OutsideSurrender Creates PeaceWhen Blessing Becomes ForgetfulnessWhat A Pastor Means When They Say... | The Branch Living as Stewards, Not OwnersCreated for RelationshipThe Heart Behind the GiftSurrender GainsThe StewardFaithful StewardsOne Percent BetterEverything Belongs to GodThe Evaluation Is ComingActs 26:24-32 | Agrippa Parries Paul's ChallengeRedefining Success | The Branch The EvaluationHow You View God Determines EverythingThe Economy of Kingdom InvestmentChoose Your Category WiselyAnchored in Steadfast LoveActs 27:1-3 | Paul Sails for RomeDiscerning Between Good And Evil | The BranchLoved Enough to Be DisciplinedThe Steadfast Love of GodReturning to God’s WayCrying Out from the DepthsLiving with Wise Awareness
February
Partnering with God’s MissionBuilding Kingdom FruitTHE GIVER | PASTOR ANTHONY LOMBARDIWorship Through SacrificeNavigating God's Calling Within MarriageTrusting God’s ProvisionActs 27: 13-20 | The Storm at Sea | TCBSActs 27: 4-12 | From Caesarea to Fair HavensFrom Self-Focus to Kingdom-FocusFrom Death to LifeThe Answer Is a PersonEmpowered for MissionActs 27:21–26 | TCBSTHE CHURCH | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONDesigned for CommunityAnger, Justice and Psalms of Judgment | The BranchHeaven Invading EarthBetter Together PURPOSED RELATIONSHIPS | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONLifted When You FallWarmth in the ColdProtected by the CordWhen to Wait, When to Work | The BranchOne Body, One MissionWhere Your Treasure IsThe Antidote to AnxietyINVEST HEARTS AND FINANCES | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONReturn to MeActs 27: 39-44 | The Shipwreck | TCBSTreasures That LastThe Heaps of Hezekiah
March
The Good News We Cannot Keep Silent EVANGELISM | PASTOR MARY JOHNSONEncountering Jesus Changes EverythingLove Compels Us to ShareActs 28:1-6 | Paul Ashore on Malta | TCBSPlaced with PurposeYour Story, His GloryThe Upside-Down KingdomEvangelism | The BranchThe Death of the Kingdom of SelfActs 28: 7-10 | Ministry in Malta | TCBSServing as Worship THE DETHRONING OF SELF | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONNo Excuses, Only ObedienceThe Privilege of PartnershipDenying Self to Find LifeTHE STRENGTH OF SURRENDER | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONListening to the Spirit's VoiceThe Authority of God's WordActs 28: 11-16 | Paul's Arrival at Rome | TCBSSubmitting to One Another in LoveHonoring God-Ordained AuthorityThe Immigration Debate Christians Can't Avoid | The BranchCounting the Cost of SurrenderBuried with ChristBAPTISM | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONActs 28:17-22 | Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard | TCBSRaised to New LifeBaptized into One BodyFilled with the Holy SpiritThe Power of TogetherPersonal Devotion and the Power of GatheringJesus’ Secret to Strength
No Comments