1)
That which was from the beginning, which we
have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and
our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2)
(For the life was manifested, and we have
seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that
eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4)
And these things write we
unto you, that your joy may be full.
5)
This then is the message which we have heard
of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at
all.
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we say to ourselves and preach to others that we now have “The
Light”—Jesus—down in our sanctified souls, would we dare to walk in the
darkness of sin? If we do, then we are mere professors and possessors of “The
Light.”
Many people, priests, pastors,
ministers, elders, bishops and reverends—sad to say—mirror the example of
professors of “The Light” and find themselves struggling to keep the standard
of holiness.
According to the Word, those in this category have adopted a form of godliness
but deny the very power that enables man to go and “sin no more.”
This
power can only come when one is willing to accept the “Light-Giver” into their
spirit. When Jesus comes to abide “on the inside,” the believer will bear
witness of this fact by speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the
utterance.
Once
Jesus is allowed to enter into the natural man via the Holy Ghost, the natural
man immediately becomes a spiritual being. He can then be directed by The
Spirit which will immediately relay to him the necessity of being baptized in
the name of Jesus. All that one can know, is willing to know, and receive, will
be at his disposal because “The Light” is now there to reveal and illuminate
all things we once thought to be impossible and contradictory.
Because
walking in “The Light” brings revelation we are now able to distinguish,
according to the Word, between what is true and untrue. As we walk in “The
Light” we will consistently be able to say “no” to any suggestion the flesh or
the devil may bring to bind us to attitudes, habits and vices which are designed
to take our lives and our souls.
The
scriptures tell us not to fear those things which can destroy the body but fear
(or, become keenly aware of) those things which will destroy both the body and
soul. And, as we know, sin destroys both. Sin is a disease that is highly
contagious and its effects are seen in those who dabble, wallow, or even mimic
it. Sin is nothing to “play” with.
Conversely,
the opposite is also true. If we elect to “Walk in the Light”
and are willing to know the truth, people will also mimic and then gravitate
to that Light; dabbling, and ultimately, wallowing in it. People will
run to follow us as we follow Christ. “The Light” which lighteth
everyone which comes into salvation, is ever so perfect and ever so refreshing.