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. -1 John 1:7 NLT
This is such an important - and often misunderstood - verse.
So many people take "living in the light" (sometimes translated "walking in the light") to mean sinless perfection.
Which is impossible for us.
Which makes this and the surrounding verses terrifying.
It used to make me think:
"If I have to be perfectly sinless after my salvation then obviously I can't be saved!"
Then I learned the Greek word translated as live or walk in this verse is peripateō.
That word means to walk around as a style of life
I love the way one man explained it:
"Growing up, my father was a large man with a long stride. Every morning he would wake me up before dawn and lead me out to the barn to milk the cows. When the snow was cold and deep, I would do my best to walk in his foot steps. If you were to watch me you would see a child, falling down, tripping, missing, but getting back up and earnestly following after his father." (Paraphrased)
That's the picture I see in this verse. I am a child, trying my imperfect best to walk in my father's footprints.
Here's a wonderful side point.
What decent father would get to the barn and leave his child to struggle helplessly in the snow?
None.
A good father knows when the snow is too deep. A good father will go back for his child and if necessary, carry him to safety.
God is not a good Father, he is a great Father.
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