Θεός (Theos) is Light ~1 John 1:5
1 John 1:6 says, "If we say that we have fellowship (2842) with Him (Jesus) and yet walk (4043) in the darkness (4655), we lie and do not practice the truth (225);" (Numbers are from Strong's Greek)
Studying the Greek words underneath the English translation of the Bible is ESSENTIAL. Studying all the passages around what we are studying (context) is ESSENTIAL. And gaining the understanding of these passages is ESSENTIAL. Isn't that what John is trying to tell us? In verse 1:4 he says, "we write" these things for us so that "our joy may be made complete." (or "made full" in the KJV) and that through understanding this we may have FELLOWSHIP with the saints AND with the Father AND His Son Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) (1 John 1:3, 6). Are any of us lacking joy? Be honest with ourselves and let us seek Θεός (Theos) in heart-rending prayer and ask Him to give us understanding of these incredibly urgent-to-understand verses. So that our joy may be full through having fellowship with Θεός (Theos).
Highlight
"There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man." ~John 1:9
"In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." — John 1:4, 5
Verse 1:5 says "Θεός (Theos) is Light, and in Him is no darkness (skotia - #4653 Strong's Greek) at all." This "darkness" is a slightly different word than the darkness in verse 1:6. In verse 5 "darkness" is in reference to SPIRITUAL darkness and means obscurity and ignorance. "Θεός (Theos) is a πνεῦμα (pneuma) - "spirit".." (John 4:24a) and in Him there is no spiritual ignorance or darkness. Only the opposite of this darkness is found in Θεός (Theos). And in Θεός (Theos) is Christ (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos)). And Christ is the light Θεός (Theos) has shined onto ALL mankind (John 1:4, 5). And "in [Christ] are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3) In the Light (Christ) is truth, faith and salvation (eternal life) and so much more...
In verse 6, "darkness" (skotos - 4655) is in reference to the RESULT of the "darkness" (skotia - 4653) which is NOT found in Θεός (Theos). John is telling us in his epistle that "obscurity" (darkness) leads to sin. Sin which we may not be aware of (sins NOT unto death. Or sins of ignorance). But these sins ROB us of our joy and CAN eventually destroy us. It is so important for us to understand this, "so that our joy may be full." Θεός (Theos) is convicting our heart so we seek Him and find out what sin is in our life and robbing us of our joy.
"in whatever our heart condemns us; for Θεός (Theos) is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before Θεός (Theos);" 1 John 3:20, 21
Those who are born of Θεός (Theos), will not sin sins they KNOW are sin. NOR will they CONTINUE in these sins, as Θεός (Theos) gives us power over these sins. John clearly teaches this in his epistles. But those who are unlearned and unstable twist his words as they do the rest of the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16).
Knowingly and continually sinning against Θεός (Theos) are called "sins unto death" and some examples are in Heb 10:26; Rom 6:23; Num 15:30, 31 (wilful sins). And "Sins NOT unto death", some examples are in Leviticus chapters 4 + 5; Luke 12:48 (sins of ignorance). Throughout John's 1st epistle he is speaking of this subject (sins of ignorance VS sins committed willfully), but he pinpoints it in 1 John 5:16, 17.
To continue in sins you are aware of leads to death which Θεός (Theos) says are the wages thereof (Romans 6:23). Walking in sins of ignorance leads to our heart being condemned and us not having confidence before Him which also causes us to lack joy due to our fellowship with Θεός (Theos) not being what it should be. These are the sins birthed from ignorance (obscurity, darkness which is NOT found in Θεός (Theos)) But Θεός is teaching us how to deal with these sins which greatly displease Him (and hurt our walk with Him).
Jesus tells us that IF our eye is SINGLE (Strong's #573 haplous = "[undivided] focus). If our eye (all our heart, mind, soul and strength) is on Jesus, THEN (and only then) our "whole body will be full of light." (Matt 6:22; Luke 11:34). But if our eye is complicated then "your body also is full of darkness." (Luke 11:34; Matt 6:23) "If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays." Luke 11:36
THIS is our goal. As John is teaching us to walk. "Walk" is the English translation of the Greek word "peripateó" (Strong's Greek 4043) and it means more than just "walk". It means how we conduct our lives!
"But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. As we can see, being washed in the blood isn't automatic. We MUST be striving.
"That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead." 1 Corinthians 11:30
The message is for us to strive. We cannot continue walking in darkness (in obscurity, in ignorance). But we MUST study Θεός's Word, to seek Him with all our heart, so that any ignorance may be purged out of us and replaced with Christ Who is the LIGHT.
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6a. In other words, Ignorance ISN'T bliss! Ignorance WILL destroy us eventually! So let us seek Θεός with all our heart in His Word and be humble enough to receive reproof from Him. If you read Θεός's word and are like, "Oh yeah, THEY are in BIG trouble!", then YOU are in error! Apply Θεός's word to YOURSELF. That is how we love OUR SELF and THEN can we love your neighbor (everyone) as OUR SELF. And loving OURSELVES happens when we are loving Θεός with ALL our heart, mind, soul and strength (Matt 22:36-40). Loving Θεός with all our heart is the greatest good we can do for ourselves! (Deuteronomy 6:24)
I will end here. But let's seek the Lord together. Please study and seek to walk in the light as He is in the light so we have fellowship one with another, our joy may be full and the blood of Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) can wash us from all sin. Our target has to be our own selves. To cleanse ourselves from "hidden (secret) faults" Psalm 19:12. Θεός wants to show us these things. And He will if we seek Him with all our heart.
May Θεός the Father bless you all, in Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos)'s holy Name Amen
You can be saved!
Θεός loves the people in the world so much that He came down to die for us. If Θεός is opening your heart to His message and you feel convicted for your sins which have separated you from a holy Θεός and you feel the need to be forgiven, then say this prayer. This is how I was powerfully converted to the Christ in 1997!
Say, "My Lord and my Θεός, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe Jesus the Christ died on the cross and shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of all my sins. I believe Jesus raised from the dead and ascended into heaven and is now on the right-hand side of Θεός listening to this prayer. I open up the door of my heart and I invite You in, Lord Jesus. Thank you, Θεός, for saving my soul and I vow to serve you with all my heart which is the first and greatest commandment. Amen."