340. Walking in the Light

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

This scripture only applies to disciples of Jesus Christ, those who walk in the light. Yet some people try to make it apply to ungodly and indifferent Christians who walk in darkness and should be judging themselves for their sin and seeking forgiveness for it. He who walks in the light does not sin consciously. People sin when they are in darkness.

The light makes us conscious of things that we were formerly unaware of, namely, the deeds of the body. If we put these to death by the Spirit, we shall live. Rom. 8:13. This verse speaks of two types of works: “If you live according to the flesh [conscious sin] you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, [the unconscious sin which is revealed by walking in the light], you will live.”

No one can walk in the light without having their flesh crucified. Therefore it is written: “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Gal. 5:24.

I recently read a report from a Christian conference where it was said that they had departed from the cross and the power of it. It was important to return to the cross of Calvary.

These dear brothers must have taken a holiday out in the flesh and wandered away from the cross, since they now agree that the best thing is to return to the cross. They were not crucified with Christ; they were on their way to Babel. The word of the cross and the power of it vanished, and the Spirit of revival departed. But there are certain things that did not disappear, such as a sectarian spirit, quarreling, arrogance, coldness, etc. I believe the spirit of judgment and burning and the forgiveness of sins would be more fitting than a renewal of the Spirit, as they call it. The Spirit does not need renewal; He is as He should be, and He makes all things new. Rather it is the spirit of people’s minds that must be renewed because they have become carnally minded. They began in the Spirit, but now they are trying to be perfected in the flesh.

Paul says to the Ephesians: “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Eph. 4:17-18.

Does this verse not fit very well for all those who have abandoned the cross, that is, if they have ever been on the cross? They have become futile in their mind so that revival and the power of God elude them.

What do they need? A renewed mind! Too bad they have not been able to figure that out for themselves.

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man . . . .” Eph. 4:23-24.

The harlot who has corrupted the earth with her fornications is pushing her way in among God’s people. Rev. 19:2. What is in her cup? Worldly greatness and worldly education, respect of persons, scholarly knowledge—both worldly and religious. The reproach of Christ is not in her cup. “And in her [the harlot] was found the blood of the prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” Rev. 18:24.

You who run around in the futility of your mind, off the cross and on your way to Babel, you must ask yourself if you have been deceived by the harlot and by the wine of the wrath of her fornication of which all the nations have drunk. Rev. 18:3.