Becoming a Christian - John Stott - #1

Let the Bible state it:

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him when we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth (I John 1:5,6). 

It is true that this verse was written by St John in a letter to people who were already Christians; nevertheless, man's fundamental problem is clearly set out here.

It can be summarized in three statements of fact:

First, men "walk in darkness." Or, dropping the metaphor, all men are sinners. Sin is a distasteful subject, but we cannot close our eyes to an obvious fact which the Bible declares and experience confirms.

The darkness of selfishness and sin overshadows our whole life.

Secondly, "God is light." Unlike men, there is no sin in him, "no darkness at all." He is absolutely pure and spotless.

Thirdly, as light and darkness can never live together, neither can God and sin. This is the logical conclusion. He "dwells in unapproachable light" (1Timothy 6:16).

Just as darkness is dispelled by light, so the sinner is inevitably banished from God's holy presence, and he cannot "have fellowship with him" until his sin has been cleansed away.

As the prophet Habakkuk said years before, "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on iniquity" (Habakkuk 1:13).

The problem is now laid bare before us. How can I, who am a banished sinner, be reconciled to a holy God? How can my sins be forgiven so that I can have fellowship with God?

Once again, let the Bible state the answer in its own words:

       The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Jesus
       Christ came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).

The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to solve man's fundamental problem. He came to be the Savior of men. "For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven," and he accomplished this salvation when he died on the cross.

Indeed he came to earth principally, not to live, but to die.....

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How do we take that leap - from darkness into the light?

Becoming a Christian - John Stott - #2