As he continues his series “Returning to the Cross,” today Dr. Evans focuses on activating the power of the cross so that we as believers can experience its reality and maintain a healthy relationship with Him. Through real fellowship with God, believers experience a fullness of joy created by experiencing God from within. However, there are times in life when believers may experience a break in their fellowship with God. It is important to understand that when this occurs, the believer has moved away from God; God has not moved away from the believer. In Dr. Evans’ message, “The Activation of the Cross,” he explains a truth about God’s character and the response a believer must take to have fellowship with the Holy One. It involves true understanding of light and its significance in the lives of Christians.
God is Light. The Apostle John informs us about the nature of God and how it affects our relationship with Him. “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5b). The Psalmist refers to this attribute of God when he states, “He [God] wraps himself in light as with a garment…” (Psalm 104:2). Likewise, the Apostle Paul mentions this light as “unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). In today’s text, the Light refers to God’s purity, perfection, holiness, and revelation. Because God is Light, He also operates in the realm of light. His light illuminates, reveals, and exposes, impacting the way we, as Christians, are to live and enjoy fellowship with Him. How can we enjoy this fellowship?
We must walk in the light to enjoy fellowship with God. We, as believers, may make the claim that we are in fellowship with God. However, the true litmus test of our claim is the manner in which we live on a daily basis. We cannot live in the darkness and claim to be in fellowship with God who is Light. These two states are incompatible. The darkness refers to living in sin by failing to respond to the truth, separating us from divine guidance and illumination. In darkness there is no power; the power lies in the cross and the blood of Jesus. We must live in the light in which God is operating by responding to His word. The light exposes our sins but the blood of Jesus, the power of the cross, cleanses us from them. How do we activate the cross, the purifying power of God, which cleanses us from our sins?
We must confess our sins to God if we are to remain in fellowship with Him. The way to activate the power of the cross, the blood of Jesus, in our lives is to confess our sins to God and to walk in the light. Confession maintains our personal fellowship with God. It is important to realize the distinction between confession and repentance in our walk with God. Repentance focuses on the correction of sinful habits formed over time, requiring a major life change. It involves reversing the course of established patterns. Confession involves agreeing with God that our specific sins are what God says they are. Confession is twofold; it focuses on immediately acknowledging sin to God then changing our behavior at that time. Our confessed sin positions us to receive God’s cleansing power. Additionally, God adds another blessing when we live in this manner. He also cleanses us from other sins, sins not recognized or realized that are present in our lives.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we want to realize genuine fellowship with God and experience full joy in Him. However, there are requirements that we must meet because of God’s nature. God is pure; therefore, we must seek to live a pure life by obeying His commands. When sin arises in our lives and we realize we have sinned, we must confess it to God and seek to change. In this way, we walk in the light even as God is in the light. It is only then that we are able to enjoy fellowship with Him, experiencing the benefits of the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.
