John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, wanted us to know something.  John had heard the voice of God and the message was clear.  What message?  "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."  (1 John 1:5)

I do not know about you, but for me this presents a dilema.  All around me there is darkness.  It calls to me on a daily basis.  It reminds me of the sirens who would call to their unknowing victims.  Unknowing, that is, until they crashed on the rocks and died.

There is for all of us the drawing to do that which is not pleasing to God.  John tells us "If we say we have fellowship with Him (God), and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  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.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

How do we walk in darkness?  Some of you are there at this moment and you know it.  No one had to tell you.  You feel that separation from God because you are sinning and you know it.  You are miserable.  You are trying to live in the light and in the darkness at the same time.  In your mind, you begin to justify why you would be involved in your sin.  Yes, it is "your" sin.  You have taken ownership of it.

Romans 8:1 tells us "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."  Well, there it is, isn't it?  If we walk according to the flesh, yes, we will feel condemnation.  John goes on to tell us in 1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 

What does this mean?  Standing in the courtroom of Heaven, there is an accuser of the brethren named Satan.  This great deceiver, thief, and liar, accuses you and I day and night before God the Father.  But, we have an Advocate.  An attorney.  A just attorney.  An attorney who defends our case before God the Father and everytime there is confessed sin in our lives, our attorney wins, because He (Jesus) promised to forgive our sins and remove them as far as the east is from the west. 

Unconfessed sin, or sin that we have labeled something else to make us feel better, leaves Jesus speechless.  Unconfessed sin tells God the Father that the sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ, was not enough.  Then, when the accuser accuses, you are guilty as charged.

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."  Only through Jesus is there remission of sins.  Only through Jesus is there forgiveness of sins.  Only Jesus can absolve your sin and no other to remove the guilt.