in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another"
done the one, will do the other. And then he anticipates the glorious result of this deliverance and keeping—"that I may walk before God in the light of THE LIVING." It is to resurrection-light that he looks forward. He prays to be "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet. 1:5); and he appeals to the love and faithfulness of that God who had already done so much for him. He who quickened me from my death in trespasses and sins, will not let go his hold of me during all this dark and rugged way; nor will he fail to bring me into the light and glory of the resurrection of the just.
That which we thus look forward to, is "resurrection-light," the "light of the living." Surely that light must be "perfect light," just as the love in which these risen ones shall walk, will be "perfect love;" and as that perfect love shall cast out all fear, so shall that perfect light dispel all darkness. Now we love but in part, and know but in part, and see but in part; but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Now, in these unrisen bodies, and with these dim eyes, we see in a glass darkly,—but then, face to face; now we know in part, but then shall we know even as also we are known" (1 Cor. 13:9–12).
3. It is said to be needful to the fellowship of the saints.—"If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another" (1 John 1:7). Darkness, in the sense of sin at least, separates and divides. In proportion as we get quit of the darkness and become transfused with light, we are drawn towards each other, and the members of the family of light become more thoroughly one. It is the great assimilating, and, therefore, the true cementing agency. We find it to be so, even here; how much more hereafter! Our "walking in the light" promotes holy fellowship even in the midst of estrangement and forgetfulness here; how much more will it do so in the land where there is no estrangement and no forgetfulness! It will then be as if the whole innumerable company of the children of light were so penetrated with that light, as to be consolidated into one mass of living splendour; one with each other, indissolubly, and one