Darkness & Light: FAQ & Glossary

1. What is 1 John, and why did we spend a whole series in it?
1 John is a short letter near the end of the Bible. A church leader named John wrote it to encourage early followers of Jesus who were confused by false teachers and worn down by conflict with each other. Each week of this series took one section of that letter and asked: what practical tool does this give us for the pressure we feel today?

2. The series title is “Darkness & Light.” What do those words mean here?
Light stands for truth, honesty, and life with God out in the open. Darkness stands for hiding, deception, and living disconnected from God. The series treats these as two directions a person can walk, moment by moment — toward openness and truth, or toward concealment and confusion.

3. Who is “the enemy” mentioned throughout the series?
The Bible calls this figure Satan or the devil — a real spiritual force working against God’s purposes. The series is careful to describe his usual method as subtle: quiet suggestions and small compromises, more often than dramatic confrontation.

4. What does “confession” mean in this context?
Confession simply means naming something honestly to God — agreeing with him about a wrong choice instead of hiding, excusing, or downplaying it. 1 John 1:9 promises that when a person does this, God responds with forgiveness and a clean slate, every time.

5. Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does “the anointing of the Spirit” mean?
Christians believe God exists as Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit — three persons, one God. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God living inside every believer after they trust in Jesus. “Anointing” is an old word for being marked and equipped for a purpose; here it means the Spirit gives believers an inner sense for recognizing what’s true and what’s a counterfeit.

6. What is “the antichrist,” and what does “testing the spirits” mean?
In 1 John, “antichrist” mainly describes any teaching or teacher that denies who Jesus really is — John says many of these were already present in his own day. Some Christian teaching also points to a future individual, “the Antichrist,” who will appear at the end of time. 1 John's focus stays on the present, everyday pattern rather than that future figure. “Testing the spirits” means checking a message or experience against the truth about Jesus — a way of asking, “Does this line up?” before accepting it.

7. Who are Cain and Abel, and why do they show up in “Love Doesn’t Orbit You”?
Cain and Abel appear in Genesis, the Bible’s opening book — they were brothers, sons of the first two people, Adam and Eve. Cain grew resentful of his brother and killed him. The series uses this ancient story as a picture of self-centered love, contrasted with Jesus, who gave his life for others rather than protecting himself.

8. What does “abide in Christ” mean?
“Abide” is an older word for staying, remaining, or making a home somewhere. To “abide in Christ” means keeping a settled, ongoing connection with Jesus — treating him as home base for identity and security, rather than something to strive toward and prove.

9. What does it mean to be called a “child of God”?
This phrase describes the relationship the Bible says a person enters when they trust in Jesus — being welcomed into God’s family, with the security and identity that come with belonging, rather than having to earn a place.

10. What’s the significance of “water and blood” in the message “Let the Record Reflect”?
Water points to Jesus’s baptism, and blood points to his death on the cross. Together they stand for the full scope of Jesus’s life — his public start and his ultimate sacrifice — offered here as evidence a person can stand on when they doubt their faith.

11. What does “keep yourselves from idols” mean for us today?
An idol, in the Bible, is anything a person treats as more important than God — an ultimate source of security, worth, or comfort. Modern idols are usually good things taken too far: money, relationships, reputation, achievement. The call to “keep yourselves from idols” means staying alert to what’s actually running the show in your life.

Abide  —  To stay, remain, and make a lasting home somewhere; used for a steady, ongoing connection with Jesus rather than a one-time decision.

Advocate  —  Someone who represents another person’s case; in 1 John, Jesus fills this role for believers when they fail, standing on their behalf.

Anointing  —  A marking or equipping for a specific purpose; the series uses this for the Holy Spirit’s presence, which gives believers discernment.

Antichrist  —  A term for any teaching that denies who Jesus truly is; the Bible describes many such teachings across history. Some Christian teaching also expects one future individual by this name at the end of time.

Baptism  —  A ceremony of being lowered into and raised from water, symbolizing a person’s death to their old life and new life following Jesus.

Confession  —  Honestly agreeing with God about a wrong choice, rather than hiding or excusing it; the first step toward forgiveness in 1 John.

Darkness (spiritual sense)  —  A life pattern marked by hiding, deception, and distance from God.

Fellowship  —  Genuine, connected relationship — with God and with other believers — built on honesty rather than performance.

Gospel  —  The core good news of Christianity: that people are made right with God through faith in Jesus, as a gift, rather than by earning it.

Grace  —  Undeserved kindness and favor from God, given freely rather than in exchange for good behavior.

Idol  —  Anything treated as more important than God — a source of ultimate security, worth, or identity.

Light (spiritual sense)  —  A life pattern marked by honesty, truth, and closeness to God; also a description of God’s own character.

Righteousness  —  Right standing with God and a life that lines up with his character.

Sin  —  Any thought, word, or action that misses God’s standard — the biblical word pictures an archer missing the target. 1 John describes it as a disregard for God rather than a minor slip-up.

Testimony / Witness  —  Evidence offered in support of a claim; in 1 John, the Spirit, water, and blood together testify to who Jesus is.

Walking in the Light  —  A recurring phrase for living with honesty and openness before God and others, instead of hiding parts of life in the dark.