"If"

The Bible is filled with the word "if". "If" is conditional... if you do this, then I will do that, or if this occurs, then this will be the result. The English translation of the Greek word for "if" is "ean", pronounced eh-an'. Strong's dictionary tells us that "ean" is a conditional particle and is used in connection with other particles to denote uncertainty.

The first chapter of 1 John gives us several great examples of "if", but in your studies always pay attention to "ifs", they are used to let you know that the outcome of something is conditional and not guaranteed. An insurance company uses this concept to sell us insurance these days.... "for the if in life". They will insure against the uncertainty so you can sleep at night. :-) John tells us that... "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 while we 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 his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:6-10) That's a lot of ifs!

The first "if" deals with Christians whose walk reflects the world rather than God's light. John tells us that "if" we walk in the "darkness", then we are not in fellowship with the Father, regardless of what we might say. Our walk (our lives) have the power to either keep us in fellowship with the Father or separate us from Him. The second "if" deals with those whose walk reflects God's light. He tells us that "if we walk in the light" of the Father, then we have fellowship with Him, the Son and our brothers and sisters and.... "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin". That is a beautiful promise! If we are faithful in our Christian walk, our sins (all our sins!) are covered by the blood of Jesus. The Christian doesn't have to worry about the consequences of sin when they have a faithful walk!

The third "if" tells us that we are all sinners; the very best Christian is a sinner. "If" we say otherwise, we are liars. Simple as that. The forth "if" tells us what to do with our sins. We are to confess them and "if" we do, He is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins". As Christians, we are to remain sensitive to our sinfulness. When we sin, it should break our hearts and produce in us an urgency to confess that sin. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter." (2 Corinthians 7: 10-11)

The last "if" drives the point home in a different way. No longer are we the liars, now by our denials of our sins, we make Him a liar. And in doing so, we prove that His word is not in us, because His word says that we are all sinners. Do I want to make God a liar by my denials? I don't think so! God has always put conditions on His blessings. The Old Testament is full of conditional blessings being given to His people based upon their obedience. When they were not obedient, He removed His blessing. Why does it surprise us that the same God acts that same way in the New Testament? As you study, as you read through the scriptures, underline the "ifs", see what God has made conditional and make sure you live in such a way that the condition is met and God will be faithful to His promise. Jesus is the insurance that covers the "ifs" in life, but the conditions for coverage are a walk that reflects His light. May we all walk in the light of our Lord and Savior.