Chapter 1 of 1 John deals with our fellowship with the Father through Jesus Christ.  He talks about the fact that everyone sins but if you confess your sin He will forgive you and cleanse you.

Then he says here not to sin.  He doesn’t want them to think that because God will forgive that its O.K. to sin.  And he goes on after this verse to talk about keeping God’s commandments, or His Word.

It will be evident by your lifestyle, by your actions, if you know God or not.  If you are endeavoring to keep the Word of God and the commandment of love then you show that you belong to Him.  If you say you are in fellowship with Him but yet hate your brother then you are not walking ‘in the light’ or in fellowship with Him.  And its though that fellowship that forgiveness is available.

You don’t want to be deceived about this.  God has provided for forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ but you receive that forgiveness by walking in fellowship with Him (verse 7) and by a practice of confessing and forsaking sin.

Confession:

I will maintain a lifestyle of forsaking sin and walking in the light, keeping the Word of God.  I will always endeavor to  walk in fellowship with the Father through Jesus Christ.