In the opening of this letter, John lays out sin and confession as a barometer of our relationship with God. Whether we want it or not, God’s light will always reveal the truth about our lives—both internal and external. It is up to us to choose how we will live as a result. We can either walk in the light of truth—accept that we sin and confess it—or live in darkness by denying our fallenness. Just as John casts sin and repentance as a dark-and-light issue, he also presents the love of others as a matter of light and darkness. What is communicated about our perception of God if we refuse to love those whom God loves unconditionally? God walks in eternal light—and if we are going to walk with Him, that means confessing our sin and loving those whom He loves