1 John 1

Introduction: Simple

Author: “disciple whom Jesus loved.”

Contrasts:

1. Light and Darkness

2. Life and Death

3. Love and Hate

4. Truth and Lies

5. Children of God vs. Children of the Devil

6. To Know God - To Not Know God

About the Author:

1. John (Son of Thunder) was the brother of James the apostle.

2. Only disciple to remain at Jesus’ trial.

3. Disciple of John the Baptist.

4. Present with the women at the foot of the cross.

5. He was entrusted with the care of the Lord’s mother.

6. He was allowed to live his life out.

Time of Writing - 50 to 93 A.D. ?

Scholarship divided whether before or after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Jim Crouch has the time between 80-93 A.D. James Coffman has the time before 70 A.D. John lived in Ephesus, was exiled to Patmos, then returned to Ephesus to live his life out.

To Whom Written - General Epistle

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction. 1:1-4.

A. The Person. 1:1,2.

B. The purpose. 1:3,4.

I. Fellowship's conditions. 1:5-10.

A. Conformity to a standard. 1:5-7.

B. Confession of sin. 1:8-10.

1. Confession of the principle of sin. 1:8.

2. Confession of particular sins. 1:9.

3. Confession of personal sins. 1:10.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Ÿ The apostles recounted what they had heard, seen, beheld (more intensive investigation than merely seeing), and even handled. Was it not their hands that passed out bread and fishes for a vast multitude?

Ÿ While this term (Word of life) might well describe the gospel, we must bear in mind that Jesus is called "the Word," and that in him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1,4). {Moffit}

Ÿ The apostles were actual witnesses to Jesus in the flesh.

Ÿ They walked with the Lord.

Ÿ They saw Him with their own eyes.

Ÿ theasthai - to gaze at someone or at something, until a long look has grasped something of the meaning and the significance of that person or thing.

Ÿ The apostles “handled” the Lord. see Luke 24:39 (flesh and bones); 2 Peter 1:16 (not fables); John 20:25-27 (Thomas); John 1:14

Ÿ Word of life - see John 11:25; 14:6 (the way, the truth, & the life); 6:35, 48; 10:10; Psalm 33:6 (The Lord breathed the heavens into existence); Hebrews 1:3 (“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” KJV

Ÿ Jesus is eternal. He was there at the beginning of creation. The Apostles heard Him speak directly. They saw Him with their own eyes and all the miraculous things He has done. They “handled”; that is they were able to verify by contact who Jesus was and is. Jesus is the Word of Life. No man can get to Heaven without Jesus.

Ÿ “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” - Col 3:4 (KJV)

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

Ÿ "Manifested" is a term frequently used in the New Testament of the appearance of the Son of God in flesh (1 Tim. 3:16 (in the flesh), 1 Pet. 1:20 (in these last times), 1 John 3:5,8 (to take away sin and destroy the works of the devil)). It is further illuminated by the counterpart of it in the gospel, "The word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). John also used the same word to describe the resurrection appearances of Jesus (John 21:1,14).

Ÿ Acts 1:8 - the Apostles were witnesses.

Ÿ See John 10:28 (to give eternal life); 1 John 5:11 (ditto)

Ÿ See John 19:35 (the truth known); 21:24 (true testimony); Rev 1:2 (ditto); 3 John 12.

Ÿ “This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.” - John 21:14 (KJV)

Ÿ Jesus appeared to many after His resurrection from the dead. The Apostles and others have seen Him. They are witnesses of these miraculous accounts. Now they are proclaiming the Good News that comes through Jesus who was with the Father and was made known to the Apostles and others.

Ÿ See 1 John 4:14 (testimony of the truth)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Ÿ John is telling these people about the truth that they too, may have fellowship together with other believers. True fellowship is with the God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ our savior and Lord.

Ÿ Fellowship is from the Greek word [koinonia], meaning "a close relationship or harmonious association as partners or sharers of the gospel."

Ÿ The Christian message should continually be stressed from the pulpit; because, in this essential basis is the principle of cohesion that binds Christians first to God in Christ and then to each other.

Ÿ We must accept the testimony of the apostles concerning Jesus Christ. See Luke 10:16; 1 John 4:6

Ÿ NT:2842 -used of the fellowship of Christians with God and Christ, meta tou patros kai meta tou huiou autou, 1 John 1:3,6, (which fellowship, according to John's teaching, consists in the fact that Christians are partakers in common of the same mind as God and Christ, and of the blessings arising therefrom). (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft)

Ÿ [That ye may have fellowship with us] With us the apostles; with us who actually saw him, and conversed with him. That is, he wished that they might have the same belief, and the same hope, and the same joy which he himself had, arising from the fact that the Son of God had become incarnate, and had appeared among people. To "have fellowship," means to have anything in common with others; to partake of it; to share it with them; and the idea here is, that the apostle wished that they might share with him all the peace and happiness which resulted from the fact that the Son of God had appeared in human form in behalf of men.

Ÿ See John 17:3 (to know is life eternal); John 15:1-8

Ÿ “Christian fellowship demands adherence to truth. In this case, it required loyalty to Jesus as the truth, rather than to the esoteric knowledge of the heretics.”

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Ÿ Those qualities of the Christian's present "eternal life" are evident in the declarations that he "has passed from death into life," that he is a "partaker of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), and that he arises from baptism to walk "in newness of life."

Ÿ See John 16:22-24; 10:10

Ÿ “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. - John 15:11-14 (KJV)

Ÿ It should be joy to us that the eternal Son should come to seek and save us, that he has made a full atonement for our sins, that he has conquered sin and death and hell, that he lives as our Intercessor and Advocate with the Father, and that he will come again

Ÿ Believers should rejoice in their happy relation to God, as his sons and heirs, his beloved and adopted,-in their happy relation to the Son of the Father, as being members of his beloved body, and coheirs with himself,-in the pardon of their sins, the sanctification of their natures, the adoption of their persons, and the prospect of grace and glory that will be revealed at the return of their Lord and head from heaven.

Ÿ See Acts 13:52 (disciples filled with joy of the Holy Ghost); John 3:29 (friends of the bridegroom); Philippians 2:2 (like-mindedness); 2 John 4 (walking in truth), 12; 3 John 4 (walking in truth).

Ÿ This joy is a calm happiness. Those who truly know the Lord have that inner peace. They know that they can rely on the Lord for all their needs now and in eternity. Once the Lord returns our joy will be complete, for we will see Him face to face.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Ÿ The Apostles were eyewitnesses of everything Jesus stood for. He was sinless and pure. He was and is what we should strive to be like. John proclaims this message to the readers and listeners that they too can be delivered from darkness.

Ÿ “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” - Acts 26:18 (KJV)

Ÿ "To the Christians alone, God is revealed as light, absolutely free from everything material, impure, obscure or gloomy."

Ÿ “Light is a symbol of all that is lovely, beautiful, holy, good, desirable, righteous and lovable.”

Ÿ See Hebrews 1:2; John 16:13-14.

Ÿ “Now this verse has its application to the problem of fellowship because the false teachers were walking in a moral darkness of the worst intensity, while at the same time claiming to be "in God." The impossibility of their pretensions having any merit was proved by this very first sentence of the message proper. It is preposterous for one to claim fellowship with God while walking in darkness.”

Ÿ [That God is light] Light, in the Scriptures, is the emblem of purity, truth, knowledge, prosperity, and happiness-as darkness is of the opposite. John here says that "God is light"-foos (NT:5457)-not the light, or a light, but light itself; that is, he is himself all light, and is the source and fountain of light in all worlds. He is perfectly pure, without any admixture of sin. Compare the notes at James 1:17; John 1:4-5; 1 Tim 6:16.

Ÿ “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:24(KJV)

Ÿ "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12; see 9:5; 12:46).

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Ÿ If we profess or proclaim that we are walking with God and are still living a sinful life; then, we are fooling ourselves into believing a lie. Those who have fellowship with God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth!

Ÿ Light is a symbol of all that is lovely, beautiful, holy, good, desirable, righteous and lovable.

Ÿ John 3:21 says: “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” - KJV

Ÿ We are to have things in common with God - likes and dislikes.

Ÿ See Isaiah 59:1-2 (He will save, sin separates)

Ÿ “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” - Phil 3:14

Ÿ John is talking about one who habitually goes out and sins. He is not talking about a Christian occasionally stumbling.

Ÿ See John 17:17 (sanctify - Jesus); Romans 1:18 (twisters of God‘s Word); 2:8 (contentious); Galatians 3:7 (faith - seed of Abraham); 2:14 (not walking right); 3 John 4 (joy in righteous walking); 2 Timothy 3:8 (reprobates - resist truth- Jannes & Jambres; James 5:19-20 (correction).

Ÿ Live properly.

Ÿ The false claim in this verse is that of affirming that we walk with God even while we are walking in darkness. "Walk" in this passage, as frequently in the New Testament, is an idiom for the totality of human conduct. (Coffman)

Ÿ Our values, our behavior, our attitudes, our commitments must be in harmony with God's character rather than with the natural passions of fallen humanity. No one who makes a practice of sin can claim fellowship with God.

Ÿ So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth.

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Ÿ If we are truly walking in the light, that is, serving God with heart, body, soul and spirit; then, we truly have fellowship with God. If we have fellowship with God, then, we have fellowship with other Christians. When we earnestly serve Jesus, His blood continually cleanses us.

Ÿ For those who walk in the light, the continual, ceaseless and effective cleansing through the blood of Christ is the means of their continuing in a state of absolute perfection.

Ÿ This cleansing, however, is not necessarily automatic. "It is based upon confession, penitence, renewal (1 John 1:9), and keeping his commandments (1 John 2:3)."<34> Even beyond this, however, the cleansing effect of Jesus' blood is operative unconditionally in instances of the believer's unawareness of sins that lie hidden from himself.

Ÿ Those walking in the light put effort forth. “IF” we walk...then we have fellowship.

Ÿ See Psalms 19:12-13; Ephesians 5:8, 11; 6:12(wrestle); Colossians 1:13 (partakers); 1 Peter 2:9 (peculiar people); Hebrews 9:14 (Jesus - the purger of sins)

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Ÿ Here the error is that of claiming inherent sinlessness, perfection, and the absence of any need of cleansing through the blood of Christ. Such a claim is capable of deceiving the claimant, but not anyone else!

Ÿ See Romans 1:22; Romans 6:6-7,11,14

Ÿ By saying that we have no sin is like we are saying that we are perfect. Only Jesus was perfect upon this earth. Though we strive to be like Jesus, we are still imperfect; however, when He comes again we shall be like Him, if we remain faithful! Therefore, by saying that we do not sin, we fool ourselves.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ÿ Confessions of sins "one to another" among Christians means an admission of guilt where it exists as a barrier to their fellowship, a mutual sharing of blame, and a restoration of the broken harmony.

Ÿ "He is faithful to forgive us because he has promised to do so, and just because his Son died for our sins."

Ÿ See Romans 3:23; Hebrews 8:12; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 53:11

Ÿ By confessing our sins, we acknowledge that we have erred. If we are truly repentant in our confession, the Lord will be gracious to us and forgive us of those sins. We have such a wonderful savior who constantly shows us His mercy and grace. We don’t deserve it, but He loves us so much.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Ÿ See Colossians 3:16

Ÿ "To say that we have not sinned is not just to tell a deliberate lie, or to be self-deceived, but actually to accuse God of lying, to make him a liar." (Coffman)

Ÿ See Job 15:16 (drinks iniquity)

Ÿ “If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts” - 1 John 1:10

Ÿ See 1 John 5:10

Ÿ If we say that we are sinless (perfect), then, what we are saying is that we do not have need of a Savior. This is blasphemy, because God the Father sent His only begotten Son that all may be saved that choose to serve Him and believe in Him. He was and is the Atonement for Sin. He was and is the propitiation for sin. For no other name can we be saved by than Jesus Christ.