*1 John 1:1-10
The Apostle John affirms the eyewitness account of Jesus Christ and emphasizes the importance of fellowship with God and confessing sin.
- Introduction of the Word of Life:
- The letter begins with John asserting the tangible reality of the “Word of Life” — Jesus Christ. This assertion is based on personal experience: seen, heard, and touched by the author and his companions.
- He emphasizes the historical and physical presence of Jesus to establish the credibility and direct eyewitness testimony.
- Purpose of the Proclamation:
- John explains that the proclamation of the Word of Life is meant to share fellowship with others. This fellowship is not only among believers but also with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
- He writes so that the joy of the believers may be complete by sharing in this fellowship.
- God is Light:
- The epistle declares that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all, setting up a fundamental theological assertion about God’s pure and holy nature.
- Conditions for Fellowship:
- If believers claim to have fellowship with God yet walk in darkness, they lie and do not live out the truth.
- Conversely, walking in the light, as God is in the light, ensures mutual fellowship among believers, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies them from all sin.
- Confession and Forgiveness:
- John addresses the human condition concerning sin, asserting that claiming to be without sin is self-deception and a false claim that contradicts God’s truth.
- However, if believers confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive the sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
- Claiming to have not sinned is equivalent to making God a liar and shows His word has no place in one’s life.