*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.
1:1 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; 1:2 (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;) 1:3 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.
1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
1:5 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.
1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1:7 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.
1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.