1 John 1

1 John 1:1-10

1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

VS 1…

The first thing I want to do is look at the similarities between the beginning the 1 John and the Gospel of John.

There are two words found in both of these introductions,

Beginning

When used in the Gospel, the idea of beginning is the time before creation

Whereas in the epistle the beginning is the the time of either

Start of Jesus’ ministry

Birth of Jesus

The start of his ministry is preferred understanding because they did not hear, see, looked at, and touched Jesus at his birth.

Word

Word here is the Greek word logos and in the Gospel it is identified at Jesus as God

In this letter the phrase is “Word of Life” and is referring to the gospel story itself.

The logos in the gospel is about Jesus being God

In the epistle the logos is about Jesus’ incarnation.

The reason for the incarnate is because they “hear, see, looked at, and touched!

VS 2…

Look at the second verse, what do you see that is different about it?

It is set off by dashes.

Consider this verse set in parentheses.

The author put it here to help clarify with added information.

Eternal life that was with the father and was revealed to us - with the father implies he was with the father before he was revealed which correlates to the word being in the beginning with God, revealed to us coincides with the idea of his incarnation, for that is how he was revealed.

VS 3…

Again he declares what “we” have seen and heard and now gives us a reason… Fellowship

The word for Fellowship is “Kiononia”

It means more than just getting together and hanging out with someone and maybe eating a meal, it is actually a partnership! You are partnering with them for a common purpose.

He goes on to say that while we have fellowship with each other it is our fellowship with the Father and Son that binds us!

If you say you have fellowship with other believers and have no fellowship with God, you don’t have true Kioinonia.

If you say you have fellowship with God and don’t have fellowship with other believers, you don’t have true Koinionia.

VS 4…

We see here the first mention of his purpose for writing, a Joy that is complete!

How is that Joy made complete? Fellowship!

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

VS 5…

The message they heard from him, him being Jesus. Author of 1 John was an eyewitness to Jesus.

What Jesus proclaimed is that God is light and no darkness was found in him. John 1:4 “4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”

Light and darkness is, for john, purity and sin. No darkness equates to no sin.

VS. 6…

Starting in vs 6 through vs 1 of chapter 2 we see six “if” statements that need to be addressed.

vs. 6 - If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true

vs 7 -  but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

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

vs. 9 -  If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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

chapter 2 vs. 1 - But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate

In vs 6 we see we can say we have fellowship but if we are walking in darkness (willfully sinning) we do not in fact have fellowship!

VS. 7…

Two things happen when we walk in the light that doesn’t happen when we walk in darkness

We have fellowship with one another ( and God)

We have the cleansing of ALL our sins through he blood of Jesus

VS. 8…

Self deception is believing we are without sin. With this comes falsehood. This isn’t about a particular sin it is about being a person who is without sin in general

VS. 9…

Confession of sin leads to some amazing gifts

forgiveness of our sins

cleansing from all unrighteousness

Does this mean we do not have to repent just confess that we have sinned?

John’s readers would understand that the confession of sin comes with the idea that it will not be done again.

VS. 10…

When we believe there is no sin in our lives we are telling God he is not the truth, but rather a liar.

It is interesting that in says in Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

but that his word is not in us if we say we have not sinned