1 John

1 John 1 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he 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 we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Context

John is writing to the churches of Asia Minor (Modern Turkey area)

His purpose was to defend the original teaching from those who left the church and were teaching heresies known as the GNOSTICS.

They claim to have SECRET KNOWLEDGE of God and Jesus, and how to properly follow Him.

From the Beginning v.1

Genesis 1:1 “1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Jesus was not a NEW CREATURE and He was not some sort of phantasm.

This is ALL about JESUS v.2-4

God made clear who is the Christ. Jesus checked every last box.

The account is being DIRECTLY retold. NO CODES, NO SECRETS

The JOY is in sharing the message

God is Light v.5-7

There is NO DARKNESS, no shadow

Our WALK must match our TALK when it comes to our relationship with God

When they match we have fellowship

Lies and Confessions v.8-10

We are sinners. That confession is key to understanding salvation

God is faithful, ALWAYS. When we confess, He will cleanse us

If we claim to be SINLESS then we make God a liar, and we have missed the message.

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:14 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?