| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
1 John Chapter
One
1 John 1
The Epistle of John has a peculiar character. It is
eternal life manifested in Jesus, and imparted to us--the life which was with
the Father, and which is in the Son. It is in this life that believers enjoy
the communion of the Father, that they are in relationship with the Father by
the Spirit of adoption, and that they have fellowship with the Father and the
Son. God's own character is that which tests it; because it proceeds from
Himself.
The first chapter establishes these two latter points: namely,
communion with the Father and the Son, and that this communion must be
according to the essential character of God. The name of Father is that which
gives character to the second chapter. Afterwards it is that which God is, which
tests the reality of imparted life.
The Epistles of Paul, although speaking of this life, are
in general occupied with setting before Christians the truth respecting the
means of standing in the presence of God justified and accepted. The Epistle of
John, that is to say, his First, shews us the life that comes from God by Jesus
Christ. John sets God before us, the Father revealed in the Son, and eternal
life in Him. Paul sets us before God accepted in Christ. I speak of what
characterises them. Each respectively touches on the other point.
Now, this life is so precious, manifested as it is in the
Person of Jesus, that the epistle now before us has in this respect quite a
peculiar charm. When I, too, turn my eyes to Jesus, when I contemplate all His
obedience, His purity, His grace, His tenderness, His patience, His
devotedness, His holiness, His love, His entire freedom from all self-seeking,
I can say, That is my life.
This is immeasurable grace. It may be that it is obscured
in me; but it is none the less true, that that is my life. Oh how do I enjoy it
thus seen! How I bless God for it! What rest to the soul! What pure joy to the
heart! At the same time Jesus Himself is the object of my affections; and all
my affections are formed on that holy object. [1] But we
must turn to our epistle. There were many pretensions to new light, to clearer
views. It was said that Christianity was very good as an elementary thing; but
that it was grown old, and that there was a new light which went far beyond
that twilight truth.
The Person of our Lord, the true manifestation of the divine life
itself, dissipated all those proud pretensions, those exaltations of the human
mind under the influence of the enemy, which did but obscure the truth, and
lead the mind of men back into the darkness whence they themselves proceeded.
That which was from the beginning (of Christianity that
is, in the Person of Christ), that which they heard, had seen with their own
eyes, had contemplated, had touched with their own hands, of the Word of
life-that was it which the apostle declared. For the life itself had been
manifested. That life which was with the Father had been manifested to the
disciples. Could there be anything more perfect, more excellent, any
development more admirable in the eyes of God, than Christ Himself, than that
Life which was with the Father, manifested in all its perfection in the Person
of the Son? As soon as the Person of the Son is the object of our faith, we
feel that perfection must have been at the beginning.
The Person then of the Son, the eternal life manifested
in the flesh, is our subject in this epistle.
Grace is consequently to be remarked here in that which
regards life; while Paul presents it in connection with justification. The law
promised life upon obedience; but life came in the Person of Jesus, in all its
own divine perfection, in its human manifestations. Oh how precious is the
truth that this life, such as it was with the Father, such as it was in Jesus,
is given to us! In what relationships it sets us, by the power of the Holy
Ghost, with the Father and with the Son Himself! And this is what the Spirit
here first sets before us. And observe, how it is all grace here. Farther on,
indeed, He tests all pretensions to the possession of fellowship with God, by
displaying God's own character; a character from which He can never deviate.
But, before entering on this, He presents the Saviour Himself, and communion
with the Father and the Son by this means, without question and without
modification. This is our position and our eternal joy.
The apostle had seen that life, had touched it with his
own hands; and he wrote to others, proclaiming this, in order that they also
should have communion with Him in the knowledge of the life which had been thus
manifested. [2] Now,
inasmuch as that life was the Son, it could not be known without knowing the Son,
that is, that which He was, entering into His thoughts, His feelings: otherwise
He is not really known. It was thus they had communion with Him--with the Son.
Precious fact! to enter into the thoughts (all the thoughts), and into the
feelings, of the Son of God come down in grace: to do this in fellowship with
Him, that is to say, not only knowing them, but sharing these thoughts and
feelings with Him. In effect, it is the life.
But we cannot have the Son without having the Father. He
who had seen Him had seen the Father; and consequently he who had communion
with the Son had communion with the Father; for their thoughts and feelings
were all one. He is in the Father, and the Father in Him. We have fellowship
therefore with the Father. And this is true also, when we look at it in another
aspect. We know that the Father has entire delight in the Son. Now He has given
us, by revealing the Son, to take our delight in Him also, feeble as we are. I
know, when I am delighting in Jesus-in His obedience, His love to His Father,
to us, His single eye and purely devoted heart--I have the same feelings, the
same thoughts, as the Father Himself. In that the Father delights, cannot but
delight, in Him in whom I now delight, I have communion with the Father. So
with the Son in the knowledge of the Father. All this flows, whether in the one
or the other point of view, from the Person of the Son. Herein our joy is full.
What can we have more than the Father and the Son? What more perfect happiness
than community of thoughts, feelings, joys, and communion, with the Father and
the Son, deriving all our joy from themselves? And if it seem difficult to
believe, let us remember that, in truth, it cannot be otherwise: for, in the
life of Christ, the Holy Ghost is the source of my thoughts, feelings,
communion, and He cannot give thoughts different from those of the Father and
the Son. They must be in their nature the same. To say that they are adoring
thoughts is in the very nature of things, and only makes them more precious. To
say that they are feeble and often hindered, while the Father and the Son are
divine and perfect, is, if true, to say the Father and the Son are God, are
divine, and we feeble creatures. That surely none will deny. But if the blessed
Spirit be the source, they must be the same as to nature and fact.
This is our christian position then, here below in time,
through the knowledge of the Son of God; as the apostle says, " These
things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."
But He who was the life which came from the Father, has
brought us the knowledge of God. [3] The
apostle had heard from His lips that which God was--knowledge of priceless
value, but which searches the heart. And this also the apostle, on the Lord's
part, announces to believers. This then is the message which they had heard
from Him, namely, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness. With regard to
Christ, He spoke that which He knew, and bore testimony to that which He had
seen. No one had been in heaven, save He who came down from thence. No one had
seen God. The Only-begotten, who is in the bosom of the Father, He had declared
Him. No one had seen the Father, save He who was of God; He had seen the Father.
Thus He could, of His own and perfect knowledge, reveal Him. [4] Now
God was light, perfect purity, which makes manifest at the same time all that
is pure, and all that is not so. To have communion with light, one must oneself
be light, be of its nature, and fit to be seen in the perfect light. It can
only be linked with that which is of itself. If there is anything else that
mingles with it, light is no longer light. It is absolute in its nature, so as
to exclude all that is not itself.
Therefore, if we say that we have fellowship with Him and
walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practise truth: our life is a perpetual
lie.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we
(believers) have communion with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
cleanses us from all sin. These are the great principles, the great features of
christian position. We are in the presence of God without a veil. It is a real
thing, a matter of life and of walk. It is not the same thing as walking
according to the light; but it is in the light. That is to say, that this walk
is before the eyes of God, enlightened by the full revelation of what He is. It
is not that there is no sin in us; but walking in the light, the will and the
conscience being in the light as God is in it, everything is judged that does
not answer to it. We live and walk morally in the sense that God is present,
and as knowing Him. We walk thus in the light. The moral rule of our will is
God Himself, God known. The thoughts that sway the heart come from Himself and
are formed upon the revelation of Himself. The apostle puts these things always
in an abstract way: thus he says, "he cannot sin, because he is born of
God;" and that maintains the moral rule of this life; it is its nature; it
is the truth, inasmuch as the man is born of God. We cannot have any other
measure of it: any other would be false. It does not follow, alas! that we are
always consistent; but we are inconsistent if we are not in this state; we are
not walking according to the nature that we possess; we are out of our true
condition according to that nature.
Moreover, walking in the light, as God is in the light,
believers have communion with each other. The world is selfish. The flesh, the
passions, seek their own gratification; but, if I walk in the light, self has
no place there. I can enjoy the light, and all I seek in it, with another, and
there is no jealousy. If another possess a carnal thing, I am deprived of it.
In the light we have fellow-possession of that which He gives us, and we enjoy
it the more by sharing it together. This is a touchstone to all that is of the
flesh. As much as one is in the light, so much will we have fellow-enjoyment with
another who is in it. The apostle, as we have said, states this in an abstract
and absolute way. This is the truest way to know the thing itself. The rest is
only a question of realisation.
In the third place, the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin.
To walk in the light as God is in it, to have fellowship
with one another, to be cleansed from all sin by the blood; these are the three
parts of christian position. We feel the need there is of the last; for while
walking in the light as God is in the light, with (blessed be God) a perfect
revelation to us of Himself with a nature that knows Him, that is capable of
seeing Him spiritually, as the eye is made to appreciate light (for we
participate in the divine nature), we cannot say that we have no sin. The light
itself would contradict us. But we can say that the blood of [5]
Through the Spirit we enjoy the light together: it is the common joy of our
hearts before God, and well pleasing to Him; a testimony to our common
participation in the divine nature, which is love also. And our conscience is
no hindrance, because we know the value of the blood. We have no conscience of
sin upon us before God, though we know it is in us; but we have the conscience
of being clean from it by the blood. But the same light which shews us this,
prevents our saying (if we are in it) that we have no sin in us; we should
deceive ourselves if we said so; and the truth would not be in us; for if the
truth were in us, if that revelation of the divine nature, which is light,
Christ our life, were in us, the sin that is in us would be judged by the light
itself. If it be not judged, this light-the truth which speaks of things as
they are-is not in us.
[1] And
this is morally very important; while it is in Him, not in myself, that I
rejoice and delight.
[2] The
life has been manifested. Therefore we have no longer to seek for it, to grope
after it in the darkness, to explore at random the indefinite, or the obscurity
of our own hearts, in order to find it, to labour fruitlessly under the law, in
order to obtain it. We behold it: it is revealed, it is here, in Jesus Christ.
He who possesses Christ possesses that life.
[3] It
will be found that, when grace to us is spoken of in John's writings, he speaks
of the Father and the Son; when the nature of God or our responsibility, he
says God. John 3 and 1 John 4 may seem exceptions, but are not. It is what God
is as such, not personal action and relationship in grace.
[4] He
who had seen Him had seen the Father; but here the apostle speaks of a message
and the revelation of His nature.
[5] It
is not said "has" nor "will." It does not refer to time,
but to its efficacy. As I might say such a medicine cures the ague. It is its
efficacy.
── John Darby《Synopsis of 1 John》
1 John 1
Chapter Contents
The apostle prefaces his epistle to believers in general,
with evident testimonies to Christ, for promoting their happiness and joy.
(1-4) The necessity of a life of holiness, in order to communion with God, is
shown. (5-10)
Commentary on 1 John 1:1-4
(Read 1 John 1:1-4)
That essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had
been from the beginning, from eternity, as equal with the Father, and which at
length appeared in human nature for the salvation of sinners, was the great
subject concerning which the apostle wrote to his brethren. The apostles had
seen Him while they witnessed his wisdom and holiness, his miracles, and love
and mercy, during some years, till they saw him crucified for sinners, and
afterwards risen from the dead. They touched him, so as to have full proof of
his resurrection. This Divine Person, the Word of life, the Word of God,
appeared in human nature, that he might be the Author and Giver of eternal life
to mankind, through the redemption of his blood, and the influence of his
new-creating Spirit. The apostles declared what they had seen and heard, that
believers might share their comforts and everlasting advantages. They had free
access to God the Father. They had a happy experience of the truth in their
souls, and showed its excellence in their lives. This communion of believers
with the Father and the Son, is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy
Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are not like the scanty possessions of the
world, causing jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of communion
with God is all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who
are warranted to say, that truly their fellowship is with the Father, will
desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness.
Commentary on 1 John 1:5-10
(Read 1 John 1:5-10)
A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the
eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented
to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God,
his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be
separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to
our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion.
God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. There is no
truth in their profession; their practice shows its folly and falsehood. The
eternal Life, the eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from
our sins in his own blood, and procures for us the sacred influences by which
sin is to be subdued more and more, till it is quite done away. While the
necessity of a holy walk is insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the
knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride is
guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to God, in holiness and
righteousness, are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin.
God has given testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a
sufficient, effectual Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness
of believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess
their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead
guilty before God, be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us
honestly confess all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy
and truth through the righteousness of Christ, for a free and full forgiveness,
and our deliverance from the power and practice of sin.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 John》
1 John 1
Verse 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;
That which was —
Here means, He which was the Word himself; afterwards it means, that which they
had heard from him.
Which was —
Namely, with the Father, verse 2, before he was manifested.
From the beginning —
This phrase is sometimes used in a limited sense; but here it properly means
from eternity, being equivalent with, "in the beginning," John 1:1.
That which we —
The apostles. Have not only heard, but seen with our eyes, which we have beheld
- Attentively considered on various occasions.
Of the Word of life — He
is termed the Word, John 1:1; the Life, John 1:4; as he is the living Word of God, who,
with the Father and the Spirit, is the fountain of life to all creatures,
particularly of spiritual and eternal life.
Verse 2
[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;)
For the life —
The living Word.
Was manifested — In
the flesh, to our very senses.
And we testify and declare — We testify by declaring, by preaching, and writing, 1 John 1:3,4. Preaching lays the foundation, 1 John 1:5-10: writing builds there on.
To you —
Who have not seen.
The eternal life —
Which always was, and afterward appeared to us. This is mentioned in the
beginning of the epistle. In the end of it is mentioned the same eternal life,
which we shall always enjoy.
Verse 3
[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.
That which we have seen and heard — Of him and from him.
Declare we to you —
For this end.
That ye also may have fellowship with us — May enjoy the same fellowship which we enjoy.
And truly our fellowship — Whereby he is in us and we in him.
Is with the Father and with the son — Of the Holy Ghost he speaks afterwards.
Verse 4
[4] And
these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
That your joy may be full — So our Lord also, John 15:11; 16:22. There is a joy of hope, a joy of faith,
and a joy of love. Here the joy of faith is directly intended. It is a concise
expression.
Your joy —
That is, your faith and the joy arising from it: but it likewise implies the
joy of hope and love.
Verse 5
[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.
And this is the sum of the message which we
have heard of him - The Son of God.
That God is light —
The light of wisdom, love, holiness, glory. What light is to the natural eye,
that God is to the spiritual eye.
And in him is no darkness at all — No contrary principle. He is pure, unmixed light.
Verse 6
[6] If
we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not
the truth:
If we say —
Either with our tongue, or in our heart, if we endeavour to persuade either
ourselves or others. We have fellowship with him, while we walk, either
inwardly or outwardly, in darkness - In sin of any kind.
We do not the truth — Our
actions prove, that the truth is not in us.
Verse 7
[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.
But if we walk in the light — In all holiness. As God is (a deeper word than walk, and more worthy of
God) in the light, then we may truly say, we have fellowship one with another -
We who have seen, and you who have not seen, do alike enjoy that fellowship
with God. The imitation of God being the only sure proof of our having
fellowship with him.
And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son — With the grace purchased thereby.
Cleanseth us from all sin — Both original and actual, taking away all the guilt and all the power.
Verse 8
[8] If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we say —
Any child of man, before his blood has cleansed us.
We have no sin — To
be cleansed from, instead of confessing our sins, 1 John 1:9, the truth is not in us - Neither in
our mouth nor in our heart.
Verse 9
[9] If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But if with a penitent and believing heart,
we confess our sins, he is faithful - Because he had promised this blessing, by
the unanimous voice of all his prophets.
Just —
Surely then he will punish: no; for this very reason he will pardon. This may
seem strange; but upon the evangelical principle of atonement and redemption,
it is undoubtedly true; because, when the debt is paid, or the purchase made,
it is the part of equity to cancel the bond, and consign over the purchased
possession.
Both to forgive us our sins — To take away all the guilt of them.
And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness — To purify our souls from every kind and every degree of it.
Verse 10
[10] If
we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Yet still we are to retain, even to our
lives' end, a deep sense of our past sins. Still if we say, we have not sinned,
we make him a liar - Who saith, all have sinned.
And his word is not in us — We do not receive it; we give it no place in our hearts.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 1 John》
1 John 1:9
There are two ways
to keep a diesel truck running. The first is called “trouble-shoot and repair”
and involves waiting for a breakdown and then trying to fix the problem. It
involves so much down-time, however, that most truckers now use the “preventive
maintenance” approach, in which problems are anticipated and thus solved before
they occur.
It is good to be
reminded by 1 John 1:9 that forgiveness is there when we sin. But how much
better to maintain such a life of faith and discipline that the breakdown never
occurs!”
Chapter 1. The Light of Spiritual
Fellowship
Claim to Be
Without Sin
Deceive Oneself
I. The Word of
Life from the Beginning
II. The Reality
of Fellowship between God and Men
III. Confess
Our Sins
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of
The New Testament》
JOHN'S AIM IN WRITING THIS EPISTLE (1:1-4)
A. CONCERNS THE "WORD OF LIFE" (1)
1. Which was "from the beginning"
a. John may have reference to the creation of the world - cf.
Jn 1:1
b. Or he may have reference to the beginning of the gospel -
cf. 1 Jn 2:7,13,24; 3:11
2. This "Word of life" was...
a. "heard"
b. "seen with our eyes"
c. "looked upon"
d. "handled"
-- all emphasizing that this "Word" was "real, in the flesh";
an obvious reference to Jesus - cf. Jn 1:1,14
B. TO DECLARE THE "ETERNAL LIFE" (2)
1. Which was...
a. With the Father
b. And then manifested to the apostles, who had seen and were
bearing witness
2. Again, this is an obvious reference to Jesus Christ
3. But notice the use of the NEUTER gender throughout this
passage
a. The emphasis appears to be on the "life" which Jesus had,
especially that which is "eternal" ("that eternal life")
b. It is this same "life" which we can possess if we truly
believe in the name of the Son of God - cf. 1 Jn 5:11-13
4. Thus John is focusing on the "eternal life" which Jesus offers
and made possible by His coming in the flesh
C. THAT YOU MAY HAVE "FELLOWSHIP" WITH US (3)
1. Here is the reason for declaring the "Word of life", the
"eternal life"
2. By declaring this "life" (revealed by Jesus and through
Jesus), "fellowship" is possible
a. Fellowship involves the idea of "sharing, communion"
b. The "sharing, communion" that the apostles have is with the
Father and His Son
3. John wanted his readers to participate in this same sharing...
a. "that you also may have fellowship with us"
b. I.e., that you can experience what we are experiencing!
4. Why does John desire this? Read on...
D. THAT YOUR "JOY" MAY BE FULL (4)
1. It is "fellowship" with the Father and Son that makes the
"life" of a Christian so full of joy!
2. And just as Jesus came to give us "abundant life" (Jn 10:10),
so John now writes...
a. That we may be sure to have fellowship with the Father and
His Son, in Whom is "eternal life" - cf. Jn 17:3
b. So that our joy may be full!
CONCLUSION
1. From 1 Jn 1:1-4, then, we learn that fullness of joy comes only
when we are in fellowship with the Father and the Son
2. Only then do we have that "eternal life", which was first manifested
in the flesh by Jesus Himself, and now given only through Jesus -
cf. 1 Jn 5:11-13
3. In our next lesson, we shall see what John says is essential if we
are to truly have fellowship with God (1 Jn 1:5-2:2)
But if you are not a Christian, let me explain how such fellowship with
God can begin... - cf. Ga 3:26-27
Fellowship With God (1:5-2:2)
INTRODUCTION
1. In the first four verses of First John, we saw that John's aim in
this epistle is...
a. To declare the "Word of life", the "eternal life" that was with
the Father and has been manifested in Jesus Christ - 1 Jn 1:1-2
b. That we might have fellowship with the Father and Son, just as
the apostles do - 1 Jn 1:3
c. That we might have fullness of joy - 1 Jn 1:4
2. So to have fullness of joy...we must experience the kind of life
that comes from having fellowship with God!
3. What is the basis for fellowship with God, so that we may have the
life that produces fullness of joy?
a. In our text (1 Jn 1:5-2:2), John discusses the basis for
fellowship with God
b. He also describes the place of sin, and how it can affect that
fellowship
[With verse 5, we notice...]
I. THE PREMISE FOR HAVING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (5)
A. "GOD IS LIGHT"
1. The figure of light is often used in the Scriptures to
describe that which to good, righteous, and true - cf. Ep 5:
8-10
2. Therefore, God must always be thought of in this way: He is
good, He is righteous, He is true!
B. "IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL"
1. The figure of darkness would represent the opposite of light:
evil, unrighteousness, falsehood
2. Therefore we can never think of God as countenancing sin,
excusing it in any way
[With this basic understanding clearly established of what God is, John
now addresses some...]
II. FALSE CLAIMS CONCERNING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (6-10)
A. "WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM", YET WALK IN DARKNESS (6-7)
1. Why is this claim false?
a. Because fellowship means to have something in common
b. And we have seen that God is "light" (goodness,
righteousness, truth)
c. "Walking in darkness", therefore, would be going against
everything God stands for! - cf. Ep 4:17-24
2. What is the result of such a claim?
a. We are false in our WORDS ("we lie")
b. We are false in our DEEDS ("do not practice the truth")
3. Instead, we should "walk in the light as He is in the light"
a. I.e., instead of living a life characterized by "evil,
unrighteousness, and error" (all the while claiming to have
fellowship with God)...
b. ...we should live a life in harmony with God's "goodness,
righteousness, and truth"!
4. Only then will we experience:
a. "Fellowship with one another"
1) That is, we will have fellowship with God
2) Whereby we can share in that life which is eternal, and
provides fullness of joy!
b. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son [which] cleanses us from
all sin"
1) This suggests that "walking in the light" does not imply
sinlessness
2) Any more than "walking in darkness" implies total
absence of good
3) Rather, "walking in the light" suggests...
a) A life making progress under the positive influence
of God's "light"
b) A life enjoying the cleansing power of Jesus' blood
as one meets the conditions of forgiveness outlined
below
B. "WE HAVE NO SIN" (8,9)
1. John may have reference to statements made by professing
Christians who thought they had become sinless
2. The consequences of such a claim...
a. Self-deceit ("we deceive ourselves")
b. Living in error ("the truth is not in us")
c. I.e., walking in darkness, not walking in light!
3. Instead, we should freely confess our sins - 1 Jn 1:9a ; cf.
Pr 28:13
4. Then God, who is "faithful" (trustworthy) and "just" (one who
does what is right) will...
a. "forgive us our sins"
b. "cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
...through His mercy He makes it possible for to continue in
fellowship with Him!
C. "WE HAVE NOT SINNED" (10)
1. This claim may have been made by some denying they had ever
sinned
2. The consequences of this claim are grievous...
a. We make God a liar! - cf. Ro 3:23
b. His Word is not in us!
3. How can anyone who makes such claims as these hope to have
true fellowship with God, and thereby enjoy the life such
fellowship gives?
4. Fellowship with God does not occur by making claims that turn
God into a liar!
[Though affirming that we do sin, John is not seeking to encourage sin.
Indeed, he is writing to discourage sin (1 Jn 2:1).
But fellowship with God requires that a person takes sin seriously. To
appreciate further how serious God takes sin, we learn that...]
II. FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD REQUIRES AN ADVOCATE (2:1-2)
A. "WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS"
(1)
1. The word "advocate"...
a. Literally means "to call to one's side, to one's aid"
b. It suggests the capability for giving aid
c. Used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, a
counsel for the defense
d. Generally, it is one who pleads another's case, an
intercessor
2. Jesus is the perfect "advocate", for He is RIGHTEOUS
a. As sinners, we are alienated from God - cf. Isa 59:1-2
b. But since Jesus is without sin, He is a fit representative
to come before God on our behalf!
c. The author of Hebrews also makes the point that though
righteous, He understands our situation perfectly - cf. He
2:17-18; 4:14-16
B. "HE HIMSELF IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS" (2)
1. The word "propitiation" means "an appeasing"
a. E.g., the pagans would offer sacrifices to appease their
gods
b. In the New Testament, it is God, not man, who offers the
appeasing sacrifice - cf. 1 Jn 4:10
c. Through His death on the cross, Jesus is the means by which
God can show mercy to the sinner
d. This explains how God can be "just" (cf. 1 Jn 1:9) and
still forgive sin
e. This wonderful "propitiation" was given to the whole world,
but is accessed only by those who believe in Jesus - cf.
1 Jn 2:2; Ro 3:21-26
CONCLUSION
1. In this first chapter, and even into the second, John makes it clear
upon what basis we can have fellowship with God, and enjoy the life
that provides fullness of joy
2. To have fellowship with God, we who are Christians must...
a. Not walk in darkness, but walk in the light of God's goodness,
righteous, and truth
b. Admit that we have sinned, and do sin
c. Utilize our "advocate" (Jesus Christ), Whom God provides as the
"propitiation" for our sins
In 1 Jn 1:9, John explained how those who are already children of God
can appropriate the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus (through
confession and prayer). But how about the alien sinner? - cf. Ac 2:
38; 22:16 (faith, repentance, and baptism)
--《Executable
Outlines》
The light of spiritual fellowship
Claim to be without sin
Deceive oneself
I.
The word of life from the beginning
1.
Heard with our ears
2.
Seen with our eyes
3.
Touched with our hands
II.The
reality of fellowship between God and men
1.
God is light
2.
Words in conformity with deeds
3.
Jesus’ blood purifies our sins
III.
Confess our sins
1.
Faithful and just
2.
Sins forgiven
3.
Resume fellowship
-- Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》