Verse One: 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, concerning the Word of life…
“That which” – What is “that”? That is not only Jesus Christ but also everything that belongs to him, especially His message, the gospel.
“…was…”-
· Using this term John is teaching the pre-existence of Jesus (John 1:1)
“..from the beginning”-
· Refers to the beginning of creation- The Pre- existent one. Who was there at creation –or- can refers to the beginning of the Christian life.
OR
· Refers to the beginning of Jesus’ teaching
· “from” gives the idea that John here is speaking of a starting point. That starting point is creation, he does not use “in the beginning”.
· It gives the idea of development of time a progression.
· This proves that Jesus existed before his birth!
John goes on to talk about Him from the point of his incarnation as a human. We can then say that this verse speaks of the beginning of the Christian life but He has existed before his birth.
John 1:1 goes even farther by saying He existed even before creation.
1John:1a – proving his divinity (Christ) which the Jews and Docetric Gnostics easily believed and 1b proving his humanity (Jesus) which the Greeks and Cerenthian Gnostics had no difficulty understanding.
“heard” – (continually - heard and still hearing). Jesus was not a phantom or completely a spiritual being but also have a physical side to him.
· Jn 14:26 The Holy Spirit still reveals Him today
“looked upon” – to gaze at intensely, to study in a calm and continual state
· This is where we get the English word “movie” or “theater”
· Example: Mount Transfiguration 1 pet 1:16,18, Thomas ( )
“..handled..” – speaking of the handling of his post resurrection body and possibly his human pre-death body.
Jesus had a Physical body The modern Gnostics taught differently
Notice the above progress in a fellowship between Jesus and the disciples. First heard, then seen, then touched.
“Word of Life” – We must not look at this phrase as a title placed of Jesus. This is who He is.
· If our words reveal our thoughts and our hearts( ) then since Jesus came to reveal the father this is who the Father is, “LIFE”.
o “Life” is describing the” Word” John 1:1,4
o “Word” – an account
o Better translation – “…concerning the Word that is life..”
Other names of Jesus:
Word of God
Word of the rd
Word of Hearing
Word of his Grace
Word of reconciliation
Word of truth
Word of righteousness’
Verse Two: - Possible parenthesis …the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us…
..manifested..” – Jesus has always existed, but a specific time he was brought from the unseen realm into the seen realm.
· 1 John 3:2 – we will be there some day also. Just in reverse.
· Once again John is using this to combat the heresy that Jesus only “seemed” like he was human and in the flesh, and only spiritual.
· Not only did Jesus manifest through the incarnation but also that he brought “life” with Him. John 10:10
“we” – John here is speaking for other people presumably the other apostles. Jesus did not just show himself to just one.
· Beware of those that have an exclusive viewing of the things of God.
· No one can challenge John’s position as a eye witness.
o False teachers may have seen also, but not touched and handled.
..declare..” – notice declaring came after hearing, seeing and touching him.
· The Christian walk is progressive in growth. Hear….see….touch (progressive).. Then we take upon what we heard, saw and touch and we proclaim it to someone else.
· Don’t be in a rush to preach, sit and receive first.
· Witnessing is simply sharing our experiences
..that eternal life..” – 1 Jn 2:8, 1 John 4:9
· that = the
· This life is NOT in Quantity (duration) but in quality.
· This Word of Life was manifested so that we could see what true fellowship with the Father is.
· “eternal” – pertaining to the end age (the last age, eternal age)
o A time we live with him in eternity
· Results of eternal life
o 1. Joy() 2.Fellowship() 3. Freedom from sin()
Verse 3: …that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
“…fellowship..” – Partaker, Partner, communion, teamwork, community. Something that is held in Common. (Acts 2:42, Matt 28:20, Luke 5:10)
· Example: Koine Greek: The common speaking language
· To know and hold to the common understanding of Life with us.
· Exchanging secrets, full of intimacy. What’s mine is yours and vice-a-versa.
· Deep fellowship only happens when Jesus is central. It takes time.
o Example; marriage.
· Fellowship w/in the body will supersede any doctrinal differences.
· Relationship with the Father and Jesus Christ is not just a choice you make but it something you have to be born into. Fellowship is a choice.
· There are only two families to have fellowship with, God and Satan!
· Fellowship with other believers is a distinguishing mark of a believer. ( )
· If you forsake fellowship with believers you forsake fellowship with the Father
“..with the Father and with His Son..”
· “with” denotes separation. Distinct differences in character
· but equal in fellowship
“Father” – not just Daddy but also Creator
“Jesus Christ” not his name but Jesus the messiah. Jesus the anointed one. Christ is his description.
Verse 4: And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
(3Jn:4, Jn16:24, Luke 6:38)
· When true fellowship has been reached true joy comes to light
o Example; David Prodigal Son
· If fellowship brings joy, and John’s purpose is joy then you can see that John is assuming that his hearers are born-again.
· This is why Church is so important, it helps us step into a deeper fellowship with God.
“your” – could possible be “your” or “our”.
· John here may be saying that through this letter he is fellowshipping with them, and as a result he is joyful or their joy is the focus of the letter. Either way, after fellowship comes joy enter into both parties.
“joy” – not happiness. Biblical Joy is a deep down sense that all is well, in spite of external circumstances.
“..full..” – “fulfilled” Jn 3:29, 2 Jn 12
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The believer’s relationship to the nature of sin and to the acts of sin.
Verse 5- this is the message, which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
“God is Light” – Should not be used in its literal sense but only in its essence, nature and character. Not “a light” or “the light”.
· This Light is not physical but spiritual, moral,
“no” – a double negative. Designed as an emphasis. More literal “no, not at all”.
· God is absolute righteousness. Perfect with out any flaws If we as walk in the light we wi be like Him
“In Him’ – simply being a disciple
The Teachings of Jesus as a whole was:
· 1. I am the Light of the World and I bring Life. ( )
· 2. I have come to give you this life and make you a light (john 10:10) ()
· Facts about “The Light”
Light and Life always go hand in hand. Light always brings Life.
· Ps 27:1, 1Tim6:16, James 1:17
Light Reveals – 1. Sin 2. Truth 3. Error 4. Stumbling blocks
· Things become clear when we walk in the Light ( Jn 3:19-20)
· There are no hidden agendas (Eph 5:8-13)
· God calls us into the Light 1 Pet 2:9
· We are called Children of the Light 1Thess 5:5
Gods Light never moves, we must remain in it (Him).
Carnal men seek to hide their sin by staying away from the Light.
God showed Himself in the O.T by using Light.
· Example: Burning Lamp, Pillar of fire, Luminous cloud
“Darkness” – a spiritual attitude that causes us to walk away from Him. To reject the Gospel
Darkness is:
· Hostile to the light Jn 1:15
· Stand for ignorance and chaos Jn12:35
· Stands for immorality Jn 3:1nine
· It is unfruitfulness and hate Eph 5:11, 1Jhn 2:nine
· Separation from God
If God is Light and you walk in Him, you will be in the Light. If you’re in the Light you can’t be in sin, you can’t be in sin and the Light at the same time. They are opposites.
John wrote this verse because of false teaching that was possibly started by the Nicolations called Antinomianism.
· They believe if God was in you and God cant sin, then we can’t sin either.
· Possibly started by one of the original deacons (Acts 6:5)
· This heresy would disown all moral obligations.
Verse six: If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
“If” – a hypothetical question resulting in a truthful statement Vs 6-1zer
“say” – claims must be backed up by experiences.
“walk” – literal “walking”. Continual. A habitual un-repented lifestyle.
· Walking in darkness is anything outside of Gods will/ways.
· Mk7:5, Acts 21:21
“truth” – To live in full harmony of reality.
Rom 1:18 – hide the truth
Walk according 3jn:4
Don’t error in it James 5:1
The way you fix a backslidden fellowship is not by ceasing to sin, but to step back under/in the Light.
The longer you stay out of fellowship the more phony you become. (Hab1:13, Amos 2:3)
We must have fellowship with Him on His terms not ours.
· Abide all the way in the light, no “fence stratling”
Results of walking in the darkness
· 1. Hatred ( ) 2. Desire for the world (Jn 2:8-11)
False Teaching – The person who lives in sin can still have fellowship with God and other. We don’t have t walk in darkness
Verse seven: But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
“If” – Notice it’s a choice.
“we” –
· First “we” – Only could refer to The writer(John) and the readers (Christians)
· Second “we” – can be read two different ways
o 1. John and the believers fellowshipping
o 2. A fellowship between God and us (his children).
o Either way both are true considering vs. 3.
“walk” – gives the idea that we progress while in the light. This is spiritual growth.
“walking in the light” – does not say “walking according to the light”. Gal 5:16 Its about the place we walk in not how we walk in it.
· It’s not ultimately about perfect doctrine nor about just by doing what is right. Sinners can do that. Its about fellowship in Him that will result in doing what pleases Him (John 8:29, 1 Thess 4:1)
· This requires a certain amount of openness
·
"Fellowship” – Due to our walking in the light and our fellowship the result will automatically be a continual cleansing.
“Jesus Christ” – some manuscripts omit “Christ” – Remember the sacrificial blood comes from his human side (Jesus).
“Cleanses” – accurately – continually cleanses.
· This can only speak of the unknown sins we commit.
· If this continual cleansing was not in place we would be unable to stay in the presence of God, because those sins would automatically restrict us from the light.
· Paul doesn’t address how it cleanses us, but simply a fact.
Verse eight: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
* Here John is picking out one point Jesus taught and false religion ignored. Asceticism believed that anything in the Flesh meant nothing. So in return they could not sin cause there was no evil.
“If we say” – more Christian hypocrisy
“sin” - since this word is in the singular form it refers to the sin nature.
More like a genetic defect. This refers to the sin nature with us that Adam passed on to us. It’s the root problem. It’s what gives us the ability to commit acts of sin.
· Just because God is sinless, and we abide in him, does not mean we are free from the ability to sin, but we are free from the mandatory grip it has on us. 1John 3:8
· John here eradicates the perfectionism theology.
· Example Paul Rom 6.
Three usages – Things we do that make us guilty before God
o Transgress the law
o Transgress goodness (unwritten knowing/weekness)
o You cannot transgress the law but still sin by lack of Goodness.
· Sin can be a synonym for blame and guilt.
· Sin can be an underlining cause that results in sinful deeds.
“ourselves” – it only hurts you, no one else.
· You may not be aware/conscience of sin while walking in the light. But that does not mean you don’t have the ability to sin.
**Refers to sinners not walking in the Light. They believe they don’t sin. It’s more of a parenthesis or example.
Verse nine: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
* you have nothing to loose by admitting falt.
“confess” – To say the same thing, to own up to, to take sides with what Gods has to say (Matt 6:12)
· Confession is not a regret but a commitment to turn back to the light.
· Be specific
“sins” – (plural) – refers to specific committed sins. These are the product of the sin nature.
“faithful” – Heb 10:23, 11:11, 1Thess 5:24, 1Cor 1:9
· Faithfulness and righteousness (just) are not Gods actions but his nature. Its just who he is, He cant help it but be faithful.
“forgive” – “to send away”
· vs. 7 – continually cleansing/forgiving
· Vs. 9 – Singular. This is a single act of forgiveness of out known actions of sins. He will cast it into the sea of forgetfulness ( )
Note* -All sin was forgiven when we were saved, as it pertains to a legal position. We will not be judged or condemned. It has nothing to do with our relationship with the father but only our fellowship as his children. It’s a Father-son relationship not a judge-defendant relationship.
False teachers denied the messiahship of Jesus. Jesus then could not forgive sins.
“cleanse” –
· You may not “feel” cleansed/forgiven but it’s by faith. You won’t “feel” totally clean until your back “in the light”.
· Not believing that God has/can forgive/cleanses you is sin. Rom 14:17
“unrighteousness” – this speaks of our unrighteous works
· Sin can’t effect our right standing/position as righteousness
o We were made righteous by grace 1 John5:17
o Refers to our “sins”. Acts of unrighteousness
Identification by Faith with the death of Jesus the Christ empowers us to keep the sin nature down. Rom 6:3 Gal 2:30
God will many times reveal unknown sins to us while we are walking in the light, this is then the time we must rid it from our lives.
Verse ten: If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
“sinned” – refers once again to the acts of sin.
· Christians who are in denial that they have done anything wrong believe that they can make it n their own.
“liar” – We make him a lier cause that is not what Jesus taught.
1 John 1 Summary
When a believer is not walking in the light he:
o Lies about his fellowship 1John :6, 2 Cor 6:14
o Lies about his ability too sin 1 John 1:8
o Lies about his actions
