Table of Contents
1 John 1
1 John 2
1 John 3
1 John 4
1 John 5
Eaglewings Index
Testimony of the Living Christ
1 John 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;
John begins the epistle much the same as the Gospel of John, showing the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. That which was from the beginning;
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John himself gives witness to the living word;
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
...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;
John describes the physical presence of the Lord, he was seen, he was touched, he was not a ghost, but he came in the flesh and dwelt among them.
1 John 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
The life of Jesus was manifested, as a human man-God, he came from God and is the source of eternal life, this is he that John is a witness of.
Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God (Spirit), thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
1 John 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.
The epistle was written to believers, some of which had not seen Jesus in the flesh. John was assuring them that he did indeed come in the flesh and as the result of his life and death and resurrection. We are in God's family and under his love, which brings us together in fellowship with God the father and his son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
The purpose of the epistle is to make them aware of the Joyful fellowship of the children of God. A Christian should be joyful, for we are children of the Most High God. Jesus has overcome the world, we walk in his Spirit of truth and love.
God is Light
1 John 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.
Pure light and truth, no darkness or shadows. God is light. Angels have light too, even fallen ones.
2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Let's look at other verses describing God as light;
Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
He wants to us to worship him alone, not idols of our making. He will burn up that which does not have eternal value. His fire is of judgment, his light is truth and love. Actually from his light comes all good, his glory is seen, though now we only see in part. Even with all understanding of the Bible, we know in part, but enough to bring us eventually to his presence. Then we shall know as he knows, even as we are known.
1 Cor 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 1 Cor 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Our God is the Father of lights. He is not just a light, but the origin of all light. With light we can see clearly, with light cameras record an image. Absence of light, is darkness, nothing to see or share.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
If we say we are of God, and do nothing of the light that is worthy, having no fellowship with God, we lie and have no truth. Light and truth are together, as are absence of light and sin.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Hiding something? Do not want fellowship? these are signs of sin or separation.
1 John 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.
If we walk in the light of truth in Gods word and a clean heart, we have fellowship one with another. We are under the blood of Jesus and it's cleansing power.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
We are not sinners, but redeemed children of God, who occasionally sin but not continuously. But what if we do sin in some way?
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Confess your sins directly to God. Then God will forgive you and cleanse you. First you must be a new person in Christ Jesus, your sins removed and having received a new heart. Afterwards we need not fear loosing our salvation, but we shall confess our sins and be cleansed. It is God who keeps us in his hand, we do not have to fear being removed because of a sin committed. It is through faith in Jesus that we receive his grace. This verse was illustrated in the gospel of John where Jesus was washing the disciples feet;
John 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
John 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
We are washed clean by the word and the blood of Jesus. It is our daily walk, our contamination with the world that needs to be cleansed.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
If you say you don't sin, you are a liar. All sin, but we have an advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ that declares us not guilty. (1John2:1) Do not let one who is out of fellowship and walking in darkness accuse you and bring you down if you are of the light, remember the four warning signs of darkness;
1. no fellowship with God, and others of faith.
2. unconfessed sin
3. speaking lies
4. absence of love
Stay in the light by being in fellowship with God in word and prayer and with fellow Christians. Confess your sins daily and speak the truth in love, loving one another and forgiving one another as we are forgiven.
Gary