For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
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.
- John the apostle is confronting the false system of Docetism, as we learned yesterday. The docetic Christ wasn't physical -- hence John's emphasis that Jesus was tangible.
- According to verse 2, eternal life is available to all through Jesus Christ.
- This suggests that none of us possesses it innately. Romans 6:23 tells us that eternal life is a gift we receive through Christ.
- This implies that no one will truly live eternally who has not come through Jesus Christ. And yet what an incredible gift for those willing to receive it!
- Following the teachings of Docetism removed one from the fellowship.
- John has joy when the members in his sphere of influence (his ministry, here specifically in Asia Minor) are on track spiritually. It is deeply burdensome, for a leader, especially, when Christians are struggling with their faith and commitment (2 Cor 11:28-29).
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.
- Is light perfection? No, light (John 3:19-21) is characteristic of God, his word and his people. In other words, judge these false Christians not just by their theology, but also by their morality.
- God is light -- and light has a strong moral component (Eph 4:17-19; 5:8-14).
- Other chapters with the darkness-light theme are found in the letters of Paul (Romans 13, 2 Corinthians 6, Ephesians 5, 1 Thessalonians 5, etc), the letters of Peter (1 Peter 2), and especially in the four gospels.
- Light and darkness don’t mix (vv.5-7), and woe to those who confuse the two (Isaiah 5:20)!
- “Walking in the light”—is this possible for a mere human?
- Absolutely yes!
- The Greek of v.6 has an interesting phrase: "do what is true."
- Walking in the light does not mean perfection, but an eagerness to obey Christ’s commands, especially (in 1 John) the command to love one another (2:6, 2:10). If it is impossible to walk in the light, then we are all lost, because walking as Jesus walked and walking in the light are one and the same.
- The opponents of John’s churches claimed to be in the light, but they were not, for two reasons:
- They did not walk in the light; they did not walk as followers of Christ. (See 1 John 2:3-6.)
- They were not in fellowship with other Christians. In fact they stood in opposition to the true disciples. (See 1 John 4:5-6.)
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.
- The Gnostics did not admit to wrong and claimed to be without sin (1:8-10).
- Walking in the light is not only not perfection; it is a lifestyle where there is the open admission of imperfection. It is parallel to “confessing our sins,” that is, being open about our lives and refusing to hide in the darkness (John 3:19-21).
- We are purified from sin even while we are sinning (vv.7-9), because (in our attitude) we are walking in the light.
- Christians don't go back and forth from darkness to light unless they leave the Lord completely.
- We have crossed from death to life; that’s settled. Once the bill is paid, we don’t go back to the cash register and “settle up” again! It’s paid.
- Some Christians falsely imagine that when they sin they go back to the darkness, and when they confess they are forgiven again and come back into the light. What agony! What insecurity! What error! What a misunderstanding of grace -- a lapse into Galatians 3:3 theology!
- Confession is vital (v.9).
- It needs to be a part of our lifestyle. It is part of walking in the light.
- However, a Christian who fails to confess every sin is not going to be condemned. Imagine the scene at Judgment Day.
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- Baptism and subsequent confession have been described as “a bath and a shower in the blood of Jesus."
- We as Christians don’t need the bath again, but it sure feels good to “shower off’ the unrighteousness in the presence of God.
- Recall Jesus' conversation with Peter in John 13.
- Why pray for forgiveness when our relationship with God is secure?
- As an illustration, take marriage. When we sin against our spouse, we need to ask for forgiveness. For what purpose? To become married again, or to mend the relationship?
- Christians ask for God’s forgiveness not that they might be spared from going to hell (that was taken care of in baptism), but that the personal relationship with God might be healed.
- Salvation is no excuse for not asking for forgiveness when we have hurt God.
Thought questions:
- When is the last time you faced temptation and said, “No, I am not going to give in, because that is darkness”? What things have you decided not to allow in your life because they belong to the darkness, and not to the light?
- Do you enjoy walking in the light, or does guilt prevent you?
- How free do you feel to confess your sins to other people? How have you seen that confession truly brings you into deeper fellowship with God and with others?