1 JOHN CHAPTER 1 — GOD IS LIGHT
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN
The name of the writer of this epistle is not given, but the Apostle John, from very early in church history, has been given as the writer. Early historians Irenaeus and Eusebius affirm the writer was John. Also Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian and Origen quoted these epistles as by the Apostle John. All 3 of these epistles of John were written from Ephesus, and believed to be written between A.D. 80–95. John would have been in Jerusalem until the Jewish war of AD 66 which led to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. After Paul’s death he moved to Ephesus and led the churches in Asia.The church lived in this time when gnosticism and emperor worship was prevalent in society. Gnosticism was creeping into the church. Gnostics taught that the body and spirit were separate, therefore sinning with the body didn’t affect one’s spirit. This is how they justified their sin. Paul addressed Christians continuing to sin in Romans chapter 6. Of course gnosticism is contrary to the teachings all throughout the bible. But like any new thing, it finds acceptance by some even in the church. The root of the word gnostic means knowledge. The teachers of this heresy claimed to have some secret knowledge. I’m sure it made it intriguing to some, and quite convenient to those unwilling to rid their lives of sin. With gnosticism they could have both, a Christian life where sin was acceptable.
The Prologue to the Letter
1 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life — 2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us). 3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). 4 Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
In the prologue the Apostle John is saying that what the Apostles taught is the truth from the beginning, what they themselves were eye witnesses to, having walked with Jesus, and lived the life that was revealed to them by Jesus himself. He’s saying stick with the true teaching of the Apostles, who got the truth from Jesus, and we, like them, will have fellowship with God and with Jesus.
I’m not aware of the ancient Gnosticism influencing the church today, but can you think of ways in which the church in America, or average church goers, are erring from the teaching of the Prophets and Apostles? A couple of things come to my mind right away that are widely accepted in society today, and even in some churches, that pretty clearly aren’t acceptable in the Old or New Testament.
If someone joined our church, and began to proclaim things as acceptable, that are not acceptable according to the bible, what would our response be? How would we address it? The time could come when this happens even to small orthodox churches like ours.
I’m sure you are aware that some these days say the bible is outdated and God doesn’t expect us to adhere to the bible in the 21st century. I believe the bible is just as relevant to us today as it was the day the words were written. People are people and we don’t change in that regard.
How fantastic it is that today we have the words of Jesus and the writings of those taught by Jesus. Church tradition is important, but thank God we don’t have to rely on only church tradition or writings from those who never walked on earth with Jesus. We have the writings of the Apostles, and having common faith with them, we have fellowship with them. In this respect we are all part of the Holy catholic (universal) church the Apostle’s Creed speaks of. What fantastic provision God has made for us to know Him, his Son our Savior, the loving sacrifice He made for us, and His will for our lives. The bible and it’s true author, the Holy Spirit gives us the words of life.
Reminds me of that great old hymn in our hymnal written by Phillip Bliss 1838–1876.
WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
God Is Light, So We Must Walk in the Light
5 Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. 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. 8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.
The gospel message is… God is light, and in him there is no darkness. This statement is the basis for everything else the Apostle John says in the rest of the letter. This is the reason we read and adhere to the bible.
Walking in the light. If someone were to ask you what it means to walk in the light, how would you describe it to them?
Do words like truth, knowledge, hope and faith come to mind? This text reminds me of what the Apostle Paul tells us what we should be dwelling on in our minds:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. 9 And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
Yes.. Lord help us to “do these things”!
How about walking in darkness? How would describe a life of walking in darkness? Lost, without hope, in fear, delusional…
The person of verse 6 & 8 (walking in darkness and not acknowledging his own sin) is fooling himself. He’s the person who considers himself Christian, but his beliefs and lifestyle are contrary to bible teaching. He is deceiving himself. What a fearful thing to stand before Jesus and be found in this condition! I think part of the problem is that many today think being a Christian is something you add on to your life. To the contrary it’s a new life, it’s a born again life. It’s not an addition like being a member of a club.
Confession of sin is acknowledging the truth about it that God already knows. Its important we do that. In the end, who is all sin against? It’s against God. If I sin against my spouse or friend or neighbor or stranger, it’s mostly against the one who determined it to be sin, God. Confessing our sins puts us on the same side as God, being against it.
Proverbs 28:13 says: The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.
When we do that we can claim the promise of God in verse 9, that he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us.
Strong language in verse 10 about denying we sin. “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us”. Makes no sense anyway for us to deny we sin when we have a Savior who died and paid for our sins.
The first 2 verses of chapter 2 seem to go better with chapter 1 so I will include them here:
Chapter 2:
1(My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One, 2 and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.
Bear with me for one more hymn, I love the old hymns! This one seems to fit here. The refrain from Living for Jesus written by Thomas O. Chisholm 1917:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to thee;
for thou, in thy atonement, didst give thyself for me;
I own no other master, my heart shall be thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ for thee alone.
May our lives henceforth be to live for Christ!