1 JOHN 1

1Jo 1:1 ¶ That which was from the beginning (The verb means "was already in existence," not "came into existence."—Ryrie Study Notes), 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;

The phrase from the beginning speaks of the eternal nature of Jesus Christ:

• John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning (this in the beginning predates the in the beginning of Gen 1.1) was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
• Jesus is described here as being The Word of Life. The Greek word for life is zoe, which refers to divine life, or life from above. There are another Greek words, bios in 2.16 and psuche in 3.16 that speak of  our human, natural life.
• This life that we have in Christ is not of this world. It is a new birth from above, and it begets in those who have it a brand new way of living and looking at things. 7 times in this epistle, John is going to mention the phrase, born of God. By our natural birth, we are born of man; buy our new birth, we are born of God.
• There are two groups in this sanctuary this morning, those who are born twice and those who are born once. Those who are born of God and those who aren’t.

When John writes about how he looked upon Jesus, the word for “look” here does not mean simply a passing glance; it describes an intense observation of either something or someone that continues to reveal fresh insights.

• One reason why many modern saints stop growing in The Lord is because we stop looking with intent at Jesus Christ, and oftentimes it is in the pursuit of “deeper spiritual truths.” they have lost that sense of the glory of Jesus!
• Paul wrote about desiring to know Jesus more intimately 30 years after he was saved [Phil 3:7-10].
• Peter's last words in Scripture were to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus. [2Pet 3:18].
• When Jesus gave the invitation in Matt11 to learn of Me, that is something that you and I will be doing for all of eternity.

2 (For the life was manifested (revealed), 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;).

As we said in our introduction, with these few words in verses 1 and 2, John drives the sword of the Spirit into the heresy of Gnosticism, that not only led to the denial of the Virgin Birth and Incarnation, it also led to the denial of the literal 2nd coming as revealed in Rev 19.

• John is giving an eyewitness account to the humanity and eternal glory of The Lord Jesus Christ. He records his relationship with Jesus both before and after His resurrection and ascension.
• By declaring the humanity and deity of Jesus Christ, John is contending with apostolic authority for one of the foundations of the faith once delivered to the saints.
• 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.
• Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
• 1 Tim 3.16 Great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh. 

Please note that eternal life is in Christ Jesus. He was with The Father and manifested unto man. 

• John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

There is no eternal life by keeping the law of God or by adhering to any kind of codes or rituals prescribed by any religious system.

• Ro 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Ro 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
• Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
• People were being saved long before there was a KF, Baptists, Lutherans or Catholics….Look unto Me and be saved, saith The Lord.

There is no eternal life in simply knowing or even memorizing the Scriptures.

• John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up (his death on the cross as propitiation for our sin): 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

• The Lord Jesus Christ is The One that makes the declaration that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
• This promise of eternal life is given to every single person in this room this morning who believes in the biblical doctrine of the substitutionary, atoning  sacrifice of The Lord Jesus Christ, and received him into their lives as Lord.
• Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• 1Jo 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

This gift of eternal life in Christ is the basis of assurance and eternal security.

• John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
• Every single person who hears the voice of Jesus Christ calling him or her to repent and trust in Him alone for salvation and surrender to Him as Lord is born of The Spirit, sealed with The Spirit and seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. .

But this is not cold, dead theology my friends. The apostle Paul’s philosophy of life in Phil 1 and 3 could be summed up in these words, For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

• Paul, one of the most graced servants of The Living God scaled down the heights and depths of theology that was revealed to him by The Holy Spirit this way….follow me as I follow Christ.
• The clear of record of Scripture is that we are commanded to be followers of The Lord Jesus Christ, not merely students of Christianity. Jesus is Lord is the foundation of the church and all church life and activity.

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.

·      John is writing to invite any and all who hear this letter read to enter into this glorious fellowship that has been offered unto us by The Father.

·      3 times in this chapter John is going to write about fellowship with Christ and one another. The Greek word for fellowship is Koinonia and it means, communion, partnership, participation.

·      This is what began on the day of Pentecost, Ac 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

• The fact that Christ came into this world to die for fallen man who is a sinner by nature (vs. 8) and by choice (vs.10) is a cause of great joy. We are great sinners and Christ is a great Savior.
• Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is a holy affection that stems from the new birth. Joy comes from the presence of the Lord, for in His presence is fullness of joy, not in my ever changing circumstances in life.
• John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
• John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
• Ro 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

As we prepare our hearts to take the communion elements this morning, let us hear afresh from John in this epistle why Jesus was manifested (appeared, made known).

• 1Jo 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins.
• 1Jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
• 1Jo 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
• To be forgiven of all of my sin; to be delivered from the authority and power of the devil; to have life through my fellowship with Jesus Christ is indeed a cause of great joy!

1Jo 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.

• According to Strong’s, the Greek word for message here, eppagelia means announcement, pledge, a divine assurance of good, promise.
• In 2 Tim 2.1, Paul writes about the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.

The message that John and the rest of the apostles of Jesus proclaimed came directly from God, not man.

• Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God is light- The word light it literally means to shine or make manifest. In the gospel of John, the light that we speak of is more than something, it is Someone.

• John 1:7 The same (John the Baptist) came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
• We know from the book of Genesis that light is needed for life.
• Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

One of the powerful I AM statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John was, John 8:12 I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

• 1Jo 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Light is also used in Scripture to refer to the Bible itself:

• Ps 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

In the moral sense, light refers to holiness or purity as opposed to darkness and sin.

• Ro 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The announcement here is that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 

James put it this way, James 1.17 the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

The word darkness speaks of denial, deceit, falsehood or moral impurity. Darkness is the predominant feature of a kingdom that is operated by evil powers that Christians battle each and every day.

• Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
• 1Pe 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

John will specifically qualify what is meant by darkness in chapter 2.

• 1Jo 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth (Gr. detest) his brother, is in darkness even until now.
• 1Jo 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
• Webster defines detest as meaning to lothe, curse; intense dislike.
• According to Scripture, darkness and hatred are twin works of the flesh from which no good thing can come.
• The Lord of Christ dispels hatred, just like light eliminates darkness.

Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can change a person’s life from living in darkness to living in the light. Listen to the gospel that Jesus told Paul to preach.

• Ac 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

When we are born again, we are Col 1:13 delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son

One of the very foundational truths of Scripture is the incompatibility of light and darkness.

• 2 Cor 6.14 what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
• This simply means that a believer and a non-believer have nothing in common spiritually. The natural man and the spiritual man are not walking on the same path. Their basic philosophy of life will be different.
• The unsaved are our mission field, not our enemy primarily. Jesus Christ is our Example of how we are to show the love and mercy of God to the lost. Jesus had compassion on the multitudes.
• Luke 14.21 Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth (Lit. do not practice the truth):

One of the things that John does in this epistle is cut right through all of the religious rhetoric and get down to brass tacks about what it means to walk with Jesus Christ.

Here he begins contrasting professions of faith with genuine conversion. It is not what we say that makes us Christians.

If we say –Let’s take a quick look at some of the professions that people were making and what The Holy Spirit says about such professions:

• 1Jo 1:8 ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• If we deny that we are born of a sinful root, we are self deceived. We are sinners we are by birth and by nature. Sin effects our minds, our wills, our affections and our concept of God.
• 1Jo 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
• If any person claims to have reached a state of sinless perfection, they are calling God a liar, which is proof that the incorruptible seed of God’s Word has not yet entered into our hearts.
• According to the Greek language, John is not saying that we will never disobey God. Neither is He saying that you and I will always have perfect relationships or feelings towards one another. He is saying that because of the Presence of the Indwelling Spirit of God, a born again child of God will not be able to deny the sinful root within us, nor will we be able to continually live in a prolonged state of deliberate, defiant disobedience or heart hatred towards one another.

• The word walk is a word that is used to describe a person’s consistent and habitual conduct.

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 (continues to cleanse) us from all sin (the guilt and pollution of sin).

• This verse used to frighten me because I read it this way, “If I walk in sinless perfection as God is sinless, I will have fellowship with Him.”
• As we will see in just a few verses, walking in the light does not mean walking in sinless perfection. Walking in the light means habitually walking in the light if His word (truth, holiness, and honesty), not in darkness (falsehood and sin). The requirement for fellowship is to let the light reveal right and wrong and then to respond to that light continually.—Wycliffe Bible Commentary, The
• Walking in the light means walking in the light of God’s Word; walking in honesty and sincerity, not denial and deception. Walking in the light means that I will be having meaningful communion with The Lord in prayer. Genuine times of intimacy with The Lord in worship.
• But notice that this fellowship is also with one another. As you are reading your bibles, be sensitive to all of the passages that refer to one another. For example
• John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
• John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
• Rom 12.10 in honour preferring one another.
• Ro 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
• Ro 15:7 ¶ Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. How are you doing so far?
• Gal 5.13 by love serve one another.
• Eph 4:2 ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
• Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
• 1Th 5:11 ¶ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another.
• Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
• When you and I are walking in fellowship with The Lord, these passages are things that are going to be taking place in our lives. Do you know why? We cannot be walking in fellowship with The Lord apart from walking in fellowship with one another.

There are a couple of negative one another’s that are of equal importance.

• Ga 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another (gossip, backbiting, fault finding, sin sniffing), take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
• Ga 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
• If we are walking in fellowship with The Lord, then we will be convicted about doing these things Paul writes about.

So, a genuine child of God enjoys fellowships on two levels, first and foremost, on the vertical level with Christ and The Father; secondly and horizontally, with other believers. This vertical and horizontal fellowship forms a cross. Indeed, the cross is the basis of our fellowship with God and one another.

And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

• The Greek word for cleanseth clearly speaks of a continual cleansing. Even though we are forgiven of the debt and penalty of sin through the faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common, we still sin and need to be cleansed from the day to day pollution, guilt and corrupting influence of sin.
• The Greek word is a word that was used to describe how Jesus cleansed the lepers. I think of how Jesus cleansed the 10 lepers in Luke 17. However, it was the 1 that returned who fell down at His feet, thanking Him and glorifying God that was made whole.
• What tremendous power there is in the blood of Jesus Christ…what can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

8 ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

• Not only did the false teachers walk in doctrinal heresy regarding the deity and humanity of The Lord Jesus Christ, some of them went so far as to deny the existence of having a sin nature.
• Ps 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
• If a person fails to admit that they have a sin nature, then, there is no need for a Redeemer. Sin must be dealt with, it is a fact.
• Eccl 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
• Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
• Ps 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

·      To confess means “to say the same thing about sin as God does.” Forgiveness and fellowship within the family of God is restored when we confess.

• :
• In the mid 1700’s, John Witherspoon wrote these words, “Sin is so abominable a thing, so dishonoring to God, and so destructive to the souls of men, that no real Christian can witness it without concern.”
• Pr 28:13 ¶ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
• Confession and repentance go hand in hand. The correct way of dealing with sin is not to deny it, but to acknowledge it and believe that God will cleanse it, as He has promised.
• Forgiveness and cleansing does not mean that we always escape the consequences of the sin.

What is the effect of hiding our sin?

• Ps 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. Turmoil and the absence of peace in my soul.
• Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. It affects my fellowship with The Lord and renders my prayer life ineffective.

What is the effect of bringing our sin into the light and repenting of it?

• Ps 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

• Since God says that all men are sinners, to deny that fact is essentially calling God a liar, thus proving that we do not really belong to Him except in our own minds.
• This verse renounces the doctrine of sinless perfection as a possibility of being attained on earth in these present mortal bodies. Paul declared this truth in Phil 3.
• The only solution for the sin problem, whether it be the sinful root or the sinful deed is The Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ. The required condition to the preaching of the gospel is repentance.
• The prodigal son said, Lu 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
• The publican in the temple said, Lu 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
• Nobody knew the gospel better than Jesus, and we close this morning with His first words recorded in Mark’s gospel:
• Mark 1.14 Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. The gospel is not try harder, perform more rituals, give more money, self esteem…the gospel is repent or your sin and trust in Christ.