In The Word
Read: 1 John 1:1-2:2
Introduction, The Incarnate Word
1 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 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
God Is Light
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce 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 and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to 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.
Christ Is Our Advocate
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The apostle John was letting everyone know that the message he was bringing them was not one he made up. He knew from personal experience: he touched Jesus and physically walked with Him. He wanted anyone reading this letter to know that this message of eternal life and fellowship with the Father and Savior was a sure message, not a figment of his imagination.
John explains how God is light and there is no darkness in Him, which means that God will not be in fellowship with someone who is walking in darkness. When we confess our sins, we are completely cleansed and no longer in darkness, then we can walk in fellowship with God and all who have been cleansed by His blood. John was letting the reader know how to be in sweet fellowship with God and His body. If we practice sin, it greatly hinders that fellowship, so he is encouraging us to not be in sin. However, if someone happens to sin, if that person goes back to the same process of confession, repentance, and faith in Christ, then they can be restored to the sweet fellowship with Christ.
Do you believe the message of eternal life written by the Holy Spirit, through the apostles, to you and me? John believed because he saw, but we believe because we have faith in what he saw. If you are a sinner, then confess and repent of those sins, be cleansed, and walk in the sweet fellowship with us, our Father and Savior.