1 John 1
BWJ1 John 1:5
WALKING IN THE LIGHT.–1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:1-6. GOLDEN TEXT.–If we walk in the light, as he, is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth from all sin.–1 John 1:7. TIME.–Written sometime not far from A. D. 90. PLACE.–Probably written at Ephesus, where John passed his later years. HELPFUL .– 1 John 1:1-4; Matthew 5:14-16; John 1:4-9; John 14:20-24. LESSON .–1. Walking in the Light; 2. The Great Advocate; 3. Loyalty to Our King. . Though this Epistle does not bear, anywhere within its original text, the name of John as its author, it was universally conceded to him by the ancient Church. Polycarp, a disciple of John, quotes from it the very words of chapter 4: 2, 3. Papias, in the first half of the second century, also quoted it. Indeed, almost every decade bears witness to the universal view of the ancient Christians. Besides, there is a similarity of thought and style to the Gospel of John which show that they must have been written by the same author.
The Epistle was evidently written after the Gospel, for a different class of readers, to meet new heresies, and to aid the saints to go on to perfection. The Gospel was written to show that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,” but the Epistle puts stress upon the fact that Christ had come in the flesh, it being held by some towards the close of the first century that Christ was not human at all. The time when and place where the Epistle was written cannot be certainly known, but as it is pretty well established that after the death of Paul and before the destruction of Jerusalem John went to Ephesus and spent the remainder of his life in that part of the world, it is probable it was written at Ephesus, not far from the year A. D. 90. It is the last doctrinal treatise written by an apostle. 5. The four verses preceding the one with which our lesson opens are prefatory. They declare that the subject of this letter is The Word of Life, Christ the Word, the Author of Eternal Life, with whom we have fellowship and through him with the Father; and that the letter is written that our joy in him may be complete. With verse 5 John announces his message, which is, God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. As the sun is the light giver of the universe, and chases away darkness wherever his beams fall, and hath in itself no darkness, so it is of God, especially as manifest in Christ. In the imagery of the Scriptures he dwells in light unapproachable, his presence is always manifested by brightness and light, and the New Jerusalem is filled with light. Christ is the light of the world. Not so much the physical, as the moral and spiritual light. The knowledge of Christ everywhere chases away darkness. The enlightened races are those which have the most knowledge of Christ. The darkest spots of earth are where he is unknown.
1 John 1:6-7
6, 7. If we say that we have fellowship with him, etc. To have fellowship is to have a common life and spirit. If God is light, we cannot walk in darkness, without knowledge of him, living in the dark ways of sin, and have fellowship with him. To have a common life we must be children of the light, like Christ, the light of the world. As Christ gives light, so must we, if we claim to have a common life with him. As is the Son, so also must be the sons, his brethren. If thus we are in fellowship with him, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. This implies that we must turn from darkness, walk in the light, walk with him, or we will not be cleansed.
1 John 1:8
- It we say we have no sin, etc. If we claim, like the Pharisee, who went up into the temple to pray, that we are just, need no Savior from sin, we deceive ourselves." All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God." He is the greatest sinner who calls his sins righteousness.
1 John 1:9
- If we confess our sins, etc. The publican who went up into the temple to pray, and made full confession, was heard rather than the Pharisee. He who does not confess his sins thereby declares he is not a sinner. God’s plan of redemption requires a confession of sin. Repentance and baptism are each a confession, the latter is in act a confession that the old life is sinful, worthless, worthy of death, and is to end in the baptismal grave, from whence a new life in Christ is to begin. Those who, led by faith, make such confession by repentance and baptism, are forgiven. In doing so God is faithful to his promise and just, because Christ has atoned for those who thus come to him.
1 John 1:10
- If we say we have not sinned, etc. If we turn away from God’s plan of redemption we charge him with untruth. He has sent Christ because all are included under sin. We deny it when we affirm that we are righteous of ourselves.