First John

I John

1. The Life and the Light

1:1-4 The Life: 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.

“The beginning,” is a good place to start a Bible study. Some translations say “That which was from the beginning.” Others say, “What was from the beginning.” In either case, John soon gives us his subject – a divine person, who is and who gives “eternal life.” How could he have been so certain about the one he is describing? He tells us: he heard Him speak, saw Him, looked at Him (more than just seeing) and touched Him. He was convinced that the One he had been with in ministry for three and a half years was “eternal life – and that He was the Son of God. John wanted everyone to know this Life so they could also have fellowship with the Father and His Son. This is not just another Bible study to gain knowledge about eternal life; it is a venture in fellowship with Eternal Life, who will transform our nature. Most of us have been studying the Bible for years, and we are quite familiar with John’s words; can’t we go a little deeper this time and establish a familiarity with the Object of his affection?
John wrote to fulfill his joy, but is he interested in fulfilling our joy? Yes he is. He wrote to us saying, “These (truths) have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). As we set out on our journey through John's First Letter, we go in faith and fellowship.

5-10 The 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.

John received a message from God for us: “God is Light.” Then he becomes very personal. We lie if we profess to be walking in God’s light while actually walking in darkness. It is our life, not our claim that matters with God. The only true fellowship we may have with God or one another is in the light of Christ, Who is God’s Light to us. It is in this enlightened, holy fellowship that we are cleansed from all sin. If we fully understand this, will we not stay close and help one another? We can rationalize all our lives, saying that we have no sin or have not sinned, but that doesn’t clear us with God; we only deceive ourselves and continue walking in darkness. We can’t just think these thoughts; we must live this life if we want to share in this holy fellowship with God and His Son. Let us become more like our Savior as we walk with Him in the light of God's Word. This is the purpose of this study.

Father God, we were as “Infants crying in the night, Infants crying for the light, And with no language but a cry.” In our darkest hour, when we acknowledged our sins, Your divine light shown on us and showed us that the way out of darkness was through your Son. As we make this fellowship journey with You and our Savior, please shine on us brighter and brighter until the perfect day.