1 John 1 - Introduction

This short chapter embraces the following subjects:

I. A strong affirmation that the Son of God, or the “Life,” had appeared in the flesh, 1 John 1:1. The evidence of this, the writer says, was that he had seen him, heard him, handled him; that is, he had had all the evidence which could be furnished by the senses. His declaration on this point he repeats, by putting the statement into a variety of forms, for he seems to regard it as essential to true religion.

II. He says that he wrote to them, in order that they might have fellowship with him in the belief of this truth, and might partake of the joy which flows from the doctrine that the Son of God has actually come in the flesh, 1 John 1:3.

III. He states that the sum and substance of the whole message which he had to bring to them was, that God is light, and that if we profess to have fellowship with him we must walk in the light, 1 John 1:5.

1. In God is no darkness, no impurity, no sin, 1 John 1:5.
1. If we are in darkness, if we are ignorant and sinful, it proves that we cannot have any fellowship with him, 1 John 1:6.
2. If we walk in the light as he is in the light, if we partake of his character and spirit, then we shall have fellowship one with another, and we may believe that the blood of Christ will cleanse us from all sin, 1 John 1:7.
3. Yet we are to guard ourselves from one point of danger, we are not to allow ourselves to feel that we have “no” sin. We are to bear with us the constant recollection that we are sinners, and are to permit that fact to produce its proper impression on our minds, 1Jo 1:8, 1 John 1:10.
4. Yet we are not to be desponding though we do feel this, but are to remember, that if we will truly confess our sins he will be found faithful to his promises, and just to the general arrangements of grace, by which our sins may be forgiven,1 John 1:9.