1 John 1:1-2:2

From the very beginning of John’s writing, he seeks to establish the absolute reality of Jesus’ humanity as well as His deity. The reader must keep in mind that much of John’s letter is spent defending the truth by exposing the false teachings of the Gnostics, who did not believe in the humanity of Jesus. If Jesus was not fully God AND fully man, His death and resurrection meant nothing. When Jesus took on the form of a human (incarnation), it enabled Him to satisfy the wrath of God upon sin by dying in man’s place and taking his sin upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). So, as a personal eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, John begins his writing by reminding his readers that what he was about to tell them was truth, not just because he heard it from someone else, but because he witnessed it with his own eyes. In fact, John uses some very strong words such as “heard…seen…looked upon…have handled, concerning the Word of life” (1:1) to emphasize that Jesus, being God, also became a literal man and this “Word of life” not only refers to Jesus Christ, but also the proclamation good news (the gospel). The good news (the gospel) is the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth as a human being (Matthew 1:21), lived a perfect life (2 Corinthians 5:21), died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23), and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4) to guarantee eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:20-22) to all who will repent of sin and believe in Him (John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-13). This message of salvation and hope through Jesus Christ was given to the apostles (1:2) who were personal eyewitnesses, but the false teachers (who claimed to be teaching the truth) had never seen or heard Jesus Christ. The apostles were worthy to be trusted because of their interaction with Jesus Christ and what they heard directly from Him was the same message they were declaring to the masses (1:3a) “that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1:3b). In summary, John was presenting the reader with two choices: believe the apostles or believe the false teachers. The message of the apostles accurately represents the truth of God while the doctrines of these teachers lead to belief in a lie. If his readers would believe the message of the apostles, it would bring fellowship and joy (1:3-4).

In case his readers questioned the authority by which the apostles delivered their message, John reminds them that this message is not human but divine, and the divine message is “that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1:5). The comparison between light and darkness is a very common expression throughout Scripture with light representing truth/purity and darkness illustrating error/sin. Light has no connection with darkness and they cannot exist together. Where there is light, there can be no darkness and where there is darkness, there can be no light. Although the false teachers were declaring that they were “enlightened”, John claimed that their message and actions revealed otherwise. If a person says that they know God, but does not practice His ways, they are lying (1:6); however, those who follow God’s ways (truth) prove that they have “fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us [them] from all sin” (1:7b).

The false teachers of Gnosticism thought that they were truly enlightened and free from sin, but John wrote the following words to expose their erroneous beliefs, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1:8). At a later time John writes, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1:10). Much like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, these teachers did not believe they were sinners. Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22 reveals the necessity for someone to recognize their sinfulness before they can follow Christ. In contrast with the arrogant and proud, those who willingly admit their sinfulness are given the following promise on the condition of confession, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1:9). When a person is fully aware of their sinfulness and confesses, God will grant forgiveness and cleansing.

John then writes to those who believe, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [Helper] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation [appeasement] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (2:1-2). When a believer surrenders to the Holy Spirit, He can provide the power not to sin (Romans 6:12-14); however, when a follower of Christ does sin, he must remember that he has been acquitted of all punishment through the payment of Jesus on the cross. So, the first major difference between the teachings of the apostles and the false teachers is their view of sin. The apostles knew they were sinners, but believed they were forgiven based on Jesus’ death on the cross; however, the false teachers denied their sin and saw no need for repentance.

Dear God, thank You for offering forgiveness and cleansing to all who confess and believe in Your Son, Jesus.