1 John chapter 1

I am doing a series on the epistles of John. The Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and Jesus is all over these epistles of the beloved disciple John. I want to show the truth that the Godhead is a Family not a committee of 3 independent God's. The best part of this is that we as believers in Christ are adopted into this real celestial family. So here is my first study on 1 John chapter 1.

1John :1-10 (KJV)

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;2For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The beloved Apostle John states the truth that Jesus is from the beginning (John 1:1, Genesis 1:1). The Word that was from the beginning is the begotten Son of God. Jesus came forth from the Father's bosom in the ages of eternity before anything else was created. Jesus however isn't created but rather begotten meaning to be born from God the Father.

Verse 1, John's testimony is reliable and solid as he saw Jesus, heard Jesus and handled Him, meaning he fellowshipped with Jesus. John refers to Jesus as the Words of life.  Jesus is called the Word of God elsewhere and He is eternal life. His words bring life to those who heed the Saviour.

Verse 2, Jesus was manifested to the world due to his virgin birth and earthly ministry.  John and the disciples bear witness that Christ is that eternal life which was with the Father, denoting the preexistence of the only begotten Son. John says that Christ is eternal life making it clear that only through God's Son can one have this eternal life. This is a indication of the divinity of Jesus. Jesus was in heaven before coming to the world and when He came into the world, He was manifested to His disciples.

Verse 3, John offers the right hand of fellowship to the recepients of this letter if they receive the declaration of the Apostles doctrine. This doctrine they witnessed with their own eyes and heard with their ears. This doctrine is the truth that Jesus is the literal begotten Son of God. Why do I say this? Because John then says that "truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." The basis of fellowship is the apostolic doctrine teaching (we declare unto you) about the incarnate Word of life who is the pre-existent begotton Son of God, His deity and His distinct personality from the Father. The Father-Son is the foundation of the apostles doctrine and John says that they (the apostles and other brethren) declared this truth from the beginning and are still declaring it.

John says that they are declaring this truth to the recepients of this letter so that they (those who John is declaring to) can have fellowship with John and the other brethren. John lets them know that he and the other brethren are in fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. John says "truly" meaning that this is a foundational doctrine (the Father and Son) and that any deviance away from this is false. John makes it clear that Him, the apostles and other brethren are in fellowship with a real Father-Son. No mention of the Holy Spirit because John likely knew the truth that the Holy Spirit is not a being.

Verse 4, when we read or hear of the  Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and Jesus it should bring us joy. When we hear that the Son of God was manifested to the world and that He is eternal life and that through Him we have eternal life, our joy is full.

Verse 5, the passage speaks here about the Father, identifying Him as God. We know this is about the Father because in verse 7, it says we have fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ. Back to verse 5, John says that God is light and in Him is no darkness. 1 Timothy 6:16, it says that the Father dwells in light unapproachable to man. Revelation 22:5 says that the Lord God giveth the light to the saints in New Jerusalem as there will be no night there. Revelation 21:23 says the glory of God lightens New Jerusalem and the Lamb (Christ) is the light thereof. The Father has only righteousness as a part of His being and not one ounce of anything impure.

Verse 6, if we say that we have fellowship with God the Father yet walk in darkness, we are liars and not of the truth. The works of the flesh are darkness. What a contrast to what is taught in the Churches of Christendom. They decieve their members into a false sense of security thinking they can disregard God's commandments without consequences from the Almighty.

Verse 7, here is the positive though, if we walk in God's light as He is in the light, we will have fellowship with each other as brothers and sisters. Also, if we walk in God's light the blood of His Son Jesus Christ cleanseth us from ALL sin. There is an "if" in this scripture, meaning we are only cleansed by the blood of God's Son if we walk in the light of God. In other words, keep God's commandments which is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Do you see how this scripture contradicts Christendom's Pastor's who say you don't have to keep the commandments and you don't have to be obedient in order to have the favor of Jehovah God? They teach that you can live a compromised life and still be on that magic carpet ride to heaven.

Verse 8, if we say that we have no sin, we are liars and no truth is in us. By saying and thinking this, we deny the need for Jesus Christ as our High Priest. It's a slap in His face to say such a thing. Those who make such statements are like the pharisees in Jesus day.

Verse 9, however, if we are humble and confess our sins, Christ is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus blesses the humble just like the publican who beat his chest over his sin. The humble will be justified, the prideful rejected. Christ blood cleanses us if we come to Him in humility. When we deny we have sin, we deny the blood of Jesus.

Verse 10, by saying that we have not sinned, we make Jesus a liar and His word is not in us. No one Christian can read God's Word and not see how short, we as man fall in measuring up to the standards of the Father and Son. The good news is that both the Father and Son love us and the plan of redemption was made for us, so that we can walk in the Father's light and receive forgiveness of sins through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. The shed blood of the Son of God was a great sacrifice not only by Christ but His real Father as well who is the one true God.