1 John Answers - Chapter 1

1 JOHN 1     These letters are written by the apostle John, whom often described himself as the "one that Jesus loved". There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. (John 13:23) Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" (John 21:20) He was so secure in the love of the Lord for himself and he wants us to be secure in that as well. When he begins the first of three letters we have on record from him in our Bible, he begins by telling us about the Word of Life which was in the beginning. Let's go back to His Gospel record and read what he says about this in John 1:1-4. Write it out below by filling in the blanks: Gospel of John 1:1-4 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." In this first letter written by John, what kind of a witness was he personally of the "Word of Life" (Jesus)? - vs.1 - Name 3 things. we have heard, we have seen with our eyes, we have touched with our hands. As John had said in his Gospel record, the Word was 'with' God, and the Word 'was' God. He was in the beginning with God. What does John tell us in his gospel in John 1:14 about when the Word was manifested to mankind? Write out John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Here in this first letter, John is saying that he personally can testify to seeing the "life of the Word of God" when He (Jesus) was manifested to men. What is John proclaiming to us in this letter concerning this? vs. 2 We have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.  [MSG] This life was not hidden so that we have to search for it and find it. No, it was manifested—revealed openly!  If you were God, how would you go about revealing yourself to men? How could you tell them about, and give them, the kind of life you wanted them to enjoy? Jesus said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 1:2). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. Being an eye and ear witness, John is inviting his readers to fellowship with him and his companions. Who do they fellowship with? vs.3 - Name 2 Persons Our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. This word fellowship is an important one in the vocabulary of a Christian. It simply means “to have in common.” As sinners, men have nothing in common with the holy God. But God in His grace sent Christ to have something in common with men.  Jesus Christ took on Himself the nature of man that by faith we may receive the very nature of God! Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 1:3). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. What is John's purpose in writing this letter? vs. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. What is the message that John heard from Jesus about God that he is now announcing to us? vs.5 God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. When we were saved, God called us out of darkness into His light (1 Peter 2:9). We are children of light (1 Thes. 5:5). Those who do wrong hate light (John 3:19–21). When light shines in on us, it reveals our true nature (Eph. 5:8–13). Light produces life and growth and beauty, but sin is darkness; and darkness and light cannot exist in the same place. If we are walking in the light, the darkness has to go. If we are holding to sin, then the light goes. There is no middle ground, no vague “gray” area, where sin is concerned. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 1:5). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. What is the evidence that we truly have fellowship with God and with Jesus His Son? vs. 6 We walk in the light. If we walk in His Light and have fellowship with one another, what is the result? vs. 7 The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, delivers us from the guilt of sin and gives us right standing (“justification” ) before God. God is able to forgive because Jesus’ death has satisfied His holy Law. But God is also interested in cleansing a sinner inwardly. David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Ps. 51:10). When our confession is sincere, God does a cleansing work (1 John 1:9) in our hearts by His Spirit and through His Word (John 15:3). Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 1:7). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. We are deceived if we think we can be without sin. (vs. 8 ) ... But if we confess our sins, what is He faithful and righteous to do for us? vs. 9 - Name 2 Things: to forgive us our sins to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. What is true of us if we claim to not have sin? vs.10 We make Him a liar and His word is not in us. John the apostle is inviting us to fellowship with God the Father and Jesus the Son in this first section of the letter of 1 John. Are you already enjoying that fellowship? Are you walking in the light, confessing your sins, and enjoying the cleansing through fellowship with other believers? John will spend the rest of his letter helping us know beyond a shadow of doubt that we are the children of God because of this fellowship and the love that God has placed in our hearts in Christ Jesus. Summarize this chapter and post a prayer if you would like. Because Jesus is God’s revelation of Himself, He has a very special name: “The Word of Life” (1 John 1:1).This same title opens John’s Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Why does Jesus Christ have this name? Because Christ is to us what our words are to others. Our words reveal to others just what we think and how we feel. Christ reveals to us the mind and heart of God. He is the living means of communication between God and men. To know Jesus Christ is to know God! Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 1:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. Many people (including some Christians) have the idea that “witnessing” means wrangling over the differences in religious beliefs, or sitting down and comparing churches. That isn’t what John had in mind! He tells us that witnessing means sharing our spiritual experiences with others—both by the lives that we live and by the words that we speak. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 1:3). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.  Prayer Father God, I thank you for your Word and for showing me the two areas in my life that I needed to deal with today.  I confess those sins to You and thank you for your forgiveness and for the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin.