1 John Chapter 1
1. John is the author of the Gospel of John, along with 1,2 and 3rd John and the book of Revelations. John is the same person who laid his head on the master’s shoulder at the last supper and asked, “… who is it?”(John 13:23) in reference to who it was that was to betray Jesus. The author actually heard, seen and touched physically the one he is to be talking about in this letter.
2. Jesus manifested himself, the Father and eternal life to this eyewitness and the other disciples.
3. To have fellowship we must understand:
a. Jesus is eternal and he came in the flesh. v. 1 "That which was from the beginning,..." 1 John 1:1. As I read this verse I am reminded of the Gospel of John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
b. The disciples of Jesus were truthful and faithful in reporting what they witnessed.
c. There is only one way to have true fellowship and that is only through the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4. Central Message of this Chapter
a. God is light and in him is no darkness at all. Think about it light dispels the darkness. The darkness can’t over come light. Light reveals, exposes. Darkness hides or covers up, it makes an object hard to see or recognize. If we are to have fellowship we can’t cover up things in our lives, when the light comes in those things will be revealed.
b. We can't have true fellowship if . . . we walk in darkness and are not truthful in seeking to remove the things that can trip us up. Without his light we can’t recognized and removed those things that would be hurtful to us or others. Yet on the flip side we need His light to see and be aware of the good benefits and gifts that are there for us to have and enjoy.
c. If we walk in the light we can ask for forgiveness where needed and be cleaned from all our sin. Also by living in the light we can recognize God's wonderful gifts He has for us. By doing this the word is able to reside in us. Then what comes out of our lives? The word of God and His blessings to ourselves and others.
