The Letters of John: Take a Walk in the Light

2022-06-05 

Jonathan Falwell 

Today, we’re going to begin a study through the letters written by John the Apostle. While he wrote both the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation, our study this summer is going to focus on the three small letters he wrote near the end of his life from the city of Ephesus. These letters were not written to a specific individual, or even a specific church, they were written as “circular letters.” Circular letters were intended to be passed around and read by anyone and everyone who had a vested interest, and the interest that brought the readers together was they were part of the family of God.

1 John 1:1-10 (CSB)

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—2 that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 1. Jesus is still the Way, Truth and Life

Vss 1-2 

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—2 that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—

• John’s purpose in this opening statement was to reiterate that Jesus was not just a man, He was God
• This letter is refute the rise of Gnosticism within the early church which denied the deity and incarnation of Christ

John 14:6

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

2. We are one family because of Jesus

Vss 3-4

what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

• The clear statement here is our fellowship with one another is not based on location, denomination, status or any other manmade position…it is based on the person of Jesus Christ
• Only through Christ and his love can we have true fellowship with one another

3. Hypocrisy destroys the family

Vss -5-6

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.

• A line is drawn here which clearly indicates we cannot have it both ways…we can’t live for the world and claim to live for Christ

4. Obedience builds the family

Vs 7

If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

• We must determine our daily steps on the word of God and His love

5. So let’s be honest

Vss 8-10

If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

• We cannot achieve perfection in our human body, but we can maintain a perfect relationship with God through our recognition and confession of our sins
• Confess (homolegeo) – “acknowledge, to agree with”
• Verse 10 refers to the individual who may deny or ignore their sins with no conviction. The thought here is a believer with the Holy Spirit’s convicting work within will always recognize their failings and will be convicted of his sin.

Final Thought: Chapter 1 is a clear reminder of the fact Jesus is the Son of God who came to take away the sins of the world. As Christians, the family of God, we must recognize His deity and power and live according to His Word.