Conviction vs. Guilt - 1 John 2:1

v.1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 

We were told in the first chapter that the first reason why John wrote this letter was, that your joy may be full.  Now here in v.1 we see the second reason that John wrote this letter is that ye sin not. 

In Matthew 5:48 Jesus said, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. God requires perfection. Why? – Because He is perfect. Is it possible for us to be perfect? – Yes, but only through the finished work of Christ and not ourselves. 

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: That means that the Lord Jesus is our advocate (intercessor) and one day he will present us spotless to the Father (Ephesians 5:25-27).

I’ve found that even though I know this, I still allow Satan to step in and accuse me. I've found that he usually attacks me the strongest after I've sinned. His attacks come in the form of feelings of shame and unworthiness. Why? - So that he can drive a wedge between me and God. He wants me to run away from God just like Jonah (Jonah 1:1-3) did.

I've also found that I can always tell when I am being attacked by Satan or being convicted by the Holy Spirit by my reaction to the situation. When I'm being tempted to run from God, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ, I know it's the devil that is behind it because he is trying to drive a wedge between me and God. However, it is the opposite with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, because He uses conviction to draw us to Himself, the church and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

God is Faithful - 1 John 1:8-10

v.8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

What is sin? Sin is when we do what we know we are not supposed to do in the eyes of God. What causes us to sin?  I John 2:16 tells us that it is the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Someone once said that the lust of the flesh is the consuming desire to do. The lust of the eyes is a compelling urge to have.  The pride of life is a constant thrust to be. 

The bottom line is that sin is ultimately caused by our desires. James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. It has been said, “God will lower the gate of warning, sound the bell, flash the red light, but He will not keep you from crossing the tracks!”

God is Faithful

v.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

But God is always faithful to forgive us, if we will only ask Him to do so. It doesn’t matter what type of sin you commit, God will still forgive you if you ask Him to with a sincere heart. Of course, the consequences will remain, but God will forgive. 

I find great comfort in versus like 2 Tim 2:11-13 which says, It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  (12)  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  (13)  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 

How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worm, begins in the heart and works out through a person's thoughts, words, and actions.

All Have Sinned

v.10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

Paul wrote in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. This means that no one can be saved until they admit that they are a sinner, period (i.e., no man can be found until they admit that they are lost).

Fellowship - 1 John 1:7

v.7 But 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.

So, we’ve been told that Christians do not walk in darkness. Now, John is telling us that Christians not only fellowship with Jesus, but also with each other. Listen to me carefully, if you’re having a difficult time being with fellow believers, there is something wrong in your walk with the Lord, period. 

I believe that we all need to sit down and take an inventory of our lives and where we are with the Lord from time to time. Why? – Because to walk in the light (Jesus is the Light) means that we not only have fellowship with God, but also fellowship with each other. Those two things go hand and hand. It’s not one or the other.

The Blood of Jesus

However, there is another aspect to this verse: the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

All Sin: Once that is done through the blood of Jesus; our sins (past, present and future) are forgiven.

First, in the past we are saved from the penalty of sin. Christ took all of our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross. As a result, we stand without condemnation today. Paul said in Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. He also told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Second, in the present we are being saved from the power of sin. The Bible also uses the word salvation to describe a process that begins the moment we receive Christ. The process will continue until we are ultimately with Christ. We call this process sanctification. It is the daily process of yielding our lives to Christ so that sin will not reign in our lives. Again, Paul wrote in Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

Third, in the future we will be saved from the presence of sin. Someday the Christian will experience final or complete salvation. This final step is necessary because even though our spirit and soul was saved at the moment of salvation, our flesh (body) was not. At salvation we gained a new nature, but we did not lose our old nature. However, one day our flesh will be saved and we will lose our old nature forever (Romans 8:22-23; 13:11-14). Finally, the writer of Hebrews 9:28 wrote So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Light vs. Darkness - 1 John 1:5-6

v.5 This 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.

John is telling us here that God is light and there is no darkness in Him. In the Bible, light is symbolic of purity and darkness is symbolic or evil of sin. Light disposes and dispels darkness! 

Jesus is also said that he is light as well. John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Jesus was also sinless, therefore without darkness. John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

No Longer in Darkness

v.6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Yes, it is true that those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord still walk in the darkness. Why? – Because they have not come to the light. How about Christians though? - Is it possible for them to walk in darkness? Yes and no.

Yes, it is possible for Christians to take a temporary walk on the dark side. We all have done it, are doing it and probably going to do it again. However, no, it is not possible for Christians to stay in the dark.

I see many people who “say” they are Christians, but their lives are full of darkness (sin). My friend, this is a complete contradiction of Scripture, because to be a Christian means that we no longer walk in the darkness. Jesus said in John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And again in John 8:12 Jesus said, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

Contrary to popular belief, Christians do not continually walk in darkness. Again, If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.

Fellowship Through Jesus - 1 John 1:3-4

v.3 That 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.

This verse says that the purpose of this eternal life that was with the Father was to bring fellowship not only between God’s people, but with God himself. Why? – Because that fellowship had been broken in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned.

The word fellowship is the Greek word koinonia which means common or shared. Through Jesus Christ we have something in common or shared, not only with each other, but also with God the Father and God the Son, and that is fellowship! In other words, the fellowship that was broken has once again been mended.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

That is the doctrine of reconciliation! 

Reconciled means “to reestablish a close relationship, to settle or resolve”. I can tell you experientually that true reconciliation means that the fellowship has been restored.  As a matter of fact, I believe that the fellowship should be as good or better than it was before the offense occurred or it is not true reconciliation. Too many times, we are simply content to agree to disagree and go our separate ways. That, my friend, is not reconciliation. Christ came to reconcile us to the Father.

That Your Joy May be Full

v.4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

John tells us that the reason that he is telling them this is so that their joy may be full. It is the same thing Jesus said in John 15:11 when he said These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Also, in John 16:24 he said Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 

Happiness verses Joy

Understand something; happiness is a variable, depending on the circumstances of life. However, the joy of the Lord is persistent; it never changes, because it is based on our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Billy Sunday once said, “If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity!” 

It has been said that “This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”

That Which Was From The Beginning - 1 John 1:1-2

Introduction

John was the last living apostle, and the only one who wasn’t martyred for Christ.  History tells us that Stephen was stoned, Matthew was slain in Ethiopia, Mark dragged through the streets until dead, Luke hanged, Peter and Simeon were crucified, Andrew tied to a cross, James beheaded, Philip crucified and stoned, Bartholomew was flayed alive, Thomas pierced with lances, James, the less, thrown from the temple and beaten to death, Jude shot to death with arrows, Matthias stoned to death and Paul beheaded.

History also tells us that Domitian tried to kill John by boiling him in hot oil, but God had a plan and a purpose for his life.  He has plans for all of our lives as well.

Gnosticism was gaining a foothold in the church when John wrote this letter.  The Gnostics believed that Jesus was a phantom when He lived on the earth and didn’t have a body of flesh. 

It was later developed by a man named Arias.  His teachings developed into what came to be known as Arianism or what came to be called the Arian Heresy.  He taught that Jesus was not really God, but a created being.  This heresy later became the basis for the Watchtower Society or Jehovah’s Witnesses who teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel.

Here’s Jesus!

v.1 That 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;

That which was from the beginning: The beginning that John is referring to here is not the beginning of the world or of creation: it is when there was nothing but God.

Which we have heard…seen with our eyes…looked upon, and our hands have handled: This means that God came to earth and He was heard, seen and touched by man.

Word of Life: Now he identifies this God as the Word of Life.

Eternality of Jesus

v.2 (For 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;)

Now John says that this life appeared physically and he has seen it, and can bear witness to it,  and that in Jesus is eternal life. Micah 5:2 says, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Micah declares that the one who is to be ruler in Israel will be from of old and from everlasting. The interesting thing is that the word everlasting in this verse literally means “beyond the vanishing point” (i.e.,  beyond what can be seen).

In this verse in John, he is saying that this eternal life was with the Father. There is no doubt that this is a strong declaration about the eternality or deity of Jesus. 

John wrote in his Gospel, 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...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth  (John 1:1-5, 14).

Jesus also said of himself in Revelation 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.