1 John 1 - SUMMARY.--The Word of Life. Eternal Life Manifested. God Is Light.

Those in
Fellowship with Him Must Walk in the Light. Theme: Fellowship with believers. That your Joy
may be full. Sin is forgiven.

1John 1:1 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;

V1: Who was from the beginning? The Word of Life- *John 1:1-2 Jesus is the Word and he is
eternal life

1John 1:2 (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;)

V2: Is the explanation of the Word of Life in verse 1. John here re-assures us that he saw Jesus
in the flesh and that it is Jesus that he is bearing witness. What he is saying to us- This is not
some myth he is speaking about, he held him (Jesus), had seen him die on the cross (the only
apostle to do so) and saw him/touched him/heard him after his resurrection

He gives you confidence that Jesus is the Christ the only begotten Son of God.

Definition of Manifested- to bring forth and render apparent and to be made known and made
clear. Past tense.

Verse help:

*The Beginning:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Micah 5:2 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.

Manifest:

1Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in
the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the
world, received up into glory.

Greek word Theos=God Greek word Kristos= Christ

Bear Witness: (testify because we have seen)

Jesus Speaking:
John 3:11a Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen;….

Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Confidence:

Proverbs 3:26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being
taken.
 Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a
place of refuge.
Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast
the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

1John 1:3 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.

V3 Believers are the body of Christ and that we have fellowship with one another and with the
Father and the Son Jesus Christ.

Verse Help:

Romans 12:5- So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one, member’s one of
another.

1John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

V4 your Joy may be full- filled up, completed.

Quoting John 15:11. Jesus speaking: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy
might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

What is Joy? A glorious and triumphant state of knowing that you have eternal life.
Greek (Khar-ah) Definition of Joy - Calm Delight. Think of the Christmas carol? Joyful and
triumphant (victory). Joy as opposed to happiness- happiness is a sense of optimism and
cheerfulness based on circumstances. Happiness is external Joy is internal. We have Joy
because of our hope in Jesus.

Paul: Acts 20:24- But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of
the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Joy is not the outward sign of the
physical self.

1John 1:5 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.

V5 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.

What is the message which we have heard?

John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God is light and in him is no darkness at all- God is perfect light.

Verse Help:

Fellowship and light.

John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while
ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not
whither he goeth
 John 12:36a While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of
light.

1John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not
the truth:

V6 If we say we believe and continue in sin (darkness) we lie (unbelief) Romans 1:18. Do not
the truth. What is truth? Christ is declared to be the only Savior.

Verse help:

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
To continue in sin is to hold the truth in unrighteousness. This is not to say that we are sinless.
To do the same sin over and over. To constantly lie, cheat, steal, foul mouth and blaspheme
God’s name.(some of the things) and to not correct ourselves or have no conviction to do
so. Or not listen to the spirit when He convicts us.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest,
that they are wrought in God.
(wrought= worked out in God)
Psalm 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in
his heart.

1John 1:7 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.

V7 It’s not only how you walk but where you walk. When we walk in darkness, we see no sin and
when the light comes, we run because we see our sin. (1) But God is faithful to forgive us as we
have in verse 9 The light is the Word of God. (both Jesus and the written) The Word of God- It
shows us both sin and salvation. Our sickness and our cure. We don’t lose our salvation but we
lose fellowship with him. John 1:7 ….we have fellowship one with another-Believers joining
together to study or to pray or worship (the body of Christ)
The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin- Why?

Verse Help:

Word of God: Walking

Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Hiding in darkness

1) Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief
captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves
in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of
him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Isa 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his
servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the
LORD, and stay upon his God.

Old Testament Covering:

Read Leviticus 3 and 4 for a detailed explanation of the sacrifices.
 Lev 23:19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of
the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.

Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the
unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

New Testament Cleaning:

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of
death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they
which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of
blood is no remission.

1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

V8-We are at all times, and in all circumstances, to admit the painful and humiliating truth
that we are transgressors of the law of God, and that we need, even in our best services
(works), the cleansing of the blood of Jesus Christ. Notes V6 the truth.

Verse help:

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth
in him shall receive remission of sins.
1Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.

Verse Help:

We confess our sins:

After accepting Christ as our Savior, we confess our sins and because he is our Savior and He
is just to forgive us our sins.

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I
will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.
Selah.
Psalm 38:18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Prayer:

Daniel 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of
my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy
mountain of my God;
 Cleanse:

Psalm 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
1Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Faithful and Just:

1Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus is Just:

1Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem:

behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon
an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

1John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Verse Help:

Have we not sinned?

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Make him a liar:

1John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth
not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

The Record:

1Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Word is in us:

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
See 1John 2:1