1 John 1:1-2:12

Summary
In today’s reading, we are introduced to Apostle John’s account of the word of Life from the beginning. They saw, heard, looked upon, and handled this word, the eternal life that was with the father whom they now show to others. Sharing their experience and encouraging others to have fellowship together with both the father and Jesus Christ His son. They declared God as the light who has no darkness in Him. Their fellowship with him makes them walk in the light as we have been cleansed by his blood from sin. It will be deception to say you have not sinned; confession however merits forgiveness and erases the unrighteous feeling.
John admonished them not to sin, and in the event of any sin, Jesus Christ steps in as an advocate. The proof of knowing him is keeping his commandments through obedience to the word, love one another and abide in Christ, the true light that shines.

Life Application
It is easy to sometimes ponder on ones flaws and deny the fellowship with the father and his son Jesus Christ, but we must tell ourselves the truth in his words and abide by his commands. Meaning that one should always walk in the light through fellowship.
Recognize that he is the propitiator for our sins-Jesus Christ. Forgiveness of sins and cleansing from unrighteousness are in Him by his blood; this is however not a liberty to sin rather a life free of the sinful nature! Remember for his name sake you were forgiven.

Prophetic Declaration
Jesus Christ is my advocate and I am forgiven.

Reading – 1 John 1:1-2:12

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴ We write this to make our^[a] joy complete.

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[b] sin.

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocatewith the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

³ We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word,love for God^[c] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

⁷ Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. ⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister^[d] is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Anyone who loves their brother and sister^[e] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. ¹¹ But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

Reasons for Writing

¹² I am writing to you, dear children,
    because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

Footnotes:

1. 1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
2. 1 John 1:7 Or every
3. 1 John 2:5 Or word, God’s love
4. 1 John 2:9 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15, 17; 4:20; 5:16.
5. 1 John 2:10 The Greek word for brother and sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in 3:10; 4:20, 21.