1 John (written)

Sunday, 15 March 2020

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.1 John 2:1

John begins Chapter 2 with, “My little children.” This loving way of speaking will be used quite a few times in this one epistle when he says either “My little children,” or simply “little children.”

By this time in his life, he was an aged man. It would thus be natural, as a father to his children, to address them in this personal way. Further, the word “little” is certainly included to show an even stronger bond than simply saying, “My children.” He is talking to them as if they were too young to protect themselves, and so he is giving advice concerning how to do so. That is seen in his continued words of the verse, beginning with, “these things I write to you.”

This is referring to everything he has written so far, but it then includes everything from this point on. He has given words concerning Christ, and he has spoken of sin. Now he will combine the two thoughts in this one verse and then continue to expand on what he says. He writes, “so that you may not sin.”

He has already shown that we have sin, and that we have sinned. Sin is the problem; Christ is the cure. The goal of the Christian is to not sin. However, his next words imply that the goal is not fully attainable. That begins to be revealed with, “And if anyone sins.”

It is a general thought which could apply to any person who has come to Christ. There is no distinction such as age, years in Christ, job title, or any other such thing. John simply leaves the possibility open that it could be anyone. But he then includes himself and the other apostles in the equation by saying, “we have an Advocate.”

John has gone from an indefinite pronoun, “anyone,” to the first-person plural, “we.” The “anyone” of the previous words has become personal – “you, me… anyone.” In essence, “Whoever sins, even if it is one of us, there is an Advocate there for us.” The word “Advocate,” is paraklétos. It is used only five times. The other four uses are in John 14, 15, and 16. Each of those four uses is referring to the Holy Spirit, but here it is referring to Jesus. Depending on the translation, He is called the Comforter, Helper, etc.

At the time of John writing this epistle, it was used to define someone who would give evidence which could stand up in court. The person providing it would be a legal advocate who would present this evidence because he was close enough to the matter to know the situation. John says that this Advocate is “with the Father.”

Jesus isn’t just an Advocate who represents man and stands with him, but He is intimately associated with the Father. There is a union between the two which allows Him complete access to the very presence of God. He can provide His evidence for us directly to God.

A fuller scope of what this means will come in the next verse, but for now it is to be understood that the closeness of Christ to us, and the closeness of Christ to the Father, reveals that there is a union between the three. As John says, this Advocate is “Jesus Christ the righteous.”

In the Greek, there is no article before “righteous.” Therefore, it would be clearer to say, “Jesus Christ the Righteous One.” Righteousness defines who He is. It is an assertion that in His humanity He alone is righteous before God. However, in His humanity, He is willing to stand with us before His Father.

Life application: In the first chapter, John was stating hypothetical cases which involved non-believers, but also which pointed to the life of believers. Here at the beginning of the second chapter, he switches to the term “My little children.” There is no doubt that he is addressing saved believers in his coming thoughts. He uses the term to show affection to those who are growing in the family of God.

The statement “so that you may not sin” is given in anticipation of keeping his readers from sin, but fully expecting that they will sin… “and if anyone sins…” This isn’t a contradiction in thought, but rather an understanding of our fallen nature.

This is no different than going to a sound biblical sermon today. The pastor who properly handles God’s word will give instruction in right living, proper behavior, and God’s expectations. However, he will also empathize with the struggles of the congregation and explain the importance of confession. If he is truly honest, he will even include his own regular failings and how he handles them.

The very fact that John brings in Jesus’ role as our “Advocate” proves that he knows sin will come. No one needs an advocate when they haven’t been charged with an offense. In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul calls Jesus our “Mediator.” Here John calls Jesus our “Advocate.”  Although similar, it would be good to define both roles –

Mediator – a person who intervenes to bring about an agreement.
Advocate – a person who pleads for or in behalf of another: an intercessor or a lawyer.

As you can see, a mediator brings about an agreement between two parties, but an advocate pleads in defense of his accused. When we sin, we stand accused of violating one of God’s precepts. But Jesus, who has already taken our punishment, stands in defense of our failing – His scars are proof that the punishment has been meted out. When we are in Christ, the sins we have committed are covered by His righteousness.

Thank You, O God, for Jesus who stands as our Advocate when we fail to meet Your infinitely perfect standards. Forgive us of our transgressions, not because we deserve it, but because of what Jesus did for us on the cross when He satisfied Your righteous demands for us. Thank You for Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Saturday, 14 March 2020

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

Here we have the second verse which is set out as a contrast to verse 1:9 (the other is 1:8). All three together read –

– If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1:8)
– If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1:9)
– If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1:10)

Now, by taking 1:8 and 1:10 and putting them side by side, the two can be more fully understood –

– If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1:8)
– If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1:10)

The words, “we have no sin,” speak of the state of the individual. It denies original sin, and it denies committed sin. The words, “we have not sinned,” deny any wrong moral actions of the individual.

The words, “we deceive ourselves,” speak of the supposed morally exalted state of the individual (reaching upward). The words, “we make Him a liar,” speak of diminishing the truth of God (pulling downward).

The words, “the truth is not in us,” are connected to the self-deception and speak of our own moral failing. The words, “His word is not in us,” are connected to the utterance of God which we have called into question and show that there is no connection to God because His word is truth.

This then ties into the purpose of Christ’s coming, which is to free man from the bondage of sin which he is bound with. That is why verse 1:9 is given between these two verses. The problem rests in us while the cure rests with God. As he said, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Therefore, the Bible presents it as fact that we have sin, that we have sinned, that when we deny this – or unless we confess our sinful state to correct it – we both deceive ourselves and we also call God a liar. In such a state, we continue in our state of moral failing, and we deny the only path to restoration with God, which is revealed in His word. Again, to understand John’s words, one must understand the gospel as stated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 –

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

The word says that “Christ died for our sins.” If we say we have no sin, and that we have not sinned, then we both deceive ourselves and we call God a liar. But God cannot lie. Therefore, the truth is not in us and His word is not in us – because God’s word, which comes from God who cannot lie, says that we have sinned, and that Christ died for our sins.

The gospel cannot be realized in a person who has not confessed his sin. But by saying, “I believe Christ died for my sin,” it is acknowledging that the person does have sin and has sinned. In this confession, God “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Life application: John is not just rambling and arbitrarily making arbitrary statements which have no logical cohesion. Rather, he is methodically making statements which must be taken in the full context of his letter. In understanding John’s words, there is the inescapable truth that we either will come to Jesus and be saved, or we will continue to deceive ourselves, continue to call into question God’s word, and remain in a state of condemnation. The choice is left up to us, but the remedy has already been provided by God if we so choose to accept it.

Lord God, may the people of this world receive the truth of Your simple gospel message. You have said that Christ died for our sins. This, then, implies that we have sinned. If we confess this fact, believing that He gave His life for our moral failings, then Your word says that You are faithful and just to forgive us of those sins, and to then cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Help us to be wise and to accept this simple message of hope and reconciliation – to Your glory we pray. Amen.

Friday, 13 March 2020

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

In the previous verse, John said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.” There the word is in the singular. It is speaking of the state of man in a general sense. Now John says, “If we confess our sins.”

This verse, 1 John 1:9, is strategically placed between two antithetical proclamations –

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10

The premise of coming to Christ is that a person is acknowledging he is a sinner. There is no other need to call on Christ. Thus, a person who does so is admitting he has sin – exactly as 1 Corinthians 15 states. Paul says in his description of the gospel “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” In believing the gospel, we are confessing our sins, and in doing so, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.”

The state of man is one where he is born into original sin, and as soon as he is old enough to think, he begins to sin in his mind (lust, coveting, etc) and then in his actions (lying, stealing, etc). This state of sin forms a wall of separation between us and God. However, in believing the gospel, meaning that Christ died for our sins, we are acknowledging this state and believing that God sent the remedy for it. In our belief and acceptance of this message, God faithfully and righteously grants us forgiveness for our sins – all of them.

From there, John says that He does this, but in His righteousness, He will also “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is the state into which the believer is brought. God judicially declares man to be free of the guilt of sin, but he also cleanses us from the stain of that sin. This continues forever due to the non-imputation of further sin as Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 5:19.

In Christ, the believer is forgiven and cleansed. However, though not imputed sin, we still err while in these bodies, and we need ongoing cleansing from our sin for right fellowship with God. We have sinned, we continue to sin, but Christ has forgiven us, and Christ continues to cleanse us. This is the marvel of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

Life application: We can compare 1 John 1:9 with other verses in the Bible. Here are two of numerous verses that state we have been forgiven in Christ –

“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:9

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” Colossians 2:13

Therefore, what John is speaking about in this verse is the complete forgiveness which comes at the moment of confession of Jesus as Lord, and an acknowledgment of our inability to save ourselves. The moment we do this, we are forgiven for all sins – past, present, and future.

We cannot look at this verse as an indication that a saved believer will remain unforgiven if he doesn’t acknowledge a sin after coming to Christ. Having said this, it is wholly appropriate to continue to confess our sins after salvation and to ask continued forgiveness, even though it is already granted. Our health, relationships, and general life can suffer from a lack of confession and a generally unrepentant attitude, even if our salvation remains unaffected.

Remember to have balance in your walk with the Lord, understanding that we are saved despite ourselves, but we should never flaunt our salvation and treat it as license to live in sin, thus bringing discredit upon His name. Continued confession and repentance are signs of a healthy spiritual life in Christ.

Heavenly Father! We thank You for the eternal forgiveness we were granted when Jesus first came into our lives. Because of His magnificent work, give us wisdom to remember to call on Him in repentance as we fail Him in our daily walk. We know that through this, we will be sound, responsible, and effective witnesses for Him each day. Amen.

Thursday, 12 March 2020

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

John just said that in walking in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. As noted then, there is a difference between being forgiven and being cleansed. Through belief in Christ, man is forgiven of his sin. Further, the person forgiven by Christ, and who is now “in Christ,” is no longer imputed sin. However, there is still the fact that we have committed sin, and we continue to commit sin. John is actually dealing with both of these issues here.First, he says, “If we say that we have no sin.” A person may claim he is without sin, and he therefore does not need a Savior. Such a person denies that he has offended God through his actions, and he demonstrates that he believes he is morally pure enough to stand before God and be accepted for the life he has lived. John is speaking of such a person.

But his words go further. His words are inclusive of himself because he says, “we have.” It is true of all people. Further, it is a present verb, active voice, in the Greek. It speaks of those who are engaged in their walk at the present time. John’s words need to be taken as an all-inclusive statement. We have sinned and we continue to sin. If we say that this is not true, “we deceive ourselves.”

Here, the Greek literally reads, “we lead ourselves astray.” Whether ignorantly, or willfully, the person who says that “I do not have sin” is deluded. He has gone astray, walking onto the wrong path of deception. Further, the word “ourselves” is in the emphatic position, and it shows that people like this are not innocent victims, but have taken a lead role in deceiving themselves. Such a person calls into question the truth of God which says that “all have sinned.” It denies the need for a Savior, and it also means that even if a person acknowledges he has sinned, he can still – at some point – attain perfection and righteousness apart from the work of Christ.

But Christ is our Mediator. If we have attained sinlessness, we no longer need a Mediator. With such an attitude, John says that “the truth is not in us.” Paul says that in Christ, God is no longer imputing sins to us. The implication is that we have sin, but that God has been gracious to no longer count those sins against us.

To deny that we have sin, is to deny the goodness of God toward us in not imputing us our sins. It diminishes the work of Christ, and it brings the problem of sin in man to possibly meaning he only needs atonement for inherited sin, but not committed sin. But inherited, sin naturally and surely, leads to committed sin. Any person who is old enough and competent enough to say, “I have no sin,” is also old enough and competent enough to know that this is not true.

God is due the glory that He demonstrates towards us in His grace and mercy. To deny our sin is to deny God this rightful due.

Life application: A false teaching among some denominations is the attainment of a sinless state in this life – Wesleyan Holiness and 7^th Day Adventists, among others, believe this. When confronted with this verse, they will say this is referring to our sinful state before salvation, but that once saved, we can grow in the Holy Spirit (Holiness doctrine) to a point where we can be sinless.

This is incorrect and causes detriment to congregants, because tied in with this theology is the belief that one can lose his salvation by committing sins. This type of thinking leads to bondage never intended by the New Testament writers who spoke on behalf of the risen Lord.

Think of the consequences as you contemplate this. A pastor (or the denominational teaching) explains to followers that they can become sinless. This implies that they themselves may have attained this state and are thus beyond the grasp of sin. When a congregant falls into error, the pastor (who believes himself sinless) can point to the congregant as an example of one who has lost his salvation. Suddenly human neurosis takes over this individual, and he becomes willing to do anything to “regain his salvation.” He is now in bondage to the whims of the leader or sect, living in fear of any misstep and never having the very assurance of salvation which is so clearly demonstrated in the Bible.

Because of his failure to understand the grace of God imparted at the cross of Jesus, he also fails to notice the hypocritical position of the very person who has incorrectly counseled him – a person who is no more sinless than any other person, and who is actually self-deceived.

The Bible is very clear on this point, we cannot attain a sinless state in this life, nor can we lose our salvation. Both of these doctrines lead to error and bondage. Hold fast to the grace imparted to you at the cross.

Thank You, O God, for Your wonderful grace! May we trust in Your grace to carry us through to eternal life despite ourselves, and despite our many failings. May we never be so arrogant as to assume that we have become sinless in this life. Rather, we remain dependent on Your mercy, Your abundant love, and Your promised guarantee to hold us securely in Your salvation once we have called out to Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday, 11 March 2020

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

John now enters into a set of verses which are a continuous thought. They should not be taken individually without maintaining the context when cited. When that is done, doctrine which is completely unintended may arise. By first putting verses 1:6 and 1:7 side by side, what is said now will be more easily understood –

• If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
• But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Back in verses 1:3 and 1:5, John spoke of declaring the message of Christ. It is through accepting this message that fellowship is obtained. He said that “in Him there is no darkness at all.” One must consider any light source. There are always imperfections in it. The sun, for example, produces light, but the sun also has dark spots. This will be true of anything which is of the created order. But in God, there is only light – pure and completely undefiled. The light is being equated to absolute moral purity.

John now says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light.” Absolute moral perfection is the standard. But humans are incapable of such a state. And so how can a person “have fellowship with Him,” meaning God? And how can we walk in the light of God? Amos asked the question centuries before the coming of Christ –

“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Amos 3:3

The question demands a negative reply – “No, they cannot.” There must be an agreement for such a walk. Without such an agreement, there is only walking in darkness. This is reflected in the words found in Proverbs 4 –

“But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.” Proverbs 4:17, 18

John next says that if such a walk is realized, then “we have fellowship with one another.” Scholars are generally in agreement that this is speaking of fellowship between believers, not the fellowship which is between the believer and God. That fellowship is here defined by walking together. In walking together, fellowship is also realized between other believers who are on this same walk.

Therefore, this excludes the theology where one cult, sect, or denomination of Christianity is in fellowship and others are excluded. It is not based on what is of human institution or origin, but of walking with God, that the fellowship is realized. It is through a walk with God, who is Light, that this is made possible. But if man is imperfect and God is perfect, then how can such a walk of agreement come about? The answer is found in the final words of the verse. John says, “and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

This phrase is not unlike that which is stated in Hebrews 9 –

“For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:13, 14

It is through Christ that such a walk is made possible. His sacrificial death continually cleanses the one who has put faith in him. It should be noted that the word “walk” in this verse is present subjunctive active. It is happening, it is in a type of conditional statement (if by chance), and it is ongoing – “But if we walk in the light.” Christ makes this possible. He has cleansed us, and He continues to do so.

There is a difference between being forgiven (coming in verse 9) and being cleansed. In one there is the judicial act of forgiveness. It is that which brings us to union with God in Christ. In the other, there is the ongoing cleansing from sins as we continue in Christ. This is found in Paul’s words of 2 Corinthians 5:19. The believer is no longer imputed sin. Thus, the sin is cleansed, and the guilt of the act is taken away.

The term “the blood” here speaks of everything associated with the Person and work of Christ. He came in a human body, and thus it speaks of his humanity. In his humanity, he suffered. Thus, “the blood” speaks of that. And Christ was crucified and died. Thus, “the blood” speaks of that. The death of Christ is what is transferred to the believer who then dies to the law, by which is the knowledge of sin. The person moves to Christ, and he is now “in Christ.” In this state, he can – and forever after does – walk with God; in His light.

Life application – In this verse, John says “But.” But if we walk in the light, meaning to have fellowship with God just as Jesus does, then we also walk in fellowship with one another. We simply cannot claim to be walking with God but not walking with Jesus Christ, who is God.

People who reject Jesus’ deity cannot be walking in the light of God. If we acknowledge Jesus and walk in His light, then we also have fellowship with other Christians who are like-minded in accepting the incarnation. How important it is to understand who Jesus is! If someone denies what is clearly presented in Scripture concerning Him, he remains in darkness and his sin remains. But when one calls on Jesus as Lord, declaring Him truly God, then fellowship with other believers is established and Jesus’ blood cleanses them.

Again, as is proclaimed throughout the New Testament, eternal salvation is clearly presented. Jesus saves us and continues to save us – despite ourselves. He is a mighty Savior and fully able to keep us from even our own weaknesses and failings. As you can see, John ties fellowship with God in with fellowship with Jesus and, in turn, fellowship with other believers. We are united into one holy temple.

Because of this, we should endeavor to lay aside any bitterness or infighting which is unproductive. Matters of doctrine need to be addressed and resolved, but lesser issues need to be set aside to maintain the bond of fellowship which unites us in Jesus.

Lord Jesus, give us wisdom to walk in Your glorious light and to pursue the knowledge of who You are and what You have done for us. Give us the ability also to fellowship with other believers in a manner which will be pleasing to You. Help us also to put aside petty differences and unite in the common goal of sharing Your good news. Amen.