1Jn 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, concerning the Word of life—: The beginning was the Word who became flesh. They knew Jesus, so they have seen the Word with their own eyes.
1Jn 1:2
the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-: Jesus was the Word made flesh, and He is who the disciples delcare. They declare that eternal life is in Jesus, who was manifested (made flesh). So there appears to be many names for Jesus in these verses: The Word, eternal life, The Word of life. There are many more names.
1Jn 1:3
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.: They are declaring these things, and equating the receiving of these things as fellowship with them. So this seems that they are saying that fellowship with God is required to fellowship with the disciples. We're also presented with two parts of the Trinity, and it's very difficult for our minds to comprehend. They are separate but not. I've heard it explained that they are distinct persons from the same essense. I have no idea how, but since there's only one God, and Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father are God, they somehow are the same being that can exist as three separate persons.
Very similar to the opening of the book of John: (Joh 1:1-14) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became 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.
1Jn 1:4
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.: John 8:31-32 "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”" The better we understand Jesus and follow Him, the more our lives will be filled with joy.
1Jn 1:5
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.: I believe that this is a statement of fact: God is light. In the beginning, the Spirit was hovering over the face of the deep and said, "Let there be light." That's God's light shining on the earth because the sun, moon and stars weren't created until the fourth day. And in the new Heaven, we have no need of the sun because Heaven will be illuminated by the light of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8, "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."
1Jn 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.: We know the fruits of the flesh (walking in darkness): Galatians 5:19-22 "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
1Jn 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.: We know the fruits of the Spirit (walking in the light): Galatians 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
1Jn 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.: We have only been saved by Jesus dying for our sins. He never said we'd live this life sinless. But we should be at war with our sin nature, desiring to be sinless. We will be in conflict our entire lives.
1Jn 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.: We can't go through life pretending that we're good. We have to be open and honest with God and let Him know when we sin. We can't win sin on our own, and pretending it isn't there won't help. Only God can destroy our sin nature. But even if He doesn't, we need to confess.
1Jn 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.: I've never met anyone who says that they haven't sinned, and I don't think that's what is being said here. I think what's being addressed is pretending not to be sinners after being saved. We can't just pretend that being saved stops us from sinning. That presents a false picture to unbelievers. We can't present ourselves as holier than thou. We present ourselves as fallen and forgiven, with a desire to do the will of God. We shouldn't even need to say these things, as our lives should be a reflection of what we believe.
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