To Be One in Christ: We Have Treasure in the Jars of Clay -- the Series of Explanation and Analysis of Scripture (19) - 1
The Explanation and Analysis of the Verses in Chapter 1 of 1 JOHN
It is edited and compiled under the guidance of Holy Spirit. All thanks, praises and glories be to God!
1 JOHN 1:1 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.
(NOTES)
A. The Word of life (1:1upper)
This verse is close to (Joh 1:1): “In the beginning was the Word” . (By comparing (1Jo 1:1-5) and (Joh 1:1-10), it is apparent that the author is the same for this book and the Gospel of John.) Regarding “from the beginning” in this verse and “in the beginning” in (Joh 1:1), the former pays attention to the fact that Christ is in the eternity; the latter pays attention to the relationship of Christ with the created after the beginning of time. Both of these two verses illustrate that Christ exists before the time, and He is the LORD, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, and the One -- “I am who I am”.
“the Word”:
It does not refer to the “word” that the average people usually talk about, but refers to Christ. It is because He is “from the beginning”, and also whom can be heard, seen and touched. Therefore, this “Word” indicates that the life of the living God expresses the righteousness, holiness, goodness, and kindness through Christ -- the Word became flesh. Just as the words express the mind, the Word became flesh, and shows all the goodness of the life of the living God to people, also makes those who know Him receive the life of the living God; that is the Word of life.
Therefore, the Word of life received by the Christians is a life that can speak, a life that can express the glories of God and the mind of God. We should let this life display the glorious beauty of God. In (2Co 3:3), the believers are called “the letter of Christ”; it is also about to let the believers display Christ. Our whole life is a recommendation letter, and a “word”, that tells the goodness of Christ to the worldly people.
B. The relationship of the Word of life and the Father (1:1upper)
“was with the Father ” in (1:2) and “the Word was with God” have the same meaning in (Joh 1:1) . All prove that Christ and God are One, and have the equality (Joh 1:1-2; 17:5; Php 2:6; Rev 1:4-5).
“was with” shows that the Son and the Father are One. Here, when it talks about how Christ -- the Word became flesh, lived among us, it specially mentions that He was with God from the beginning; this is very significant. If we ignore the original glorious status of Christ, we will not understand His birth, death, and how much He gave up for us; and will not understand deeply how precious His love is!
C. The experience of the apostle to the Word of life (1:1latter)
Here, the apostle uses all the authentic word to describe His experience to know the Word of life.
“which we have heard”; What the apostles have heard are the words directly from LORD. But are not limited by the record in the four books of Gospel only. It is because what LORD said are not only the four books of Gospel, but also include the whole Old Testament and the New Testament (Luk 24:27, 44-49; Joh 5:39, 46). “which we have heard”; also include what John the Baptist said, and what Moses and Elijah said in the glorious splendor, which also the apostle have been heard.
“which we have seen with our eyes”:
It refers to all the work done by LORD when LORD was on earth and the power shown by Him, including His appearance to the disciples for several times after the resurrection, until His exalting to the heaven.
“which we have looked at ”:
Look at with reverence, attentively and carefully. That is, to gaze upon.
“(which) our hands have touched”:
refer to the contact of LORD to the disciples when LORD was on the earth, and the appearance after the resurrection.
Put together the experiences above which are from four aspects; it is enough to prove that “the Word of life” is absolutely not an imaginary ideal, or abstract knowledge; but is visible and tangible that can be known by everyone and the Savior that people can come into contact with, which is absolutely not mysterious “knowledge” proclaimed by the heresy -- Gnosticism. On the other hand, since the apostles have such an authentic knowledge and experience to the “the Word of life” that they preached, what they preached is very reliable and has the authority. It is obvious that:
a. The Christians should have the vivid recognition about Christ the same as about John; then we can have the sense of authenticity to the LORD we believe in, and strengthen our faith naturally. It is because the capability of “testimony” is on its authenticity, but not on the exaggeration.
b. We should get to know LORD more and more gradually. From the above four experiences mentioned by the apostle, his experience with the Word of life goes deeper gradually. From having “heard” to having “touched”, he got to know the truthfulness of LORD more and more. The more he knew LORD, the more he felt the authenticity and reliability of LORD, and the more cordially he felt that He is the true living God.
D. The relationship between the Word of life and us (1:2)
1 JOHN 1:2 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.
(NOTES)
This verse explains “the Word of life” in verse 1, which is not only a message, but is the everlasting life. A life which men originally can not get close to, yet appeared in flesh (1Ti 3:16; Heb 2:14), and received by the apostles and the believers.
a. “The life appeared”:
This shows how the love of God looks for the sinners, which is the initiative love.
b. “we have seen it ”:
This shows the experience from men and how to relate to the appeared life (Christ).
c. “testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life”:
This shows that how those who received grace should fulfill the responsibility and continue in proclaiming the life that we received. Our Christians are reborn to receive the life of God.
The initiative love of God, the relationship that can let people related to the life of God through Christ, and the proclamation of the new life, these three points are the characteristics of the Gospel of Christ.
The religions in men’s world are all about that men looked for God; however, the Gospel of Christ is that God looks for men. It is because men have already been lost by themselves and are not able to find God. Since the world through its wisdom did not know him (1Co 1:21), therefore, God sent the Son He loves-- Jesus Christ, and looks for the lost by Himself (Luk 19:10) ; and through the salvation that He accomplished, He gives the life of God to those who believe in Him (Joh 1:12). Furthermore, the life of the living God, is not static and will produce more seeds (Mat 13:23; Joh 15:16).
Here, it especially emphasizes that this “life” appeared already, which we have seen and proclaimed. It apparently points to the heresy at that time. The devil will welcome any argument that only admits that Christ is God, or only admits that Christ is a man. It is because if Christ is only the God, He has nothing to do with us; if he is only a man, he can not save us at all, for he can not give us the life of God. However, whom the devil fears most is Christ who is God and man; this is the important basis of the salvation. Through the Son of God who took the likeness of man with the perishable body and died on the cross, He destroyed the devil who holds the power of death and accomplished the salvation to save people completely out of the sins and evils. This is the most glorious victory of Christ, and the most shameful failure of the devil.
(2) The purpose that the apostles testify “the Word of life” (1:3-4)
Although the apostle illustrated repeatedly that “the Word of life” he proclaimed is his own experience, the purpose that he emphasized his experience in such a way, is not to draw the attention of others to his experience, but to draw the attention of others to the LORD whom he testified. When we preach Christ, we need to testify with our own experiences. However, if the result of the testimony is to make others admire our own accomplishment more than the admiration of Christ, this testimony is failed completely. Here, the apostle points out there are two purposes to give the testimonies:
A. to make you and us have the fellowship (1:3)
1 JOHN 1:3 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.
(NOTES)
“have fellowship ”:
It indicates to share everything together in the life of Christ and in Christ.
“so that you also may have fellowship with us.”:
“you” refer to those who received the letters; “us” refer to the apostle and his coworkers. The apostle pointed out that the purpose to write the letter is to let those who received the letter have fellowship with them, to share the life of Christ. This is the reasonable object for the believers to have fellowship with -- the members who have the same life. To have fellowship with the apostles, and the Father, LORD Jesus, is the capability to resist the temptations of the heresies. Having close communion with LORD frequently, and receiving the supply of life, or associating to people belong to LORD, and making the life grow up, one will naturally have the spiritual wisdom to distinguish the heresy.
Since those who receive the letter have received the words proclaimed by the apostle already, here, the apostle told them the purpose of the preaching, is for that “you also may have fellowship with us.” This verse has the following meanings:
a. The apostle wants the believers to know that although we ourselves have received the Word of life already, and we share in the life of Christ in the big fellowship, we have the responsibility to proclaim this Word of life to others (the same as the apostle), so that more people will join in this fellowship. It is because this is the purpose that the apostle proclaimed this Word of life to others.
b. The apostle wants the believers to know that since we share in the life of Christ, we should often have the fellowship with Christ and those who belong to Christ.
B. to make our joy complete (1:4)
1 JOHN 1:4 We write this to make our joy complete.
(NOTES)
The second purpose of the apostle to write this letter is to “make our joy complete”.
It is because the sins and evils are the source of the pain. The apostle proclaimed the Word of life to those who received the letter, so that they will keep away from the sins and evils that entangles, share in the life of Christ, and have a joyful life. Therefore, what he proclaimed and written, are to make people’s “joy complete”.
On the other hand, if a Christian falls and sins, or goes astray to the heresy and wrong way, he will lose the joy. The messages of the apostles make them to recover the communion with God. Therefore, his messages can make others’ “joy complete”. Here, we should pay attention to the following teachings:
a. Since God let the apostles to proclaim this message, it is obvious that God prefer us to commune to each other, and to share the message of LORD together. In this way, we will get closer to God, and have more strength to resist the heresies, the sins and evils.
b. The apostle wholeheartedly wanted those who received the letter have their joy complete. This is the important attitude to commune. We should work for the good things and joy of others on everything, but not for our own happiness; in this way, we are able to commune with others.
c. To lift up “the Word of life” -- Christ, is the secret to commune. To lift up men and men’s opinions, will provoke the disputations.
d. If we share the heavenly grace in Christ with all the brothers and sisters, we will arouse the mind of thanksgivings by each other, and will have our joy complete by finding the grace of God on others. Those who truly have their joy complete, can have joy in others’ thing and in God’s thing.
2. To commune with God in the light (1:5-2:17)
(1) The knowledge that one should have to commune with God in the light (1:5-7)
A. one should know that “God is light” (1:5)
The apostle has explained the purpose of writing the letter above, which is to introduce God -- the Father who he knows to the believers, so that they will have fellowship with each other. Now, the apostle starts to introduce the first character of the Father who he knows, which is “God is light”.
1 JOHN 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
(NOTES)
a. Here, the believers are instructed to know that God is the light.
God is the Father of the heavenly lights.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ” (Jam 1:17)
“The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?" ” (Isa 33:14)
“for our "God is a consuming fire."” (Heb 12:29)
“For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. ” (Deu 4:24)
b. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”; it is similar to verse (Joh 1:9): “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. ”. Here, “that gives light to every man” has the same meaning as “there is no darkness at all”. This is also the definition of “the true light”. “The true light” won’t reduce the brightness because of the thick darkness. There is no darkness that won’t be shone by Him. God is the Only “true light” . He is holy and bright, and won’t become dimmer because of the filth and darkness of the world. In His absolute brightness, no darkness is allowed. On the contrary, this light can shine upon all those who are born in the darkness, so that they will receive the light of love (Joh 8:12). The achievements of His “light” to this dark world: He is the God who gives light, warmth, power and life, and He is also completely good, perfect, and completely holy God. In the previous verses, the apostle has pointed it out clearly that LORD Christ is the God who they have seen, heard and touched.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." ” (Joh 8:12)
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." ” (Joh 9:5)
c. This is also to tell us that the true light won’t fear the darkness. It is not a reason if we think that we can not shine because our own environment is darker and worse than others. Unless it is not the light, if it is the true light, it will appear to be brighter in the darkness. Nevertheless, the space and degree that the life in us can shine upon are limited, which is not like God in Whom “there is no darkness at all” and can “gives light to every man”.
d. “God is light; ”
It shows that God can expose all the darkness and judge all the sins and evils. “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ” (Eph 5:13) The honesty exposes the crafty; the humility exposes the pride. Therefore, the believers shine for LORD. On one hand, they will glorify God; on the other hand, they expose the sins and evils of the worldly people. On one hand, they will please God; on the other hand, they will be hated by the worldly people.
e. “God is light”:
It implies that God is the source of the light. The light of the believers is only like the moonlight, which is the reflection of the sunshine (2Co 3:18). If our light is not bright, it must because:
i. we are far away from the light source.
ii. there is separation.
iii. the reflector itself is not clean.
Since we Christians have this treasure -- the life of God in us (2Co 4:7), we should let this light come out, in order to be as the salt and light among the people (Mat 5:13-16).
B. The believers should leave the darkness on both words and deeds (1:6)
1 JOHN 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
(NOTES)
The believers must not do dark and dishonored deeds, while claim to have fellowship with God. Here, the warning is giving to such believers; if they act in such a way, they lie. God has “no darkness at all” and can not be deceived by man.
This verse gives the condition to have fellowship with God from the reverse side; that is, one must leave the darkness. This “darkness” not only refers to the sins and evils, but also refers to all the situation of self-deceiving or self-unknowing. This situation is more fearful than the sins and evils actually. Just as pride is a serious sin; however, if one who has the sin of pride, yet he does not know it at all. Then he not only has the sin of pride, but also falls in the darkness and could not see himself. This verse shows this meaning that: “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness”. On one hand, walking in the darkness; on the other hand, daring to claim to have fellowship with God, this is the exact situation of those who are self-deceiving.
“we lie and do not live by the truth.”
This verse gives us a more rigorous explanation about “lie”; that is, if one expresses the good (noble) wishes with words, but he is not willing to put it into practice, neither do the wishes that he said on the actions. Such a person tells lies; the good wish that he said is also false. It is because it is a lie if the deeds do not match the words. There are similar words in this letter, such as (1:10; 2:4; 4:20; 5:10).
This verse implies that the reason that one falls into the darkness is because he does not worship God with honesty; one does not pay attention to making effort practically, and only covets the vanity in front of people. On one hand, one claims to have fellowship with God; on the other hand, one still walks in the darkness. Words and deeds do not match; and package and contents do not match; that is to lie.
However, to have fellowship with this God who has no darkness at all, one must truly leave the darkness. One absolutely can not have the word only, or have a wish without preparing to practice it. We absolutely can not have fellowship with God with any darkness or dishonesty in us. Any fakeness in our minds can not be hidden in His light.
C. The natural results of walking in the light (1:7)
1 JOHN 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, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
(NOTES)
Since in verse 5 above, it is said that “God is light”, to walk in the light means to walk in God. That is: in the light of holy face of God, or in the light of the truth of God, one lives a life without any covering. All things with sins and the intergradient of darkness, can not walk in the light. All these things are outside the will of God; and all doing harms to people. As a result, they will become the separation to block the communion of the individual and God, or between the believers. However, if we live a life in the will and light of God, we will have fellowship with each other naturally! “as he is in the light”; if one lives in light without any darkness as God, that is to be in harmony and unity with God.
Regarding walking in the light, this verse gives two results for it:
a. to have fellowship with one another (1:7)
The great fellowship between the believers is because they are united to God in the life of God. Note that the meaning of fellowship is to “share together”. If we walk in the light, we will share together the grace of God and the spiritual joy, and let God enjoy in our united fellowship.
These are the natural results to walk in the light. Just as those who live in the same house will meet with each other everyday naturally, do not need a special visit and will certainly meet.
b. to be purified by the precious blood (1:7)
The second natural result of walking in the light is to be purified by the blood of Jesus. “To be purified” here pays attention to the experience after the rebirth (certainly including the experience of being purified at the beginning of the belief). It is because as to “us” here, it refers to those who were purified at first to be reborn. The blood of LORD Jesus not only “purifies” us at the beginning of the belief; it can continue to purify us after we believe as long as we are in the light.
Here, we see the relationship between “light” and “blood”. One must be in the light first before being purified by the blood. If one is still in the darkness, the blood of LORD will not purify their sins. If one only asks to be purified by the blood of LORD in mouth, yet does not have the mind that truly knows sins, his prayer is fake, for he is not in the light at all, and is still in the darkness. Just as what is said in the previous verse: “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” Here, they do not really want to have fellowship with God at all, what they said is a lie.
Therefore, to walk in the light and to leave the darkness are the two aspects of one thing actually; and are one act, but not two separated acts. However, if we walk in the light, we can be purified by the precious blood of LORD, and keep the clear conscience, obtain the power to overcome the sins and evils. For example, there is someone who stole the pen of others; he only asks to be forgiven, yet he is not willing to return that pen and still wants to keep it for himself. To ask for the forgiveness in this way, is actually only to comfort the conscience, but not to be in the light. It is because he hasn’t seen the detestation of the sins yet and is still not willing to give up the sins.
(2) How to keep oneself in the light (1.8-2.2)
In the message of these verses, the main purpose is to satisfy the needs of two kinds of people:
A. As to those who sin but defend themselves, they are persuaded to confess their own sins honestly and not to quibble; God will forgive.
B. As to those who are too weak in conscience and too scared after sinning, or those who lose heart because of the sins they could not overcome, here, they are encouraged to know the accomplishment of the mediator, and do not lose heart.
A. to confess sins honestly (1:8-10)
As to those who sinned, yet are not willing to confess sins honestly and quibble instead. The exhortations include two aspects:
(a) Exhort them not to deceive themselves: to deny sins not only deceives oneself, but also offends God and makes him out to be a liar; if so, the truth is not in our hearts (1:8,9).
(b) Exhort them to trust in the promise of God: Since God is faithful and righteous, He will forgive our sins (1:9). Thus, why cover the sins of oneself? Why not confess sins and ask for the forgiveness?
1 JOHN 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
(NOTES)
“If we claim to be without sin”:
Since this verse is said to the believers, and the believers surely know that they are the sinners, this verse refer to those believers who do not admit their own sins faithfully after sinning. They try to deny and defend themselves; thus, they do not keep themselves in the light. Here, it points out that the first condition to keep oneself in the light is to “convict the sin to be a sin”, and confess to God without quibbling. It is a pity that many people after sinning by themselves, they try to nitpick others so that to cover their own sins. Such people are in the darkness completely.
Why it is said that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ”? It is because the truth does not tolerate sins. If one deceives himself and does not convict the sin as a sin, he rejects the truth and makes the truth have no status in him and be unable to take effects. Therefore, “the truth is not in us. ”
1 JOHN 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
(NOTES)
“If we confess our sins”:
Only those who confess their sins can be away from sins. Only those who confess sins can repent and be saved. Therefore, LORD Jesus Christ said: “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mat 9:13) When we accept LORD Jesus Christ as our own Savior to be reborn, at the same time, we must confess sins and repent.
We are forgiven not only because of the love of God, but also because of the righteousness and faithfulness of God. “(God) he is faithful” -- refers to the nature of God is faithful; He can not disown Himself (2Ti 2:13; 1Pe 4:19). Therefore, the promise of God is faithful (2Co 1:20; Heb 10:23; 11:11); He will be responsible to His promise.
“just”: this verse points out that the nature and deeds of God are just (Psa 51:4). Since Christ paid the debt of sins and took up the punishment of our sins on the cross because of the righteousness of God, thus, God won’t punish us for the previous sins. However, God forgive us in order that we will not sin any longer. We must in the grace rely on Christ, make every effort to keep us from sins and to be holy; and must not sin deliberately any more. Otherwise, no sacrifice for sins will be left (Heb 10:26).
To “forgive us our sins” is a little bit different from to “purify us from all unrighteousness”. To forgive is only to exempt the punishments. To “purify us from all unrighteousness” is to purify the conducts, minds and life of the sinners.
1 JOHN 1:10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
(NOTES)
Those who do not confess their sins, not only can not be forgiven, but also make light of God and make him out as a liar. For the word of God is: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ” (Rom 3:23) However, the promise of God is: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins ”. If we never sin at all, or we never sin after believing in LORD, then will it be a lie that God give the promise to forgive the sins of men? Therefore, if we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
Reference:
1. Zhongdao Chen: “The Lectures on the Bible Studying of the Letters in New Testament”.
