First John 1:7

First John 1:7

I John 1:7 says, “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.”

Real relationships are based on truth. Without truth there cannot be a real relationship between two people. The key to this verse is the last half which basically emphasizes the importance of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus. A close and meaningful relationship with someone can begin when both people have their sins forgiven through Jesus Christ. To keep that same fellowship one must keep his or her sins confessed.

I John 1:8 says, “if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” This verse says a similar thing to Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Everyone is a sinner. Everyone makes mistakes. Once you get saved and become a Christian doesn’t mean that you will suddenly stop sinning. Some so-called Christian cults teach this in fact, that once you are saved you do not sin anymore. But the Bible does not teach this. The best thing you can do is to be honest with yourself and God and confess your sins

That is why the verse next verse I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Christ will always forgive us our sins when we ask him. He is always willing. After all he did for your sins. I John 1:9 is a great verse to memorize and remember because you will sin and you will need reminders that Christ always forgives.

I John 1:10 says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” God doesn’t lie so don’t accuse him of being a liar by saying that you are not a sinner. After all that is the great problem with the world, the world is lost in sin and people need to confess their sins to Jesus.

The Bible goes on to say in I John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sins not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

And that is the exact reason we are told these things so that we will not sin. If a person thinks they are not a sinner or refuses to admit their sins what will the result be? The result will be they will continue to sin even more. You can’t correct your actions unless you first admit they need correction.

A great word is found in this verse the word advocate it means a intercessor, a comforter. It is important to remember that Jesus is our advocate with the father. Notice that the last part of the verse mention’s that Jesus is righteous. Jesus is not a sinner. God is holy. Man is the sinner. Having Jesus Christ the righteous as your advocate with the father is a very important position to be in spiritually.

It means that when a person becomes saved God sees you positionally as righteous just as Jesus is righteous. The book of Romans teaches a great deal on this subject. It is an important part of the gospel to understand. It is much better to be in the position of Jesus as your advocate rather than you being against Jesus because instead of being in danger of the wrath of God you are positional in favor with him because of his son Jesus Christ. This means all the promises of God are yours to claim.

This may infact be the most important thing to remember out of this verse, that Jesus Christ is called Jesus Christ the righteous. God is righteous. God is holy. We are mere sinners. How wonderful it is that Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us that we might have the righteousness of God.

It is a hard message to hear the message of your own sinfulness but on the positive said there is the message of God’s righteousness imputed unto you through Jesus Christ.

That is why 1 John 2:2 goes on to say of Christ Jesus, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

The word propitiation has everything to do with mercy. Mercy is found in Jesus Christ great eternal everlasting storehouses of mercy. We all need mercy, mercy for our sins and it can be found through the blood of Jesus. It is a wonderful thing to be at the mercy of God, to have the mercy of God and the mercy of God is all inclusive it is for the whole world. Anyone can become a Christian there is no respect of persons with God. Jesus died for all and Jesus wants to save the whole world.

I John 2:3 says, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” This verse is talking about our confidence in our salvation. A person that is saved will do and try to do what is right. You may not succeed all the time but through the power of the Holy Spirit you are able to keep God’s commandments. The more consistent you are at keeping His commandments the greater will be your confidence in Him.

Therefore love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and your confidence shall know no bounds.

I John 2:4 says, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

There are many people that claim to be Christians but do they keep God’s commandments? Don’t be a hypocrite don’t say one thing then go the other way. That would mean you are a liar and the truth is not in you.

I John 2:5 says, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

God loves the world but God does not love sin in fact God hates sin. It’s good to be in the love of God so keep his word. In fact sin harms are ability to love God and to love others that why it is so important to repent of our sins to Jesus.

I John 2:6 says, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” If you say you are a Christian then you should live like a Christian. Don’t do the things that the people of the world do. If you are saying but not doing then you are a hypocrite. Don’t be a hypocrite.

I John 2:7 says, “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.”

This verse should be a motivator for us to try and do what is right. The words of God are commandments to be kept not just read not just heard not just to go in one ear and out the other. What is the commandment? The word is the commandment. If you are not keeping the commandment then you are sinning and sin always has negative consequences.

I John 2:8 say, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.”

It might seem strange that in verse 7 is says I write no new commandment then for it to go on in verse 8 and say a new commandment I write unto. This division is made perhaps to put emphasis on the importance of the new commandment. What is the new commandment? To love one another that is the commandment. It might sound like an easy commandment to keep but if you really try to do it you will find it impossible to do without God’s help.

I John 2:9-10 says, “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth is brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

There is something seriously wrong when Christians start hating one another. That is not of the Spirit of God. There is one Spirit and God is love. Christians should always love one another.

I John 2:11, “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” There is a lot of hate in the world. But loving people does not mean accepting their sins. If you hate your brother, brother here is talking about brother in Christ then you are in darkness. Of course, in a way you could say that all men are brothers and sisters. We are all descendent from Adam and Eve and created in the image of God.

I John 2:12 says, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.” Once again we are reminded of the importance of the forgiveness of sins. That is why we are given the Bible so we can know that our sins are forgiven through Jesus Christ.

This is an interesting verse because it says for his name’s sake. In other words God deserves all the glory. We should be thankful and glorify God for his power and ability to forgive sins. Jesus did all the work. He is the author of salvation. It is for his name’s sake.

I John 2:13 says, “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.” Those who have over come are those who have their sins forgiven through Jesus Christ. This is a powerful and positive message in a world of sin and woe. Notice the connection between knowing the Father and overcoming.

Some people claim to know the father but have they overcome the wicked one? If you have your sins forgiven through Jesus Christ then you know the Father. Jesus himself said he that hath seen me hath seen the father. Don’t be fooled: true religion is very simple; it all comes down to grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

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