Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does 1st John Chapter 1 mean?

Chapter 1 consists of three parts. First, verses 1–4 offer an introduction describing the author’s eyewitness experiences with Jesus. Jesus already existed in the beginning, emphasizing His eternality (1 John 1:1). The apostle John heard, saw, and touched Jesus (1 John 1:1). John testifies about Jesus and the eternal life He brings (1 John 1:2). This message had already been accepted by this letter’s recipients (1 John 1:3). From the start, John emphasizes fellowship with both the Father and the Son. Both are “from the beginning” and are inseparable. John wrote this letter to make their mutual joy complete, or full (1 John 1:4).

Verses 5–10 focus on the theme of walking in the light. Those who claim to have fellowship with God must live as if that claim is true (1 John 1:5–6). Those who do are continually cleansed from sin (1 John 1:7). However, those who claim to have no sin are deceived and do not have the truth in them (1 John 1:8).

The theme of light and darkness is strongly communicated in this opening chapter. This connects both to the creation account in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 as well as to the Gospel of John chapter 1. Those who know Christ “walk in the light.” Those who do not, “walk in darkness.” God “is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). The believer’s goal is to “walk” in the light, as God is in the light, in order to have fellowship with Him (1 John 1:6).

Verse 8 notes that those who claim to have no sin at all are lacking in truth. Instead, such people are fooling themselves. In later chapters, John will address deception from false teachers. In this chapter, he focuses on walking with God to avoid being deceived.

According to John, confession to God brings forgiveness. And, it brings the work of God to remove that stain from our lives (1 John 1:9). God offers forgiveness to those who seek it. However, those who claim to be without sin directly contradict God, and do not know Him (1 John 1:10).

Chapter Context
Chapter 1 sets the stage for the rest of John’s letter. The concepts of truth vs. falsehood, light vs. darkness, and rightness vs. self-deception are explored in more detail later on. By claiming to be an eyewitness, and marking the difference between God’s truth and error, Chapter 1 gives a sense of how serious this subject is. In fact, the distinction between truth and error is a primary marker used for spiritual self-reflection.

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life —

John starts from the very “beginning,” referring to Jesus (1 John 1:3). Jesus is God, and was in the beginning with God (John 1:1). Similar to the opening passages of Genesis and the Gospel of John, 1 John starts with a clear connection between Jesus and God the Father as the beginning of all things. John also refers to the idea of Jesus coming to earth as a flesh-and-blood man (1 John 1:2), which is a critical part of the gospel.

John was closely connected with Jesus. He was a personal witness to Jesus’ earthly ministry. John was one of the closest followers of Jesus. He heard Him teach, saw Him before and after the resurrection, and touched Him with his own hands. John was the last surviving apostle, and so he spoke with an authority few could match. John further calls Jesus the “word of life,” a phrase used elsewhere only in Philippians 2:16.

Context Summary
First John 1:1–4 introduces this letter written by the apostle John. John references Jesus’ eternal existence, and His identical nature to God the Father. John also makes a claim to eyewitness testimony: he has personally seen these things he is teaching others about. Mutual fellowship, between Christians, and in Christ, is also mentioned here.

Verse 2. the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us —

This short verse actually consists of six distinct parts related to Jesus.

First, Jesus—”the life”—was revealed to John and to others.

Second, John was not alone in seeing Jesus. The statement here says, “we.” There were many eyewitnesses to Christ’s miracles and His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).

Third, John could attest to these things. Like a witness in a courtroom, John could give testimony of being with Jesus, watching Him perform miracles, watching His death, seeing the empty tomb, and experiencing Christ resurrected.

Fourth, John could announce eternal life, which is Jesus Himself, to everyone. The phrase “eternal life” is often used in John’s Gospel, and six times in this letter alone (1 John 2:25; 3:15, 5:11, 13, 20).

Fifth, Jesus was with the Father in heaven prior to coming to earth. Again, John emphasizes Christ’s deity prior to coming to earth.

Sixth, that Jesus came to earth in flesh-and-blood form. John ends the verse as it began, describing how Jesus was “made manifest,” or shown, and was revealed to us.

Verse 3. that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John repeats his claim to eyewitness experience, from verse 1. These things John and others saw Jesus do, and which they heard Jesus teach, served as the basis for what they “proclaimed.” The Greek word translated “proclaim” is apangellomen, which includes the idea of announcing or reporting. John could accurately teach about Jesus because he personally served with Him and had learned directly from the Lord.

The goal of John’s teaching was shared fellowship. The idea of fellowship, from the Greek koinōnia, was an important concept in the New Testament (Acts 2:42). John noted the importance of fellowship with each other. And, he reminds the reader that we also have fellowship with both Christ and God the Father. This reflects the Great Commandment, found in the Gospels (Matthew 22:37–40), to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. A right relationship with God is seen as essential to right relationships with other people. Also important is John’s emphasis of the connection of the Father and Son, a theme both in John’s Gospel and the letter of 1 John.

Verse 4. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This verse concludes the introduction and partially explains the purpose of John’s letter. The main point of the letter is found in 1 John 5:13.

John wrote to fulfill mutual joy between himself and his readers. Many false teachers opposed the truth of Christ in the early church. Persecutions from the government and the surrounding culture were thrown at those preaching the truth as well. John’s letter serves to counter these concerns and build up his fellow believers in Jesus.

John shares similar thoughts in his other letters. For example, 2 John 1:12 says John desired “to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” Third John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” John’s Gospel mentions joy more than seven times (John 3:29; 15:11; 16:20, 21, 22, 24; 17:13). Four of these are in John chapter 16, where Jesus concludes that “your joy may be full” (John 16:24). First Peter 1:8 says, “Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”

Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) and an expected aspect of the Christian life. Part of John’s purpose is showing Christians how to experience joy and fulfillment in their walk.

Verse 5. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

This verse begins the main body of the letter which focuses on “walking in the light.” This theme continues through the end of the chapter in verse 10. Echoing his words in verse 3, John notes that he is speaking of first-hand information. The use of “we” likely refers to John and the other apostles. They heard directly from Jesus and then proclaimed—or announced—His teachings to others, including the believers reading John’s letter many years later.

This message begins with the idea that God is entirely goodness and truth, with no evil or falsehood. This is phrased in terms of light and darkness, common themes in the New Testament. As in verse 1, John alludes both to the creation account in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 and the introduction to his own Gospel in John chapter 1. God’s first recorded words are, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). John 1:4–5 records, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Here in 1 John 1:5, John adds that God is light. He is without any darkness or shadow. He is both perfect and without sin.

Context Summary
First John 1:5–10 opens the main topic of John’s letter. God is entirely goodness and truth, and those who follow God cannot also follow evil and falsehood. John offers a pattern of “if” statements, comparing each to the truth. In particular, John mentions those who claim to be entirely free from sin, or to have never sinned. Such a belief is literally the opposite of the gospel. No person is sinless other than Jesus Christ.

Verse 6. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Verse 3 was John’s first mention of fellowship, both between believers and with God. He picks up on this theme again here in verse 6. If God is light and has no darkness (1 John 1:5), then a believer cannot both walk with God and walk in darkness. To make this claim is a lie, both to one’s self and to others.

This verse says that those who claim Christ, but show no signs of a changed life, are lying. This is typically interpreted as a reference to “false converts,” or those who do not, in fact, have saving faith. It’s important to note that the Bible never commissions Christians as “salvation police,” or encourages judgment of another person’s salvation. Those who show no change in life may give little evidence that they are true believers, but this is ultimately only something God can know (1 Samuel 16:7).

Though a changed life is the normal, expected condition of a Christian believer, the immediate context of verse 6 is clearly focused on Christians. Accepting Christ does not automatically make a person sinless, or incapable of sin. Nor does it guarantee a close walk with God. Here, in particular, self-professed believers are called out for attempting to walk with God while living in sin. If we are truly walking with God, we will live consistently with our beliefs, offering evidence of a life changed by God.

Even saved believers have a choice whether or not to walk with God in the light, or apart from Him in the darkness. Choosing to sin does not remove our salvation, but it will destroy our fellowship with God. Sin still has consequences, even for those who possess eternal life. A major goal of the Christian life is close fellowship with other believers and with the Lord. This requires walking in the light (obedience) rather than darkness (disobedience).

Verse 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 cleanses us from all sin.

Verse 6 spoke against walking in the darkness. Verse 7 offers the contrast, and calls believers to live according to God’s ways. Again, we find connections to the Gospel of John, chapter 1. John 1:8–9 speaks of John the Baptist, stating, “He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” Jesus was noted as the “light” and “true light.” John the Baptist spoke about Him, calling people to repentance in preparation for His arrival. Now believers are called to walk according to Christ’s ways.

The second half of this verse states what takes place when believers do walk in the light: fellowship and a cleansing from sin. Two applications are given. First, believers will have community and friendship with one another. Second, believers will experience forgiveness. Even though a person is forgiven (eternally) of sins when he or she first believes in Christ, Christians still commit sins and find themselves in need of forgiveness as believers. See verse 9 for more information on this. Even the apostle Paul noted his many failures, despite his desire to live right, and the many noble works he had done for God (Romans 7).

The implication here is clear: the mere presence of sin in one’s life does not imply that the person is lost. Christ’s sacrifice removes the eternal penalty of all sins, past, present, and future. Even more importantly, those who trust in Christ are forgiven even for sins they are not aware of. Those sins we become aware of, we should confess, and they will be forgiven. If we walk in obedience with what we have, God will make up for what we lack.

Verse 8. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

This verse offers John’s third conditional (“if”) statement in a row. There are five such “if” statements in this passage. First, he refers to those who claim fellowship with Christ while living in sin (1 John 1:6). Second, John addresses those who truly live according to Christ’s commands (1 John 1:7). Here, in verse 8, John refers to those who claim to have no sin whatsoever.

John’s pattern of alternating positive and negative “if” statements clues the reader in to upcoming ideas. Here, it sets up the reader to expect a negative “if” statement. Saying we have no sin is considered negative and simply impossible—only God is completely without sin (Hebrews 4:15). So, anyone who claims to be without sin is self-deceived.

John teaches that those who claim to be without sin do not have the truth in them. This lack of truth applies to the saved believer who claims to have been freed from all sin in their present life. A believer should recognize his or her sinfulness and need of forgiveness through Christ. Even the most devout, clean-living Christian still contends with sin, in some way, shape, or form. Forgetting that we have sin makes us insensitive to things we ought to confess to God. As stated in verse 7, we don’t lose hope, but we trust in Christ to forgive us.

While it’s not necessary to have perfect knowledge in order to be saved—justified before God—a core aspect of the gospel is a recognition of our sin. Therefore, anyone who claims to have never sinned is denying the gospel. By definition, such a person is an unbeliever. And, any believer who concludes that they no longer sin needs to be corrected.

Note, also, that verses 8, 9, and 10 cover past, present, and future sins. Believers still have the choice of whether or not to submit to Christ at any given time. If this was not possible, the Bible would not warn Christians so often about the consequences of sin. Even the believer is still fallible.

Verse 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In this fourth “if” statement, John refers to confession of our sins to God. The pattern of positive / negative statements once again sets up the reader to expect a positive “if” statement in this phrase (see notes in 1 John 1:8). Confession of sins has always been seen as a godly practice among those who turn to the Lord (Leviticus 5:5; 16:21; Numbers 5:7; Ezra 10:1) and has been seen as a source of healing (James 5:16).

Those who confess sins are reassured that God will forgive, and remove that sin’s impact on fellowship. Note that even though this passage is written to believers, John states that those who confess sins are both forgiven and cleansed. Though believers are forgiven at the point of salvation, there is also an ongoing sense in which believers need to confess sin and experience forgiveness and cleansing. Cleansing was an important part of the Mosaic Law, mentioned some 14 times in the book of Leviticus alone. It was the goal of those who brought a sacrifice to the Lord in the tabernacle and temple.

When we have an argument with others, it creates a barrier to fellowship. Since a barrier between us and God will always be our fault, our need for confession is important for our relationship to God.

Verse 10. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

This verse offers the fifth and final conditional (“if”) statement in this passage. Sticking to the positive / negative pattern, this one is negative. Verse 8 stated that those who claim to have no sin—presently—are deceived (1 John 1:8). Verse 10 includes prior sins, using the phrase “have not.” This verse adds two negative traits of those who claim to be without sin. First, it directly contradicts the word of God, which is the same as calling God a liar. Then, as now, this was considered a great blasphemy.

Second, this claim implies that the truth of the gospel is not in such a person. In other words, a person who claims to be without sin, at present, is not speaking the truth. A person who claims to have never sinned not only speaks a lie, but directly contradicts the gospel. Only Jesus is without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Even most unbelievers acknowledge that they have fallen short of whatever moral code they believe in. Only a person who is deeply deceived would make the claim of being without any sin.

One sect John likely had in mind were the Gnostics, who claimed that all matter was evil and all spirit was good. This led some to believe that sin in the material body was separate from the spiritual person. This is false, as humans are “one” being in multiple parts. Those who make these kinds of excuses for sin are simply living a lie.

End of Chapter 1.

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