1 John 1:5-10 Bible Study Notes

Bible Study Notes - “Walking in the Light” 

1 John 1:5-10

• The Law and Prophets declare the complete holiness and total righteousness of Almighty God.  The Ten Commandments are a succinct list of God’s holy Name and character.  The proclamations of the prophets, major and minor, are commentaries and clarification of God’s righteousness and love for the people throughout their enslavement, wilderness years, settling and dwelling in the Promised Land, exilic period and return.
• John captures this divine attribute in his use of the word, light.  He declares Jesus teaches and embodies the unquestioned perfection and goodness of the Father.  “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.”
• This assertion establishes the parameters with which one relates to God and in turn His Son.  Although the new covenant of Christ emphasizes love, grace and mercy, it does not denigrate the holy character of Almighty God.  Disciples approach Him as a righteous God who does not human sin and motives to contaminate His perfect righteousness.  Grace is not license to sin.  Paul and John concur that human sin is not necessary to evoke the grace of God.  (Romans 6:1 and 6:15)
•  This assertion serves the secondary purpose of confronting the false teachings of syncretism in which proponents mixed and matched various religious ideas to serve their personal preferences which usually yielded divine sanction of gratifying their physical instincts.  Refer to the temple prostitutes in Paul’s time and the moral dilemma of 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.
• According to the sixth verse, fellowship with Almighty God demands departure from the darkness and a resolve to walk in the Light as He is in the Light.  Actually, Jesus is the Light.  To relate to Him means to emulate His mind, heart and character.  Refer to Philippians 2:1-11, John 8:1-11 and Colossians 1:15-20.
• Notice the duality of light and darkness in John’s writings.  Scientifically, it is impossible for them to exist simultaneously and geographically.  Likewise, in the spiritual realm and more practically as it relates to fellowship with Almighty God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we cannot veil hidden sin and harmful character defects with beautiful “Christian” garments.
• To do so, we deceive ourselves and do not live in the truth.  In concrete terms, stumbling in darkness while portending allegiance to the Light means we live without integrity.
• Refer to John 8:31-32 as it relates to living in the truth.
• In order to enjoy fellowship with the Father and His Son, we must walk in the light as He is in the light.  Practically speaking, disciples have to emulate the character, teachings and deeds of Christ.

• John offers the assurance that the blood of Jesus purifies from all sin.  According to Isaiah 53:1-12, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 2:9 and 9:28, 1 Peter 3:18, Christ was the substitutionary atonement for the sins of humankind.  The shedding of His perfect blood and sacrificial offering of His sinless life covers the past, present and future sins of the world.
• John argues against self-righteousness in the eighth verse.  Whereas we cannot cloak our remaining and residual sin with Christ’s righteousness, we also cannot arrogantly suggest we have no sin.
• Saying that we have no sin equals trying to attach our to Christ’s righteousness with desiring repentance and transformation.
• The self-deception of self-righteousness perhaps exceeds the offense of unconfessed sin.
• Because of its grand promises of disciples, 1 John 1:9 is a memory verse.  Confession of sin always yields God’s faithful forgiveness.
• What is confession?  To whom do we confess?  How much detail is it wise to disclose? Respect of the people whom we harmed and other undeserving parties of our offenses are important to this spiritual discipline.
• Reiterate the faithful forgiveness of God toward each sin.
• Beyond His faithful forgiveness, God promises to “purify us from all unrighteousness.”  This assurance means He will remove anything within our character that inhibits us from rightly relating to Him.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God removes all defects of character.
• The tenth verse reiterates the necessity of acknowledging our past sins and need of divine forgiveness and transformation. 
• This pungent spiritual arrogance relegates God to being a liar.
• As a consequence, His Word has no place in our lives. 
• Additionally, genuine fellowship with Him would be impossible as someone so self-assured would fail to see the need of sharing in God’s righteousness.