The book of First John

A Verse by Verse Study
Text 1^st John 1:5 – 6

A. V. 5a “This then is the message which we have heard of him,”

1. The word “message” can be and should be translated Gospel because that is the message.

2. John is saying “which we have heard,” V. 1 what did John hear, the gospel, not from Paul, not from Mark, or Not from Luke, but from Jesus Christ.

3. Notice the phrase "of him" does not mean respecting him, or about him, but from him; that is, this is what we received from his preaching; from all that he said.

4. The message that John had received from the Lord Jesus, is the very message we preach today, the gospel.

B. V. 5b “That God is light.”

1. What is meant by “light”? Light, in the Scriptures, is the emblem of purity, truth, knowledge, prosperity, and happiness, as darkness is of the opposite.

2. Not the light, or a light, but light itself; that is, He is Himself all light, and is the source and fountain of light in all worlds.

3. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

4. John 1:4, 5 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (5.) “John 1:5 “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

5. 1 Timothy 6:16 “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

6. The expression here is designed to affirm that God is absolutely perfect; that there is nothing in him which is in any way imperfect, or which would dim or mar the pure splendour of his character, or to describe it in simple terms, It speaks of His holiness.

C. V. 5c “and in him is no darkness at all.”

1. By “darkness” John means, no darkness of sin; nothing is more contrary to him, or more distant from him: nor any darkness of error and ignorance.

2. “Darkness” represents what is sinful and evil. The Greek could be translated literally as “darkness is not in him ever.”

3. If light means “Holiness” then in having no darkness means He is pure and true.

D. V. 6a “If we say that we have fellowship with him,”

1. This word “fellowship” means partnership. That is to walk hand and hand with.

2. Let’s back up to V. 3 “which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” John is saying, you, like us can fellowship with the Father, and the Son, however there is a requirement. “and walk in darkness,” or not walk in darkness. Light and darkness does not fellowship.

3. We cannot fellowship or be partners with God and not walk in His truths, His holiness, and His righteousness.

4. John is saying being a Christian is one thing, being a Christian and in the will of God is another.

5. John goes on to call them a liar. “we lie, and do not the truth:” V.6

6. Darkness cannot fellowship with light and those that say they do; God said they are liars.

7. To say that we are walking with the Lord and then go to a church that is “flesh pleasing” is not walking with the Lord, the same can be said of doctrinal truth.