Let Me Not Wander

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (NIV) This verse was aimed at those in the church who were denying the sinfulness of man. We have those types today, and they were around back when this book was written. Every age seems to have a group who spend their time trying to tear down God's word, and in essence, make God a liar. People who fall into that have no place with God, and His word has no place in their hearts.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV) To confess our sins means to agree with God about our sins . To agree that we have once again missed the mark. But agreeing with God is walking in the light, therefore God, who is faithful and just no matter how we are, forgives and purifies us. Are you in agreement with God about your sins? Or do you try to justify your actions?

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (NIV) Now, most people, when asked, would say that they are sinners. Most people wouldn't claim to be without sin. They know that they mess up all of the time. But what does their lifestyle say? It is so easy to know the "theological" answer, but ignore that truth in our lives. So we can say that we are sinners, but we lack all of the signs of a person who truly believes that they are currently with sin. There is no Godly sorrow, no repentance, and no desire to clear oneself of these things ( 2 Cor. 7:11 ). So they claim sinlessness by their actions. If you claim sinlessness, you are truly deceived. Everyday should be a day of seeking to be right with God by repenting of our sins.

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. (NIV) John has been telling us about the message. The message that he heard from Christ and is declaring to us. We now know that God is light. Darkness is not allowed to dwell in Him. But he continues on, revealing to us the good news. Here is an explanation of the belief that John talked about in his now famous statement of God's love: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John is now telling us what "belief" looks like. True belief is a change in our walk. There are so many passages in the Bible that tell us how this is possible; how mortal man can have a change of walk. But this passage is telling us how we can know if our belief is real.

If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. (NIV) First, I want to point out that it is possible to claim fellowship with God, yet have no idea what that is all about. It is possible to say with your mouth one thing, but in your life, completely deny those words. The truth that is wrapped up in this verse, and so many others like it, is a truth that has been overlooked in so many of the churches today. We are so caught up in God's love and grace, that are real and true... that we forget that we also must be real and true. Our walk absolutely must be a representation of the work of God in us. If it is not, then the reality is that God is not working in us. But Philippians 1:6 says, "Be confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ." The work of salvation is Christ's work. He began it, He is going to perform it, and He will complete it. Or what a...

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all . (NIV) That is the message, pure and simple. Because of who he is, God cannot allow even a little bit of darkness in. He is light. So our need is stated here, in this message. Fellowship between light and darkness cannot occur. We need a saviour! And God has provided.

We write this to make our joy complete. (NIV) Here is the second reason for the writing of this book: complete joy . In the NIV Bible, there is a text not that states that the word our is the word your in some manuscripts. I think that this is interesting because both seem to work. Understanding the message of the gospel will bring complete joy for the one who hears the call and responds to it. But it can also bring joy to the bearer of the message. There is probably no greater joy than to be a carrier of God's good news. The real question to ask though is, "Do you have complete joy?" And if you do not, "why?" ...both important questions to ask.

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. (NIV) Now we start to get to the motivation of this proclamation. We get to hear one of the reasons as to why John is writing this book. He states it clearly, "so that you also may have fellowship with us." The word for fellowship , in the Greek, is the same word that was used to describe the language that they spoke. The New Testament is written in the common Greek language. And that word common is a form of the word that we see as the word fellowship . It has the idea of a close partnership, or an intimate relationship. There is that closeness like two people walking down the same path, arm in arm. John's desire is for fellowship. He wants us to have that same kind of closeness that he has had with Christ. Now remember, John is the same guy that when he penned the words of his gospel, would only refer...

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. (NIV) The life appeared. In a dead world, life appeared. That life was the embodiment of God, the incarnation that we know as Jesus Christ. So, John wants to proclaim that life. He has seen it and testifies to it, and now he wants to declare, "LIFE!" The life that was with the Father and has come to us is something worth knowing about. I wonder sometimes how much I have strayed from that thought. The world treats Jesus like just another religious icon, and a dead one at that. But if I have seen the work of Christ in my own heart and life, how can I not want to proclaim it in this dead world?

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. (NIV) John starts his book with a little validation. The things that he will proclaim in this book, he has experienced first hand. And when I say experienced, that is exactly what I mean. I thought that it was odd that he said, seen and then looked, just a few words later. But I think that he is trying to really get across the idea that these are things that he has intimate knowledge of. But what is the thing that he has intimate knowledge of? It is the Word of Life. This sounds very familiar. Sounds like another book that he has written. It starts almost the same way: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 -- NASV) So, when we talk about the Word, it isn't a what ? it is a who ? Jesus Christ came as the Living Word. He is the fulfill...