God called Jesus “the man that is my fellow” Zechariah 13:7Zechariah 13:7XWaiting for response and the disciples are called Jesus’ fellows Psalm 45:7;Psalm 45:7XWaiting for response Hebrews 1:9Hebrews 1:9XWaiting for response so that through becoming related to Christ by belief and baptism we also become part of God’s fellowship and family. The disciples are then required to behave like the children of God and “walk in the light”,vs.5-71 John 1:5-7XWaiting for response which means walking in paths of righteousness enlightened by the word of God, and to cease from sin. All men and women sin v.81 John 1:8XWaiting for response but God has provided a means of salvation by which we can be saved from our iniquities. Firstly, the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin v.71 John 1:7XWaiting for response and, secondly, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.v.91 John 1:9XWaiting for response By this means, men and women can be presented to Jesus blameless when he comes. 1 Corinthians 1:8;1 Corinthians 1:8XWaiting for response Philippians 2:15;Philippians 2:15XWaiting for response 2 Peter 3:142 Peter 3:14XWaiting for response We should also note the significance of the last verse: if we deny any truth that God has declared in his word, we make him a liar!
Verses 1-3
1 John 1:1-3XWaiting for responseJohn was among the group of especially privileged men and women who met with Jesus after he was raised from the dead and elevated to the divine nature, so he could write: “We have heard, seen with our eyes, looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life”.v.11 John 1:1XWaiting for response Jesus was the Word of God made flesh John 1:14John 1:14XWaiting for response and the apostles were with him, not only during the three and a half years he preached the gospel, but also for a few weeks after he rose from the dead and before he went to heaven. They therefore had physical evidence that “the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us”.v.21 John 1:2XWaiting for response This experience was not for their personal benefit only, but also that their witness would enable many others to believe and have fellowship with Jesus Christ and his Father: “That 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”.v.31 John 1:3XWaiting for response The purpose of God from the very beginning was that a great multitude of men and women should have fellowship with him and his Son: morally during their mortal lives; and physically in the future after a change to the divine nature. The means of gaining this fellowship is declared here, i.e. by believing the word spoken by the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.v.31 John 1:3XWaiting for response