1 John 1

1 John 1:1-5

The inspired historian begins his narrative of the Acts of the Apostles, 1. With a review of the gospel history from the resurrection to the ascension of our Lord, ver. 1—11. 2. With a general idea of the embryo of the Christian church, and its state from Christ’s ascension to the pouring out of the Spirit, ver. 12—14. 3. With a particular account of the filling up of the vacancy that was made in the sacred college by the death of Judas, by the electing of Matthias in his room, ver. 15—26.

Luke i. 3. 1. THE former treatise have I made, O’ Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the 3

holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles, whom he had chosen. 3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4. And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, you have heard of me. 5. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost, not many days hence.

St. Luke, the supposed penman of this book, ad. dreffes it, as he had done his gospel, to Theophilus his noble catechumen.

1. He

1 John 1:5

Evidence given concerning Christ’s person and excellency, ver. 1, 2. The knowledge thereof gives us communion with God and Christ, ver. 3. And joy, ver. 4. A description of God, ver. 5. How we are thereupon to walk, ver. 6. The benefit of all such walking, ver. 7. The way to forgiveness, ver. 9. The evil of denying our sin, ver. 8, 9, 10.

THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life; 2. (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us) 3. 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. 4. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

6. 1—4. The blessed penman of this epistle immediately enters into his subject. Full of Christ, he breaks forth; That which was from the beginning, that glorious and divine person, who from eternity as the Son, subsisted with the Father in the same undivided essence, which, in the fulness of time, became incarnate, we have heard, preaching his everlasting gospel, which we have seen with our eyes, living and dying, which we have looked upon, attentively regarding him both before and after his resurrection from the dead, and our hands have handled, so that we have the strongest and most indubitable evidence of his true humanity, and of the reality of his resurrection in the same body, which before his death he had assumed into personal union with himself, who emphatically bears the name of the word of life,

being the fountain of natural life to every creature, and the giver of spiritual and eternal life to his redeemed people, (for the life, the Lord of life and glory, was manifested in the flesh, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, who from everlasting existed in the unity of the Godhead, which was with the Father, one with him in co-essential glory, and was, in the fulness of time, according to the prophetic word, manifested to us in the human nature) that adored personage, which we have seen and heard, and concerning whom we are most incontestably assured that our record is true, HIM we declare unto you, as God and Man in one Christ, as the only and all-sufficient Saviour, through whom all blessings in time and eternity are obtained for his people; and we publish his officers, glory and gospel, that ye also may have fellowship with us in all the inestimable privileges which he bestows on his chosen, on us and all who believe on his name; and truly this communion is of the most transcendently-glorious nature, for our fellowship is with the Father himself, and with his Son Jesus Christ, in and through whom we are admitted into the nearest, most honourable and eternal union and friendship with the God of glory. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full, abounding with consolation in the experience of the present invaluable privileges of pardon, adoption, and grace, and advancing to the perfection of joy in heaven, and to the pleasures which are at God’s right hand for evermore. Note, (1.) It is the dignity of every faithful soul that he is admitted into communion with God, and is one with Jesus, as a member of his body mystical. (2.) They who know the Saviour experimentally, as united to him in faith and love, have within them a fund of never-ending consolation, a well of living waters springing up into everlasting life.

5. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lye, and

do not the truth: 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another; and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

—7. Having mentioned the Author of the everlasting gospel, the apostle passes on to the message which they had received from him to deliver unto men.

1. Concerning God. That this is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light; a Spirit absolutely pure, infinite in all perfections, without the truth, shadow of possibility of imperfection; and in him is an darkness at all. Note, Our poor and finite ideas are unable adequately to comprehend the divine excellences; nay, angels before him will their faces, for he dwelleth in that light which no creature can approach unto, so as fully to discern his glory. What we know of him is rather by removing every defect from him, and saying what he is not, rather than what he is.

2. Concerning those who professed to believe in him. [1.] If we say that we have fellowship with him, through the gospel of his dear Son, and yet notwithstanding, such as darkness, the allowed servants of sin, which is so opposite to his effectual purity, we say, and do not the truth; our faiths is evident in his all-searching eye, and our practice contradicts our professions, and proves our hypocrisy. But, [2.] if we walk in the light of truth and holiest, under the guidance of his Spirit, and according to our Christian profession, as he is in the light, resembling him in his communicable perfections; then we have fellowship we wish another; we dwell in God, and God in us, enjoying the most distinguishing communion with him in Spirit; and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin; completely justified in God’s light, free from all condemnation, and assured also that the being of sin in us shall be shortly for ever rooted out. Blessed and happy are they whom this blood cleanses, and who are admitted into this holy fellowship!

3. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. v. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a lyar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:8

—10. The apostle, to prevent all misconception, as if perfection were to be attained here below, plainly declares, that sin shall cleaves to those who are nearest and dearest to God. For,

1. If we say that we have no sin, not that we never had, but that we have it not now; if we, even the highest apostles, dare make such an arrogant boast, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; we are under a most dangerous error and delusion. And he repeats the admonition, v. 10. to guard more strongly against all the pride of pretended perfectionists: If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a lyar, by directly contradicting his truth; because being by nature corrupted creatures, we remain, and must remain whilst in the body, imperfect; and, if we deny it, his word is not in us, which every where supposes and declares us to be such; for if we were not, the exercise of faith in the atoning blood, and of daily repentance, would be at us end.

2. If we confess our sins, and humbly, through faith in Jesus Christ, apply for the promised mercy of God, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins: faithful to the covenant of grace, and to his promise made therein to the Redeemer on the behalf of his people; just, because having received the ransom of atoning blood, it is become an act of justice to pardon those who plead it, and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Note, Our acceptance with God stands not on the footing of mercy only, but is assured to us by that very perfection of holiness which seemed most strongly to militate against the sinner’s hope.