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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
1:5-10 God's Nature and Human Sin. "God is light" (v. 5) reflects an OT background where "light" symbolizes both knowledge and purity (see notes on John 1:4-5; 8:12). All of John's writing flows from the reality of God in his spiritual perfection, moral excellence, and utter transcendence--his light (see 1 Tim. 6:16). This will contrast sharply with errant humans protesting their innocence (1 John 1:6, 8, 10).
1:6 If we say. John may be paraphrasing what some were falsely claiming. If God is light (v. 5), then those who walk in darkness are not walking with God, no matter what they say.
1:7 Walk in the light means to reflect God's perfection (see v. 5) in the human sphere and includes both correct doctrine (truth) and moral purity (holiness). The symbolism of light as knowledge (see note on vv. 5-10) also implies that when Christians "walk in the light" their lives will be known, and will not contain hidden sins, falsehoods, or deception. Such walking "in the light" results in deep divine and human fellowship (see v. 3) and progressive cleansing from all sin.
1:8 have no sin. See note on 3:9-10. we deceive ourselves. The devil (3:8) or the world (2:15) may contribute to human straying, but in the end each individual bears responsibility for his or her own sin. Some sin remains in every Christian's life ("have," present tense), even that of the elderly apostle John ("we").
1:9 Christians must confess (their) sins, initially to receive salvation and then to maintain fellowship with God and with one another (v. 3). faithful and just to forgive. God is "slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression" (Num. 14:18). Yet John also makes it clear (1 John 3:6, 9) that persistent unrepented sin is not the mark of a Christian--God "will by no means clear the guilty" (Num. 14:18).
