Context and overview of I John 1:5-10
John is writing to affirm the community of believers he
leads who have recently experienced a split where some false
teachers/secessionists that broke away from the community.
[1] The church split caused many in the
community to doubt if they were truly Christians and if they were following the
right way. John seeks to affirm them in their faith while indirectly denouncing
the secessionist this accounts for the strong contrast and straightforward
affirmations and absolute language in 1 John.
Exegesis
of Text
Verses
1-5 laid a foundation of john’s apostolic testimony, and pastoral concern that
they know true fellowship shaped by close consideration of God’s character (light,
not darkness). In verses 6-10 begin in the same way, “If we” John use five
if-clauses to contrast two ways of living by the truth of God’s character. The
five if-clauses alternate
between negative and positives statements. The first, third, and fifth
if-clauses are negative (v.6, 8, 10), the second and fourth are positive (v 7,
9). When grouped together 6, 8, 10 give
three clams no Christians should make and what those clams really say about the
person. Many
scholars hold that he was indirectly confronting some of the slogans and ideas
the false teachers held. [2] The positive statements v. 7 and 9
affirm a more authentic way of living. Verse 7 describes the results of walking
in the light and verse 9 deals with an important aspect to walking in the
light, confession. As one scholar concisely describes the big idea of 1 John
1:5-10, “The author instructs the readers that fellowship with God involves
walking in the light by confessing sin (which is consonant with the truth)
rather than denying sin (which is lying).” [3]
1. The Necessity of confession
Christian still sin. (v 6, 8, 10). John makes this
it clear in verses 6, 8, and 10. Christians should never make the clam that we
don’t sin. Confession is necessary because sin is still active in us and in
world. Because sin will be with us until Jesus comes perseverance in confession
not optional, we still need confession. In this way, confession is meant to be
a part of the Christian way of life.
2. The certainty of Confession (1:9)
John gives a promise in the form of a condition
statement with the weight resting on God’s Character. If we confess then
because of God’s Character on the grounds of what Jesus has already done, a
Christian can be assured God will forgive and restore them to full fellowship
with him.
In light of this and James 5:16, a good confession
of sin can be outlines as first, agreeing with God about your sin. Second,
trust God is just never fickle. God is faithful; he would never hold a grudge
against those that humbly confess their sin. Three, agree with the cross. From
the cross Jesus said, “It is finished” and we should agree with Jesus that our
sin is forgiven because of the cross. Fourth, agree with the Spirit ‘desire to
press you into God. He will empower you to continue to live a life of turning toward
the Father and away from sin. “To sum up the message of 1:9, John is indicating
that via confession there can be (1) absolution that removes guilt via
forgiveness and (2) transformation that frees from wrongdoing via cleansing.” [4]
3.
The lifestyle of confession
In
1 John, John describes two lifestyles by the phrases ‘walking in the light’ and
‘walking n darkness’. John
never clearly defines what it means to ‘walk in the light’ and to ‘walk in the
darkness’. But many clues are given to help us understand what it means
to walk in the light. In v 7 John uses the present tense for the verbs ‘to walk’ and ‘to
purify’ to show ongoing activity. So walking in the light is presented as a
lifestyle and not a seasonal thing we do occasionally.
One scholar point out a helpful observation, “The writer presents typical Semitic parallelism. Verse 8 is parallel to versus 6, and verse 9 is a parallel repetition and further explanation of verse 7.” [5] The parallelism between v 7 and v. 9 unpacks the connection between walking in the light and confession of sin. The Confession of sin is paralleled with walking in the light. In John’s mind, a major part of walking in the light is the ongoing activity of confession of sins. So confession plays a major part in what it means to walk in the light. Colin Kruse, writes on v 9, “The author projects a situation in which people acknowledge their sins in an ongoing way. He portrays authentic Christian living as involving honest and ongoing acknowledgement of one’s sins.” [6]
Walking in the light is a “with God”
walk. John writes that we can’t clam fellowship with God if we are involved
with habitual sin. He labels such self-deception walking in darkness (v6, 8) By
contrast; it can be assumed that walking in the light involves fellowship with
God. A community of people confessing
sin and seeking obedience is walking with God in fellowship with him.
Application: The Coram Deo life
Coram
Deo is a Latin word meaning “before the face of God” or “in the presence of God”.
The phrase summarizes the idea of Christians living in the presence of, under
the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God. The concept of “Coram Deo,”
includes what John means by walking in the light for in both God is the main
object of relation. For John ‘light’ is a summery attribute of God describing
the nature of God as well as hi perfections. In v.5 and 8 we learn God is light (v.5) and God is in the
light (v.8). Why would John make such a dissection?
Is he contradicting himself? The simple answer is no contradiction only a description
of the Christian life before God in the Gospel. The dissection in v.5
and v.8 also describes two ways God walks with us in the light.
Two ways we relate to God
As we walk in the light, God is both our
companion and convictions. As our companion, we walk in fellowship with him
thought our day. The Father communion with us the nearness of his presences brings
a joy. We learn to trust his providence wisdom in mapping out our life. We enjoy a secret life with God, in which we
pray words only he hears (Matt 6:5-6). This aspect is the day to day practicing
of the presences of God.
[1] Colin G. Kruse, The Letters of
John, Pillar New Testament Commentary; (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000) pg.
62
[2] Colin G. Kruse, The Letters of
John, pg. 62
[3] Randall K. J. Tan, “A
Linguistic Overview of 1 John,” The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Vol.
10 No.3 (Fall 2006) , pg. 70, 74
[4]
Robert W. Yarbrough, 1-3 John. Baker
Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic,
2008) pg. 65
[5]
Simon J. Kistemaker, James, Epistles of John, Peter and Jude,
New Testament Commentary; (Grand Rapids: MI. Baker, 2004), pg. 246
[6] Colin G. Kruse, The Letters of John, pg. 68
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