back to the
King James Bible |
Next Chapter
1:1 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; 1:2 (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;) 1:3 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.
1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your
joy may be full.
1:5 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.
1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness,
we lie, and do not the truth: 1:7 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.
1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us.
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his
word is not in us.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 John
Book: 1 John
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The
Apostle prefaces his epistle to believers in general, with
evident testimonies to
Christ, for promoting their happiness and
joy.
(1-4) The necessity of a
Life of
Holiness, in order to
Communion with
God, is shown.
(5-10)
1-4 That essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had
been from the beginning, from eternity, as equal with the
Father, and which at length appeared in human nature for the
Salvation of sinners, was the great subject concerning which the
Apostle wrote to his brethren. The apostles had seen Him while
they witnessed his
Wisdom and
Holiness, his miracles, and
Love
and
Mercy, during some years, till they saw him crucified for
sinners, and afterwards risen from the dead. They touched him,
So as to have full proof of his resurrection. This Divine
Person, the
Word of
Life, the
Word of God, appeared in human
nature, that he might be the Author and Giver of eternal
Life to
mankind, through the
Redemption of his
Blood, and the influence
of his new-creating
Spirit. The apostles declared what they had
seen and heard, that believers might share their comforts and
Everlasting advantages. They had free access to
God the
Father.
They had a happy experience of the
Truth in their souls, and
showed its excellence in their lives. This
Communion of
believers with the
Father and the Son, is begun and kept up
By
the influences of the Holy
Spirit. The benefits
Christ bestows,
are not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing
jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of
Communion
with
God is all-sufficient,
So that any number may partake of
it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their
Fellowship is with the
Father, will desire to lead others to
partake of the same blessedness.
5-10 A message from the
Lord Jesus, the
Word of
Life, the
eternal
Word, we should all gladly receive. The great
God should
be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect
Light. As
this is the nature of
God, his doctrines and precepts must be
such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his
perfect
Holiness,
So our happiness will be in proportion to our
being made holy. To walk in
Darkness, is to live and act against
religion.
God holds
No heavenly
Fellowship or intercourse with
unholy souls. There is
No Truth in their profession; their
practice shows its folly and falsehood. The eternal
Life, the
eternal Son,
Put On Flesh and
Blood, and died to wash us from
our sins in his own
Blood, and procures for us the sacred
influences
By which
Sin is to be subdued more and more, till it
is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy walk is
insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of
God in
Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride
is guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to
God, in
Holiness and
Righteousness, are sensible that their best days
and duties are mixed with
Sin.
God has given
Testimony to the
sinfulness of the world,
By providing a sufficient, effectual
Sacrifice for
Sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of
believers themselves is shown,
By requiring them continually to
confess their sins, and to apply
By Faith to the
Blood of that
Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before
God, be humble, and
willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess
all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly
On his
Mercy
and
Truth through the
Righteousness of
Christ, for a free and
full forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and
practice of
Sin.