Understanding 1 John: Fellowship, Sin, and the Light of Christ

Today, we began a journey through the book of 1 John, laying a foundation for understanding not only the text itself but also the context and audience to whom it was written. John, along with Peter and James, was primarily called to minister to the Jews, and this shapes the way we interpret his words. When John addresses “brethren,” he is speaking first to his Jewish audience, not directly to Christians, which helps clear up apparent contradictions and deepens our understanding of the text.

We explored the false teachings that John was confronting in his day—ideas that denied the divinity of Jesus, His eternal existence, His role as the Christ, and His power to forgive sin. John’s response is rooted in personal experience: he saw, touched, and walked with Jesus. This firsthand encounter with Christ is the bedrock of his testimony, and it’s a reminder that our faith is not just philosophical but experiential.

A key theme in 1 John is the distinction between light and darkness. To know Jesus is to walk in the light; to reject Him is to remain in darkness. John makes it clear that fellowship with God and true joy are only possible through a relationship with Jesus. Without Him, we miss out on the fullness of joy that God intends for us.

We also delved into the powerful truth about sin and forgiveness. Most of the time, when the New Testament speaks of “sin,” it refers to the noun—the inherited condition from Adam—rather than the verb, the individual acts of sinning. Jesus came to sever the root of sin (the noun), and as a result, the fruit (the verb) will eventually die off. The blood of Jesus continually cleanses us, not just at the moment of confession, but as an ongoing, present reality. Confession, then, is not about earning forgiveness, but about acknowledging our need and clearing our own conscience, knowing that God’s heart toward us is already one of forgiveness.

Finally, we saw that the freedom Christ offers is not a license to sin, but an invitation to live in the light, free from the bondage of sin and shame. The story of the prodigal son beautifully illustrates that God’s forgiveness is already waiting for us; we simply need to come home.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Understanding the Audience of 1 John John’s letters were primarily addressed to Jewish believers, not Gentile Christians. Recognizing this helps us interpret phrases like “brethren” correctly and prevents confusion about salvation and spiritual status. It reminds us that context is crucial for rightly dividing the Word and applying it to our lives. [06:44]
• 2. The Power of Personal Experience with Christ John’s authority comes from his direct encounter with Jesus—he saw, touched, and lived with Him. This underscores that Christianity is not just a set of doctrines but a living relationship with the risen Christ. Our testimony is most powerful when it flows from genuine experience, not just intellectual agreement. [11:59]
• 3. Walking in the Light: The True Mark of Fellowship To walk in the light is to have a relationship and revelation of Jesus as the Christ. This is not about outward conformity but inward transformation; those who claim fellowship with God but persist in darkness are deceiving themselves. True fellowship with God brings about a continual cleansing and a life marked by joy and authenticity. [17:46]
• 4. Sin: Noun vs. Verb—The Root and the Fruit Most references to “sin” in the New Testament are about the inherited condition (the noun), not just individual actions (the verb). Jesus’ sacrifice removes the root of sin, and as we live in Him, the fruit of sinful actions loses its power. This distinction frees us from a performance-based faith and anchors us in the finished work of Christ. [25:36]
• 5. Confession and Continual Cleansing Confession is not a ritual to earn forgiveness, but an act of acknowledging our need and clearing our conscience. The blood of Jesus is continually cleansing us—past, present, and future—so we can live free from guilt and shame. God’s forgiveness is already given; our confession is a response to His grace, not a prerequisite for it. [30:40]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - Trunk or Treat Thanks & Announcements
• [01:00] - Introduction to 1 John Series
• [02:07] - Authorship and Historical Context
• [03:17] - Audience: Jews vs. Gnostics
• [03:49] - Paul, Peter, and John: Their Callings
• [06:07] - Why Audience Matters in Interpretation
• [07:19] - False Teachings John Confronted
• [09:11] - Personal Encounter with 1 John
• [10:57] - 1 John 1:1-3: The Word of Life
• [12:59] - Fellowship and the Jewish Mindset
• [14:41] - The Joy of the Lord
• [15:50] - Light and Darkness Explained
• [17:46] - Walking in the Light vs. Darkness
• [20:03] - The Greek Tense: Continual Cleansing
• [24:56] - Sin as Noun and Verb
• [27:48] - Original Sin and the Need for Salvation
• [30:40] - The Truth About Confession
• [34:53] - The Prodigal Son: A Picture of Forgiveness
• [36:56] - Confessing Trespasses to One Another
• [37:58] - Law vs. Grace: Complete Forgiveness
• [39:04] - Encouragement to Live Free
• [40:37] - Closing Prayer and Homework

Bible Reading

1 John 1:1-10 (ESV) — 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 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 we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Luke 15:17-24 (ESV) – The Prodigal Son — 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 John 1:1-3, what kind of experience did John have with Jesus, and how does he describe it?
2. In 1 John 1:6-7, what does John say is the evidence of true fellowship with God?
3. What is the difference between “sin” as a noun and “sin” as a verb, as explained in the sermon? [24:56]
4. In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15), how does the father respond when the son returns home? [35:21]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does it matter that John was writing primarily to Jewish believers, and how does that affect the way we read phrases like “brethren”? [06:44]
2. John emphasizes that he saw, touched, and walked with Jesus. Why is personal experience with Christ so important for our faith and testimony? [11:59]
3. The sermon explains that confession is not about earning forgiveness but about clearing our conscience. How does this understanding change the way someone might approach God after they sin? [30:40]
4. The distinction between sin as a noun (the root) and sin as a verb (the fruit) was highlighted. How does this distinction help believers understand their ongoing struggle with sin? [25:36]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said that John’s audience was primarily Jewish, and that context matters when reading the Bible. How might understanding the original audience help you avoid confusion or misinterpretation when you read Scripture? Can you think of a time when knowing the context changed how you understood a passage? [06:44]
2. John’s authority came from his personal experience with Jesus, not just head knowledge. What is one way you have personally experienced Jesus in your life? How could you share that experience with someone else this week? [11:59]
3. The message of 1 John is that walking in the light means having a real relationship with Jesus, not just following rules. Are there areas in your life where you are “going through the motions” instead of living out of a real relationship with Christ? What would it look like to invite Jesus into those areas? [17:46]
4. The sermon explained that the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us, not just when we confess. How does this truth affect the way you deal with guilt or shame after you mess up? Is there a specific area where you need to let go of shame and accept God’s forgiveness? [23:28]
5. Confession is described as clearing our own conscience, not earning forgiveness. Is there something you need to bring to God—not to earn His forgiveness, but to clear your own heart and mind? What would it look like to do that this week? [30:40]
6. The story of the prodigal son shows that the father’s forgiveness was already waiting. Is there a part of your life where you are “hiding in the bathroom” from God, thinking He is mad at you? What would it look like to “come home” to God in that area? [32:22]
7. The sermon said that freedom in Christ is not a license to sin, but an invitation to live in the light. Are there habits or patterns in your life that you need to bring into the light? What is one step you can take this week to walk in greater freedom? [39:04]