1 John 1:5-7

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. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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.

Related Scriptures

Psalm 139:11-12 (This whole Psalm is a beautiful description of God’s care and

presence.)

John 1:4-9

John 3:19-21

John 8:12

John 12:46 (Jesus is speaking here.)

Acts 26:13-18 (Paul’s testimony of his saving encounter with Jesus Christ.)

1 Timothy 6:13-16 (quickeneth = makes alive)

1 Peter 2:9

Questions

1. Comparing John 3:19-21 with 1 John 1:6, how would you describe the actions of one who walks in darkness?

2. From John 12:46, what does one need to do to travel from darkness to light, spiritually speaking?

3. Based on question 2, what has the person who claims fellowship with God but is living in sin failed to do?

4. Would what you’ve read so far suggest that it is possible for the person whom God has saved to continue “walking in darkness?”

5. What does our text in 1 John call the person who claims to have fellowship with God while living sinfully?

6. If the person who is following the Lord does sin, what does he or she depend on for forgiveness?

1 John 1:8-10

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

Background information

The word confess here carries the idea of acknowledging something or agreeing with someone. Confession of sin isn’t so much naming the actions we’ve taken as it is admitting that those actions were sins. If we are to walk in the light, we have to let sin be exposed for what it really is. If we go on pretending that our sins aren’t really sins, we will be walking in darkness.

A question that you will sooner or later face is the question of whom the word “we” refers to in this passage. As this study moves into 1 John chapter 2, you will find the word “we” referring to Christians.

Related Scriptures

Proverbs 28:13

Proverbs 30:20

Luke 5:17-26, especially verse 24 (Son of Man is a name Jesus used for Himself.)

Luke 18:9-14 (Jesus’ listeners would have thought the “Pharisee” to be a very good

man and the “publican” to be a very sinful man.”)

Luke 24:46-47

Acts 16:31

Romans 3:23

Ephesians 4:32

1 John 2:2

1 John 2:12

Revelation 1:5-6

Questions

1. According to 1 John 1:8-10 what action do we need to take to have our sins forgiven?

2. When a person confesses his sins, God forgives them. a) When this has happened, is that person still walking in darkness? b) Will a true Christian deliberately continue to practice that which he has admitted is a sin?

3. What would an unsaved person need to do to have his or her sins forgiven?

4. How does the answer to question 3 differ from the answer to question 1?

5. What is the reason God forgives both the unsaved person and the Christian?

6. Compare 1 John 1:8 and 10 with 1 John 1:6. a) What two things would prove to us that we weren’t right with God? b) What is the difference between saying, “I don’t walk in darkness anymore,” and saying, “I have never sinned”?

7. Can the person who does wrong and says, “I haven’t sinned,” expect to be forgiven?

8. Who rightfully gets the credit for our forgiveness?

This study is in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely.

Contents

Lesson

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