1 John 1:1-2. "From the beginning" - Jen says it refers to from the beginning of your faith. He begins to appeal then from his physical senses that Jesus came and he witnessed it.
Who is "we"? - the apostles. They "saw".
1. Seen
2. Testify
3. Record of it (to pass on to the next generation)
Their faith is grounded in fact. Jesus is a real person. Christianity is a historic faith.
From the beginning, John is taking a swipe at gnostic thinking. They believed Jesus did not come in the flesh but was just a spirit that hovered around a body, utilized them and went back up to heaven. John will affirm that Jesus was fully God and fully man.
Verse 3. "You" is churches around Ephesus. What is the point he's saying here? This is not special knowledge here.
Fellowship. In gnosticism, the focus was on an individual not others oriented. John is establishing the significance of Christian community.
So that. 1) fellowship among believers and 2) Father and Jesus (vertical/horizontal) not just "me and God" but "we and God". Look at Acts 2:42 - fellowship. John reminding of fellowship 60 years later now. People in fellowship have:
1. Shared faith
2. Shared expectation
3. Resources
4. Language
5. Responsibility
Verse 5. Light and darkness.
Verse 6-10. We have three denials John gives us:
1. Truth and lies (v.6). You cannot have fellowship with God and sin habitually.
2. He addressed "licensed" which is grace to cover you and "legalism" which is saying "I'm really good at being good".V.8 - if we say we have ceased sinning, we are liars.
3. Moral Relativism (delusional) V.10. Romans 3:23. Romans 3:10. "What I do isn't so bad". Living their own personal truth.
He's calling these errors out.
Verse 9. Confessed - a truth-teller (Luke 18:9-14). What about the word "just"? How is the justic of God meeted out? On Christ. God is "just" to look towards us with mercy and grace. This is what awaits one who is willing to tell the truth.
"Light" - that Christian virtue would grow in us and put to death the darkness.
1 John 2. Begins to refer to them as "my little children". He's a father figure in the family of God - the church.
Verse 1-2. You should desire not to sin; but he wants to make something clear here.
Advocate with the Father. Propitiation - appeasement etc. In what sense is Jesus our advocate? He doesn't plead our innocence. He acknowleges our guilt, and He presents His vicarious sacrifice for the grounds of our acquittal. This is why God is faithful and just. Faithful to the work of Jesus on the cross and just to forgive a sin that's already been established as our guilt and the punishment has already been born - our advocate. His joy as "papa John" would be made complete.
Note: we have not seen but still believe. How will we show someone that we know Him?
How can I be an advocate? On my knees in prayer. Ask ourselves "who should I intercede for? Maybe a family member who needs light to shine in their darkness. Needs truth to shine a light on the lie.
Moral relativism? How to advocate for them? To cry out that mercy would triumph over judgment.
John advocated for an early church. So we should:
1. Act like we know Him
2. Strive to look like Him
3. Advocate on behalf of others.
That Christian virtue would grow in us and put to death the darkness.
Next: Session 3: The Test of Truth
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