The Bible — World English Bible

1 John 1

In brief

John's first letter opens with testimony: the apostle has heard, seen and touched the Word of life, Jesus Christ, and announces him so we can share communion with the Father and the Son. Then he lays the foundation of the whole letter: God is light, with no darkness. Walking with him means living in truth, acknowledging our sin and receiving the forgiveness Christ offers, for the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1-4The testimony about the Word of life and the call to communion
  2. v. 5-7God is light: walk in the light
  3. v. 8-10Acknowledge your sin to receive forgiveness

1That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life

2(and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);

3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

4And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.

5This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth.

7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Key verses

Verse 3
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

John announces what he has seen and heard so that we share the same communion he does. This communion is first with the Father and his Son, then with other believers.

Verse 5
This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

This is the heart of the chapter: God is light and there is no darkness in him. His holiness and truth are complete, which sheds light on the rest of the letter.

Verse 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 Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Walking in the light means living openly before God. The text links this walk to fellowship between brothers and to cleansing by the blood of Jesus.

Verse 9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The verse on confession: God does not forgive grudgingly, he is faithful and just. The promise is tied to an honest approach, that of acknowledging our sins.

Bible verses to meditate on

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What the sermons say

Walking in the Light: Three Marks of a DiscipleStéphane Guillet sets 1 John 1 against the Gnostics of his day. God is light, and the true disciple is not a spiritual elite but a forgiven sinner who refuses pride.Read the summary →Communion with Christ: The Union That Changes Your LifeThis sermon focuses on the word "communion," which appears throughout the chapter. Knowing Jesus is not enough; it's about sharing his life, and joy comes from sincere confession.Read the summary →Child of God, Don't Let Sin Move InMélanie Ehrismann quotes 1 John 1:9 to hold together two extremes: perfectionism that seeks to earn God's love, and tolerance that lets sin take root.Read the summary →Forgiven: Your Guilt Is Erased at the CrossForgiveness is presented as liberation from a debt paid at the cross. This reading helps us understand what God erases when he cleanses us from all sin.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about 1 John 1

What does "God is light" mean in 1 John 1:5?

This phrase says God is pure, true and without shadow: nothing in him is hidden or evil. It echoes an Old Testament theme, for example in the Psalms. For John, it has a practical consequence: you cannot claim to be close to God while living in deliberate lies and sin.

What does it mean to walk in the light?

It means living transparently before God and others, without pretense. It does not mean being perfect, since John speaks at once of sin and cleansing. Walking in the light means accepting to be exposed, acknowledging your faults and receiving the forgiveness offered in Jesus.

What does 1 John 1:9 say about confession of sins?

The verse promises that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse us from all wrongdoing. Confessing means acknowledging your fault without downplaying it. Forgiveness rests on God's character and the work of Christ, not on the quality of our confession.

Articles quoting 1 John 1

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World English Bible translation — public domain.