Lesson for May 15, 2024

The Book of I John

I John 1:5-7

Verse 5

“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

Having now defended the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union, John began to teach believers how to have fellowship with God and fellowship with other believers, which is possible only because of the Hypostatic Union. Jesus Christ provided this potential by His substitutionary spiritual death on the Cross. The message that was being communicated to these believers was a message that John had personally heard from Jesus Christ. (John 8:12, 9:5)

There are three key words in this passage:

1. Message – Greek “angelia”, which means to proclaim or to bring a message. In some biblical manuscripts, the word in Greek is “epangelia,” which means a promise.
2. Heard – Greek “akouo,” which means to audibly hear.
3. Declare – “anangello,” which means to bring back tidings or announce. (John 4:25)

In order to understand this passage, we must also examine the words “light” and “darkness” in the Scriptures. Jesus declared that He is the “Light of the World” and the “Light of Life” in John 8:12. This verse also says that in Christ there dwells no darkness. The analogy of light versus darkness seems obvious. However, without knowing the biblical meaning of each, an accurate interpretation cannot be reached. Light in the Bible is used for:

1. The glory of God’s dwelling place – I Timothy 6:16
2. The nature of God – I John 1:5
3. Impartiality of God – James 1:17
4. The favor of God – Psalms 4:6
5. Jesus Christ as the Illuminator of mankind – John 1:4-5, 9
6. The illuminating power of God’s Word – Psalms 119:105
7. God’s guidance – Psalms 112:4
8. Salvation – I Peter 2:9

The word light in Greek is “phos,” and metaphorically means to make evident or to make to appear. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, Who reveals God. With this definition of light and its usage in Scripture, we can see that when “light” is used in reference to God, it encompasses His entire character (His essence and attributes) and His work in the life of believers (His grace, His illumination, and His guidance). It is God’s light that is being reproduced in the life of advancing believers as the character of Jesus Christ. Believers are called “the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14-16; Galatians 5:22-23)

The word darkness in Greek is “scotia,” and metaphorically means a condition of spiritual or moral depravity. Therefore, there is no spiritual or moral depravity in God. God’s character is the exact opposite of darkness. Darkness is a term often used to describe Satan, his world system, and man’s sinful nature. (Ephesians 6:12; I Peter 2:9; I John 2:11)

A believer who chooses to reside in God’s power system, under the control of the Holy Spirit, can avoid spiritual and moral darkness. A believer can also avoid the evil “works of darkness” of Satan’s world system, by residing in God’s power system. (John 12:35-36; II Corinthians 4:1-6)

Verse 6

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;…”

The key word here is “fellowship.” The Greek word for fellowship is “koinonia,” and means to have things in common with. Remember that John is continuing to defend the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union, while teaching believers how to have fellowship with Jesus Christ. John has used the contrast of light and darkness to introduce the doctrine of fellowship with God.

The Gnostics, who denied the humanity and/or the deity of Christ, were walking in perpetual spiritual darkness, just like out of fellowship believers. The unbelieving Gnostic certainly had nothing in common with God. And believers who are out of fellowship with God have nothing in common with God, experientially.

Believers always have the choice to either “walk in the light” or to “walk in darkness.” You cannot walk in darkness and be in fellowship with God at the same time. Therefore, we need to understand what the Bible means by “walking.” Walking is the Greek word “peripateo,” and means your manner of living or your lifestyle. Walking is a metaphor for the course being pursued by a believer. In God’s power system, walking is an analogy for aligning your experience with your position in Christ, as royal family of God. In other words, a believer is either pursuing a course of action according to the “light” (God’s power system) or according to the “darkness” (Satan’s world system).

If a believer says they are pursuing a course according to God’s power system, and yet they are operating according to Satan’s world system, they are lying and out of fellowship with God. Not practicing the truth means a believer is not doing what the truth teaches them to do. The Greek word for truth is “aletheia,” meaning the body of truth that is believed. Therefore, practicing the truth means applying accurate Bible doctrine.

Verse 7

“…but if we walk in the Light, as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Walk in the Light is a metaphor for aligning your life with the royalty that you are in Christ. We have also seen that “light” is a metaphor for God’s perfect character, personified in Christ, and Divine Viewpoint Thinking. Therefore, walking in the light can be easily understood as aligning your life through correct thinking, as the character of Christ is being produced in your life. A believer cannot think correctly, as God would have him think, without the persistent and consistent study and application of Bible doctrine. 

We have fellowship with one another refers to believers having fellowship with each other. Contrary to popular belief, true Christian fellowship is not a social function. True Christian fellowship is centered in learning God’s Word together (fellowship). What we have in common is salvation and accurate Bible doctrine in our souls.

The animal sacrifices in the Old Testament pointed to Christ and the judgment that He would face as our sin-bearer. As the Levitical priest laid his hand upon the animal, the sin of a believer was symbolically transferred to the animal and the animal was killed (judged) as the payment for the believer’s sin. It was the blood of the animal that symbolized God’s judgment that was poured out upon Christ. The physical death of Christ and His resurrection from the dead are both necessary parts of the salvation work of Christ. Christ died physically so that He could conquer death by His resurrection from the dead and give believers the guarantee of a future resurrection.

The blood of Jesus His Son is a technical, theological, symbolic word for divine judgment. Jesus Christ did not bleed to death on the Cross, nor was His physical blood the payment for our sin. When Jesus was on the Cross, He made a statement that should be clear to anyone that He was physically alive when He paid for our sin. Jesus said, “It is finished.” The work of salvation had been accomplished, and He then dismissed His spirit and died physically.