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Who doesn’t love some of those key verses in the book of 1 John.  This is a short book packed with wonderful truth that gives us assurance of eternal life and salvation through Jesus Christ.  But packed inside the assurance are some challenging conversations that John wants to deliver to the early church that I believe we can receive today just as well.

 

John is battling a way of thinking, philosophy, even religious teaching called Gnosticism.  This teaching had a low view of sin, believing Jesus did not come in the flesh, and there was no need for salvation through the cross.  It also tended to be a separatist or elitist movement built around secret knowledge and enlightenment.  

 

So, John set out in this book to declare that Jesus did come in the flesh and that He came to bring eternal life so that fellowship could be restored between us and God as well as with one another.  He states in verse 4, this fellowship and assurance of eternal life is all that we need to flourish in life with fullness of joy.

 

In other words, this book is to help protect us from the poison of false teaching, the pressure of not feeling accepted or belonging into the fellowship of God’s church and the idolatrous nature of sin that pressures us to fill our lives with something other than Jesus Christ and His eternal promise of life.

 

In the first chapter, John states five “if” statements.  

 

If we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  

 

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

 

If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar and His word is not in us.

 

If we walk as He is in the light, then we have fellowship and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

 

If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Okay, to be short and concise, the early church must have had a problem with the understanding of original sin, moral depravity and the fall of man.  John is saying look, we have salvation through justification, not perfection.  Salvation is walked out in the light as we confess that the power of sin is still tempting us, and when we sin, we have an advocate, we have a cleansing agent, Jesus Christ and His blood will cover all sin.  

 

I believe John is trying to point us towards integrity and authenticity in our faith lived out with an attitude of repentance and confession.  He is making an effort to point church away from a performance or a persuasion to make others think your life is perfect and sinless.  

 

Guilt and shame are not bad when they are turned inwardly towards our understanding and perception of a holy God.  But when guilt and shame are used to compare ourselves with others, hypocrisy, perfectionistic pride, self-righteousness and a lack of integrity can seep into our lives.  

 

Jesus came to bring us freedom and salvation from that temptation.  Your life is not measured by the sin of others, it is measured by a Holy and Righteous God who has shed His blood for your sin, so that you may have restoration of fellowship with Him.  

 

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!  You are an heir of salvation, purchased by God, born of His Spirit and washed in His blood.  Let this bring you a fullness of joy and flourish today in this promise!