1 John 1:7

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. WE WALK. (Ephesians 5:8; Ephesians 5:11) 'God IS (essentially, in His very nature, as "light," 1 John 1:5) in the light.' WALKING in the light, the element in which God IS, is the test of fellowship with Him. Christ, like us, walked in the light (1 John 2:6). Alford, 'Walking in the light, as He is in the light, is no mere imitation of God, but an identity in the essential element of our daily walk with the essential element of God's being....

7_But if we walk in the light. _He now says, that the proof of our union with God is certain, if we are conformable to him; not that purity of life conciliates us to God, as the prior cause; but the Apostle means, that our union with God is made evident by the effect, that is, when his purity shines forth in us. And, doubtless, such is the fact; wherever God comes, all things are so imbued with his holiness, that he washes away all filth; for without him we have nothing but filth and darkness. It is hence evident, that no one leads a holy life, except he is united to God. In saying, _We have fellowship one with another, _he does not speak simply of men; but he sets God on one side, and us on the other. It may, however, be asked, “Who among men can so exhibit the light of God in his life, as that this likeness which John requires should exist; for it would be thus necessary, that he shou...

5-10 A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion. God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. There is no truth in their profession; their practice shows its folly and falsehood. The eternal Life, the eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from our sins in his own blood, and procures for us the sacred influences by which sin is to be subdued more and more, till it is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy walk is insisted upon, as the effect a...

Verse 7. _BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT_] If, having received the principle of holiness from him, we live a holy and righteous life, deriving continual light, power, and life from him, then _we have_ _fellowship one with another_; that is, we have communion with God, and God condescends to hold communion with us. This appears to be the intention of the apostle; and so he was understood by some versions and MSS., which, instead of μεταλληλων, _with each_ _other_, have μεταυτον, _with him_. Those who are deeply experienced in Divine things converse with God, and God with them. What John says is no _figure_; God and a holy heart are in continual correspondence. _THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST_] The meritorious efficacy of his passion and death has purged our consciences from dead works, _and_ _cleanseth us_, καθαριζειημας, _continues to cleanse us_, i.e., to _keep clean_ what it has made clean,...

BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT - Compare the notes at 1 John 1:5. Walking in the light may include the three following things: * Leading lives of holiness and purity; that is, the Christian must be characteristically a holy man, a light in the world, by his example. (2)Walking in the truth; that is, embracing the truth in opposition to all error of paganism and infidelity, and having clear, spiritual views of truth, such as the unrenewed never have. See 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 1:18

EXPOSITION 1 JOHN 1:1 1. THE INTRODUCTION. It declares the writer's authority, based on personal experience; announces the subject-matter of his Gospel, to which this Epistle forms a companion; and states his object in writing the Epistle. These opening verses help to raise the reader to the high frame of mind in which the apostle writes. Emotion, suppressed under a sense of awe and solemnity, is shown by the involved construction through which his thoughts struggle for utterance. We are reminded of the introduction to the Gospel, especially in the first clause. Both announce to us the subject of the writing which follows—the Word who is the Life. Both set before us, in the simplest language, truths of profoundest meaning. But while in the Gospel he seems to lose sight of his readers in the magnitude of his subject,

BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT,.... Are persons enlightened by the Spirit of God, so as to have a true sight and sense of sin, to know Christ, and the way of salvation by him; and are children of the light, and are going on and increasing in spiritual light and knowledge; walk on in Christ, the light, by faith, and in the light and truth of the Gospel, and as becomes it, and as children of light; and as such who are called out of darkness into marvellous light: AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT; according to the light which he has given, who is light itself, is in it, and dwells in it. This "as" denotes not equality, but likeness: when this is the case, then it is a clear point, that WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER; not with the saints, with the apostles, and other Christians, but with God: "we have mutual communion", as the Arabic version renders it; God with us, and we with him. Some copies rea...

1 John 1:1. _That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;_ You know who that is, who it is that John had heard, and seen, and looked upon, and handled, even Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 1 John 1:2. _(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us), that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ._ The Father delights in his risen Son, no more to suffer and to die, having accomplished all his work; and I am sure that we h

LIGHT What it is to "walk in the light" is explained by (1 John 1:8). "All things. . .are made manifest by the light". (Ephesians 5:13). The presence of God brings the consciousness of sin in the nature (1 John 1:8) and sins in the life. (1 John 1:9); (1 John 1:10). The blood of Christ is the divine provision for both. To walk in the light is to live in fellowship with the Father and the Son. Sin interrupts, but confession restores that fellowship. Immediate confession keeps the fellowship unbroken. LIGHT ( See Scof

II. LIGHT AND DARKNESS AND THE TESTS Chapter S 1:5-2:17 _ 1. God is light; walking in darkness and in light (1 John 1:5)_ 2. What the light manifests (1 John 1:8) 3. The advocacy of Christ to maintain the fellowship (1 John 2:1) 4. The tests of fellowship (1 John 2:3) 1 John 1:5 The message they had heard of Him and which they declared to others is, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Light, perfect, pure light is God's nature; He is absolutely holy, with no darkness in Him at all. That God is light was manife