1 JOHN 1:1-3 “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."
Rebuttal Question…
Isn’t John speaking to believers because of “broken fellowship”?
Deeper Revelation According to God's Word
First, look at 1 John 2:1-2 "My little
children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone
sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous. And He
Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for
the whole world." He addresses them as his little children. He further says his children have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ. Only those who are born again (believers) are his children, and only they have an advocate.
Then look at II John 1:1-2 "The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love." He addresses the elder and her children, whom he loves in truth; Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He also addresses those who have the truth that abides in them; only born again (believers) have the truth (Jesus) abiding in them.
Next, look at III John 1:1-4 "The Elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." He addressed them as his beloved; only those who are born again (believers) are considered "accepted and beloved". He rejoiced with the testimony that the truth (Jesus) was in them; only born again believers have Jesus Christ in them. Paul and Peter's letters are addressed in the same manner as John's letters here.
Now go back to 1 John 1. Do you see how he addresses the people differently; proclaiming that they have seen and heard Him, that He is real and he wants them to have fellowship with Jesus so that they can fully share in their same joy? John is speaking to those who do not have fellowship with Jesus Christ; Non Believers.
Then look at II John 1:1-2 "The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love." He addresses the elder and her children, whom he loves in truth; Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He also addresses those who have the truth that abides in them; only born again (believers) have the truth (Jesus) abiding in them.
Next, look at III John 1:1-4 "The Elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." He addressed them as his beloved; only those who are born again (believers) are considered "accepted and beloved". He rejoiced with the testimony that the truth (Jesus) was in them; only born again believers have Jesus Christ in them. Paul and Peter's letters are addressed in the same manner as John's letters here.
Now go back to 1 John 1. Do you see how he addresses the people differently; proclaiming that they have seen and heard Him, that He is real and he wants them to have fellowship with Jesus so that they can fully share in their same joy? John is speaking to those who do not have fellowship with Jesus Christ; Non Believers.
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1 JOHN 1:4 (AMP) “and we are now writing these things to you, so that our joy [in seeing you included], may be full [and your joy may be complete].
Rebuttal Question…
Isn’t he speaking of believers who have sinned and need to repent?
Deeper Revelation According to God's Word
Do you see where he says "in seeing you included"? This means they were not included, they were not in the family, which means they were non-believers. Repentance means "change your mind". Repentance is for non-believers OR believers who have turned away from the Lord. Find out more in What is True Repentance.
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1 JOHN 1:5-7 “This is the message which we have heard from him and declare to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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.”
Rebuttal Question…
Isn't John talking to believers who have lost fellowship with Jesus?
Deeper Revelation According to God's Word
God IS light. If you are saved, he’s in you, which means you’re in the light. Only non-believers are in darkness because they don’t have Jesus Christ in them. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul addresses his brethren; the church (believers). Verses 4 & 5 "But you,
brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of
light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness." Read Sin is Not the Barrier to Fellowship to find out why your fellowship with Christ is NOT broken because of your sin.
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1 JOHN 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
Rebuttal Question…
Isn't this for believers who are unrighteous?
Deeper Revelation According to God's Word
Jesus Christ is righteousness. Believers are the only ones who are righteous; through Christ Jesus. Those who are “unrighteous”, are non-believers.
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
Romans 3:22 “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…”
Romans 4:3-5 “For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
Romans 3:22 “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…”
Romans 4:3-5 “For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
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IN CONCLUSION
John tells the people in Chapter One to repent, yet not any of the other chapters. 1 John is addressed to those who have no fellowship with Christ, who are not children or brethren, who are in darkness, who do not have the Word (Jesus) in them, who do not have an advocate to the father, who do not have truth abiding in them, who do not have the full joy, and who have no righteousness......
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