BEING IN
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD:
1
JOHN CHAPTER 1
OBSERVATION
STAGE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
The
purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand
in accordance with the framework in which it was written: a framework
which is defined by the normative rules of language, context and logic -
rules which do not impose undue, unintended meanings to the text
,
and which largely limit the observer to the content offered by the books
of 1st John and the Gospel of John. In order for any passage from
elsewhere to be considered, it must have a relationship with the context
at hand, such as a Scriptural quotation or a specific cross reference in
the passage at hand by the author. This will serve to avoid going on
unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the
framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located
elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
I)
INTRODUCTION
A)
[Compare 1 Jn 2:15-29; 4:3]:
B)
[Compare 1 Jn 4:1-3]:
C)
[1 Jn 1:3]:
D)
[Compare 1 Jn 5:6-8]:
II)
[1 Jn 1:1-10]:
A)
(1 Jn 1:1-4) THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD OF LIFE, GOD THE SON, JESUS
CHRIST FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TIME WHEN HE ADDED TO HIMSELF HUMANITY
IS IN VIEW IN VERSES 1-3 FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PARTICULAR TIME WHEN
HE BECAME MAN AND WAS HEARD, SEEN, GAZED INTENTLY UPON, AND TOUCHED BY
THOSE INCLUDING AUTHOR JOHN WHO WERE CHOSEN TO BE AND BECAME HIS
DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES
1)
[Compare Jn 1:14]:
2)
(1 Jn 1:1b) "That which we have heard" =
3)
(1 Jn 1:1c) "That which we have seen with our eyes." =
4)
(1 Jn 1:1d) "That which we did behold." =
5)
(1 Jn 1:1e) "and our hands did handle, concerning the Word of Life."
=
6)
[Compare Jn 1:1-4, 14]:
B)
(1 Jn 1:1-4) AND INDEED THE LIFE WAS MANIFESTED, AND WE APOSTLES HAVE
SEEN AND TESTIFY AND PROCLAIM TO YOU BELIEVERS THE ETERNAL LIFE WHICH
WAS WITH THE FATHER AND WAS MANIFESTED TO US
1)
"and [indeed] the Life was manifested' =
2)
"And we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the Eternal Life,
which was with the Father and was manifested to us [John and fellow
apostles] =
C)
(1 Jn 1:1-4) WHAT JOHN AND FELLOW APOSTLES HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THEY
PROCLAIM ALSO TO JOHN'S READERS / AND ALL CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD
SO THAT THEY TOO MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE APOSTLES AND INDEED THE
APOSTLES' FELLOWSHIP IS WITH THE FATHER AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST,
WHICH FELLOWSHIP READERS / AND ALL CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD MAY HAVE
AS WELL - THIS IS THE STATED PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE
1)
[Compare Phil 2:1-8]:
******
2)
[Compare 1 Jn 5:9-13]:
3)
[Compare 1 Jn 2:1]:
4)
[Compare Jn 1:12-13]:
5)
[Compare 1 Jn 3:1-2]:
6)
[Compare 1 Jn 2:12]:
D)
(1 Jn 1:1-4) THE EPISTLE OF FIRST JOHN WAS WRITTEN TO COUNTER THOSE
ERRORS WHICH GO AGAINST THE TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE IN ORDER TO KEEP READERS
- ALL CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD - ABIDING IN THE TRUTHS THEY HAVE
LEARNED. AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY SO THAT ALL CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD
MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE APOSTLES AND WITH GOD THE FATHER AND WITH
HIS SON JESUS CHRIST; SO THAT THE JOY OF THE READERS / CHILDREN OF GOD,
BORN OF GOD AS WELL AS THE APOSTLES' JOY MIGHT BE COMPLETE. THE
APOSTLES' JOY WOULD RESULT BECAUSE OF THE SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF THEIR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
1)
[Compare 2 Jn 1:12]:
2)
[Compare 3 Jn 4:1-4]:
3)
[Compare Jn 15:5-11]:
4)
[Compare Jn 16:22-24]:
5)
[Compare Jn 17:13]:
E)
(1 Jn 1:5) IN VERSE 5, JOHN EMPHASIZED AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT POINT
ABOUT THE MESSAGE OF HOW TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE APOSTLES AND WITH
GOD THE FATHER, AND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST: THAT GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DARKNESS - NO EVIL AT ALL!!! ON THE OTHER HAND,
GOD'S LIGHT EXPOSES HIS CREATION AND REVEALS THAT MAN IS INHERENTLY EVIL
AND CANNOT HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH A HOLY GOD WHO IS ABSOLUTE
RIGHTEOUSNESS. SO THE FELLOWSHIP EACH INDIVIDUAL MAN COULD HAVE COULD
ONLY BE THROUGH GOD'S PROVISION ALONE WHEREBY MAN CAN BE PURIFIED FROM
ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS BY GOD HIMSELF
1)
[Compare 1 Jn 1:5c Greek Interlinear]:
2)
[Compare Jn 3:19-21]:
3)
[Compare Jn 8:12]:
4)
[Compare Jn 12:28-37]:
5)
[Dt 32:3-4]:
6)
[Isa 45:21]:
7)
[Ro 3:21-25]:
F)
(1 Jn 1:6) IF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME (UNSPECIFIED) WE BELIEVERS INCLUDING
APOSTLES SAY, "WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM (GOD) AND YET WALK IN
DARKNESS / SIN WHILE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT GOD IS LIGHT / ABSOLUTE
RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT DO THE TRUTH." ALTHOUGH ALL
UNBELIEVERS WALK IN DARKNESS, NEVER ACKNOWLEDGING THAT GOD IS LIGHT /
ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS, THEY ARE NOT IN VIEW IN THIS PASSAGE
1)
[Compare Jn 3:21]:
G)
(1 Jn 1:7) BUT IF WE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD - APOSTLES INCLUDED -
WALK IN THE LIGHT - NOT ACCORDING TO IT IN SINLESS PERFECTION; BUT IN
THE SENSE OF (1) ACKNOWLEDGING THAT GOD IS PERFECT LIGHT / ABSOLUTE
RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND (2) ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SINFUL SHORTCOMINGS BEFORE A
HOLY GOD, THEN WE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD WHILE WE ARE WALKING IN
THE LIGHT HAVE (TEMPORAL) FELLOWSHIP, ONE [GOD] WITH ANOTHER [WITH EACH
OF WE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD WHO ARE WALKING IN THE LIGHT]; AND
THE BLOOD OF JESUS, GOD'S SON, CLEANSES US FROM THE TEMPORAL SIN WE ARE
ACKNOWLEDGING AND FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
1)
[Compare 1 Jn 2:2]:
2)
[Compare Ro 3:21-26]:
H)
(1 Jn 1:8) IF WE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD INCLUDING APOSTLES SAY
THAT WE HAVE NO SIN - IN THE SENSE OF HAVING NOT COMMITTED A SINGLE SIN
WITH A PARTICULAR TIMEFRAME IN VIEW, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES AND THE TRUTH
IS NOT IN US - AND NEITHER FOR THE MOMENT IS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
I)
(1 Jn 1:9) IF WE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD - APOSTLES INCLUDED -
SHOULD CONFESS OUR SINS - IN THE SENSE OF SHOULD WE CONSTANTLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARTICULAR ACTS OF SIN WE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD
INEVITABLY, CONSTANTLY COMMIT THAT ARE BROUGHT TO OUR MINDS BY GOD WITH
A VIEW TO HIS PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS; THEN GOD IS FAITHFUL - ABSOLUTELY
TRUSTWORTHY AND RIGHTEOUS / JUSTIFIED IN FORGIVING OUR SINS WHICH WE
CONSTANTLY CONFESS. AND HE IS JUSTIFIED IN CONTINUALLY PURIFYING US FROM
ALL OF OUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO TEMPORAL FELLOWSHIP ONCE MORE WITH
HIMSELF; FORENSICALLY JUSTIFIED BECAUSE THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, HIS
SON PAID FOR THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND
1)
If We Children Of God, born of God - Apostles Included - Should Confess
Our Sins, Our Acts Of Sin (Plural) Which We Inevitably And Constantly
Commit Which Are Brought To Our Minds By God
2)
And As We Children Of God, Born Of God Confess Our Particular
Acts Of Sin, The Character Of God Being Absolutely Trustworthy And
Absolutely Righteous, He Will Forgive Us Our Sins That We Have Confessed
And Purify Us From All Unrighteousness Unto Temporal Fellowship Once
More With Him. For God's Forgiveness And Cleansing Is Forensically
Justified Because The Blood Of His Son, Jesus Was Shed For Us And For
All Mankind To Pay For The Sins Of Mankind
3)
Since Confession Of Sins Is Never Connected In Scripture With The
Acquisition Of Eternal Life; And Since The Reception Of Eternal Life Is
Not Stipulated As A Result Of Confession, (But Temporal Fellowship Is);
And Since Eternal Life Is Always Conditioned Solely Upon A Moment Of
Faith Alone In Jesus Christ Alone Plus Nothing Else In Scripture; And
Since Unbelievers Are Not In View In First Chapter One, (But Children Of
God, Born Of God Are); Then First John Chapter One Is Not Giving
Instruction To Unbelievers Or Children Of God, Born Of God On How To
Have Eternal Life Via Confession Of Sins
4)
Although A Child Of God, Born Of God Already Has Forgiveness In Christ
Relative To Eternal Life Forever As A Born Again Child Of God; Temporal
/ Familial Forgiveness Is Provided For That Born Again Child On A Moment
To Moment Basis To Secure Temporal / Familial Fellowship With God For
The Oft Failing Child When He Inevitably Sins Again
5)
We Children Of God, Born Of God Including Apostles Must Be Vigilant Of
Our Own Sinfulness And Confess From Moment To Moment When An Inevitable
Shortcoming Is Revealed To Us In The Light Of God's Absolute
Righteousness
6)
In Order To Walk In The Light And Confess Known Sins, We Children Of
God, Born Of God Including The Apostles Are Commanded To Be Discerning
Of What Is Right And What Is Wrong - What Represents The Absolute
Holiness Of God And What Does Not. This Necessitates An Earnest Study Of
The Bible And A Constant Acknowledgment To God When One Does Not Conform
To The Standard Of God's Holiness
7)
Confession Of The Child Of God, Born Of God Of His Sins Is A Repentance
/ A Change Of Mind From Not Acknowledging His Sins To Acknowledging Them
Before God. This Does Not Require An Emotional Reaction Such As Feeling
Sorry, Although That May Occur; Nor Does It Have In View A Repentance
From Committing Acts Of Sin To Sinless Perfection, Which Is Neither
Possible With Mortal Sinful Man Nor Is It In View In First John Chapter
One
a)
Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words,
W.E. Vine, Revell Publishing, Old Tappan, New Jersey, 1981, pp.
279-280), defines the verb to repent:
8)
Old Testament Provisions Of Confession For Forgiveness Of Temporal Sins
Of The Child Of God, Born Of God Indicate That There Are Blessings From
The LORD Provided To The Child Of God, Born Of God Who Confesses His
Sins
a)
[Ps 32:1-11]:
b)
[Lev 4:27-35]:
c)
[Compare Lev 5:1-6]:
d)
[Compare Pr 28:13]:
J)
(1 Jn 1:10) IF WE SHOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED - CLAIMING PERIODS
OF SINLESS PERFECTION - WE MAKE GOD OUT TO BE A LIAR AND HIS WORD IS NOT
IN US RELATIVE TO THIS MATTER
