Our Fellowship

1 John 1:1-10

Key Verse 1:3

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship

with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

1. Read verses 1-2. What are John’s credentials as a witness who can testify about  the Word of life?  How does verse 2 describe what we proclaimed? (v.2, John 1:14) 

1 John 1:1-2

 ¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 

What are John’s credentials as a witness who can testify about the Word of life?  

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“Which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched”. We includes the author John the apostle. John and other disciples personally experienced Jesus. John was testifying about Jesus whom he personally touched, saw, and experienced. His testimony is powerful because he is talking about a real person who existed once on earth. 

How does verse 2 describe what we proclaimed? (v.2, John 1:14)

^“2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”

Verse 2 reminds us of John 1:14. What the author proclaimed is the very eternal life which was with the Father.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

2. Read verses 3-4. How can we have fellowship with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ?(v.3) What is the purpose of proclaiming it? (v. 4)

1 John 1:3-4

 ³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴ We write this to make our joy complete. 

How can we have fellowship with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ?(v.3) 

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³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

By believing the author’s testimony and proclamation we can have fellowship with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. If we do not believe his testimony which is so real and personal we cannot have fellowship with Jesus and the Father.

What is the purpose of proclaiming it? (v. 4)

. ⁴ We write this to make our joy complete. 

To have fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ bring complete joy in the people who testified about Jesus.

3. Read vs.5-7. What message had the author heard and declared? (v.5)

What happens if one walk in the darkness despite his claim to have fellowship

with God? (v.6) How do our lives change if one walks in the light? (v.7)

1 John 1:5-7

 ⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 

What message had the author heard and declared? (v.5)

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God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. By nature there is no darkness in God. There is no death in God. 1 Timothy 6:16 “who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” 

What happens if one walk in the darkness despite his claim to have fellowship

with God? (v.6) 

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He cannot have fellowship the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. He will appear to be a lair and he does not live by the truth.

How do our lives change if one walks in the light? (v.7)

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We will have fellowship with God who is light, and the blood of his Son, Jesus, purifies us from all sin. “Fellowship” with the Father, and ‘the purification through Jesus’ blood” is the blessings we have if we walk in the light.

4. Read vs.8-10. What is consequence when we claim to be without sin? (v.8) What happens if we confess our sins? (v.9) Why do we make him out to be a liar if we claim we have not sinned? (v.10)

1 John 1:8-10 

“⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

What is consequence when we claim to be without sin? (v.8) 

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We deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. The truth is “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Ro 3:23)

What happens if we confess our sins? (v.9) 

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He will forgive us our sins. He will purify us from all unrighteousness. Confessing our sins before God brings such blessings. It brings not only forgiveness but also purification.

Why do we make him out to be a liar if we claim we have not sinned? (v.10)

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God has already said that all have sinned in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” 

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