---
title: "People"
description: "That which was from the beginning. Compare Joh 1:1; see notes there. Compare also Gen 1:1. Joh 1:1 shows that the Word, manifested as Christ, was from th"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/peoples-new-testament/1-john/1"
---

**That which was from the beginning**. Compare Joh 1:1; see notes there. Compare also Gen 1:1. Joh 1:1 shows that the Word, manifested as Christ, was from the beginning.
**Which we have heard, . . . looked upon, . . . handled**. In its incarnate form in the person of Jesus Christ.
**The Word of life**. Christ, the revealed Word, when it became flesh and dwelt among men; "in whom also was life" (Joh 1:4).
**The life was manifested**. They had seen the Life manifested in the person of Christ.
**And bear witness**. The office of the apostle, having seen and known the Eternal Life as he lived on earth, was to bear witness of him to the world.
**That ye also may have fellowship**. To declare what they had seen and heard was simply to preach the gospel. This knowledge communicated to others brought those who accepted it into a fellowship of knowledge and hope. Those are in fellowship who are partakers of the same faith, hopes, and privileges.
**With us**. All the saints entered into fellowship with the apostles, but the apostles were in **fellowship with the Father**. This grand fellowship, that of the saints with the Father and the Son, is simply a guarantee that no good thing will be withheld from us; that "all things are ours." There is a fellowship of peace, of concord, of eternal life and glory.
**These things write we**. This assurance of the divine fellowship is given in order that they may rejoice with the fullness of joy in the glorious hope.

**This then is the message**. The message heard from Christ, now declared, is that **God is light**. The source whence all light, whether it be physical, or moral or spiritual, comes; the Enlightener of the universe. The term denotes luminous clearness, the free and benevolent source from whence flow light, intelligence, purity and blessing, absolutely free from alien intermixture, since **in him there is no darkness at all**. Light represents truth, knowledge and holiness. Darkness represents ignorance, error, falsehood and sin.
**If we say . . . and walk in darkness**. To claim a fellowship with him who is Light and to walk in the darkness of error, of ignorance, and of sinfulness are utterly inconsistent.
**Do not the truth**. He who obeys not the truth walks in darkness.
**But if we walk in the light**. We walk in the light by following Christ, the Light of the world.
**We have fellowship**. All who are walking in the light have the common life.
**The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin**. Cleansed by the blood of Christ, and thus made holy, we are fitted for the heavenly communion.

**If we say that we have no sin**. To say that we have reached a sinless state in which we no longer need the blood of Christ to cleanse us is a deception. This language is in square opposition to the claims of the "Perfectionists" of all ages.
**If we confess our sins**. Instead of affirming that we are sinless we should confess our sins.
**Faithful and just**. If we confess our sins the Lord will be faithful to his promise of mercy, and just in requiring us to have the atonement of Christ, **to forgive us our sins**.
**If we say that we have not sinned**. God says we have sinned. He declares "There is none righteous; no, not one." Hence, if we affirm that we are sinless we make God a liar.

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