Part One - The First Epistle of John

 

 

The first epistle of John is an exhortation to love God, our brothers, and Torah. John understood that the spirit of the law rested on the law of love. He explains to us that sin is transgression of God's law. He points out that learning to love one another is a process that is a witness to the world. John understood the Torah and that lawlessness was Torahlessness. This epistle is a great discourse on how God's people are to be obedient to God and His Torah.

 

 

What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched - 1 John 1.1-4That 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, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.


John is saying that he was a witness to the life of Jesus, the Messiah. He has seen with his own eyes, he has touched, bore witness to, and is now testifying to the truth of what he is about to write. Yeshua has given us eternal life and that this is a joyous thing! He is speaking about the resurrection of the dead at the end of this current age. Jesus is the first fruits of those who will be resurrected. He has conquered death and has promised those who believe the same victory!

　

Fellowship with Him and One Another - 1 John 1.5-2.2
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.

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.

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.

John proclaims that God is light. If we have fellowship with God we will not be walking in darkness. If we walk in darkness we are not practicing the truth. We would be walking in sin. Sin, as John will later explain, is transgression of the Torah. Practicing sin is lawlessness.

We are to confess our sin to Yeshua and we will be forgiven. We are all sinners and once we truly acknowledge our sinful state we can live a victorious overcoming life. Sin will no longer reign over us if we come to Him and confess our sins. Yeshua is our advocate. If the word of God--the Torah--is our guide we will not walk in sin.

　

The Test of Knowing Him - 1 John 2.3-11
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

If we love the Lord we keep His commandments. His commandments is the Torah! We serve a God of Law. In God’s kingdom there are laws. If we say that we love God and walk in lawlessness John says we are liars! That is a very strong statement.

John is saying that the law hangs on our loving one another. That is exactly what Jesus said! If you read the entire list of commandments in the Torah it is clear that only one who loves his brother will obey them! We abide in the light (God is light) when we follow the commands (Torah) of God. If you are lawless then darkness has blinded your eyes. The Torah is our “Code of Conduct” which teaches us to love one another and do good to one another. That is what John is saying.


Tomorrow: Part Two