Download discussion questions: 1 John 1:3-2:2
Download outline format: 1 John1:3-2:2
Last week we saw John’s emphatic introduction about first-hand “sensory experiences” (1 John 1:1-5). Now he immediately moves into a practical (if uncomfortable) topic of how sin affects the fellowship and joy (1 John 1:3) he desired for his readers (and for us).
Our discussion group began by observing a number of words that are repeated in the passage: “fellowship” (twice in v. 3, and v.6, 7), “light” (v. 5, and twice in v. 7), and “sin” (nine times in the last six verses of the passage). John also uses several related words, such as “lie” (v.6), “liar” (v. 10), “deceive” (v.8) and not having truth (v.6, 8). Someone in our group pointed out that John started with the figurative description “darkness,” but he quickly made his point unmistakably clear: he was talking about sin. Another comment was that he starts with a very positive, desirable topic of fellowship and shared joy (v. 4). That positive start provides motivation to deal with sin that blocks or restricts fellowship and joy. We came back to that thread later in our discussion (see below).
We also looked at the numerous ways John refers to the Father and the Son, sometimes using those titles (v. 3), but more often using “he” or “him” as pronouns referring to the divine Persons. (The NIV used for this week’s text does not capitalize divine pronouns.[1]). We attempted to determine which Person each of the pronouns referenced.
Some seem clear.
- “The message we have heard from him” in verse 5 would make sense as referring to Jesus, the Incarnate Son, whose message John had heard firsthand.
- “His Son” in verses 3 and 7; “his” certainly refers to the Father.
- “He if faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” may be primarily the work of Jesus, the Son, whose blood purifies us (v. 7).
Other uses (“fellowship with him” in verse 6, “as he is in the light” in verse 7) are not quite as clear. They seem to refer to the Father in the context that calls Jesus “his” Son (v.3, 7).
We considered if these distinctions are important, or are they just an academic exercise, “wrangling about words” (2 Timothy 2:14, NASB)? Clearly, all these statements made by John refer to God, so is it important (or even possible) to make the distinctions?
On the one hand, maybe not. We certainly want to walk in the light as “he” is in the light (v. 7) whether John means the Father or the Son. We want to be forgiven and purified by “him” (v. 9), Father or Son.
On the other hand, the goal John had for his readers (and our desire) is distinct fellowship “with the Father and with His Son” (v. 3). The better we know the distinctions shown to us in Scripture, the better and fuller and deeper our fellowship with each person of the Trinity can be. Think about a small group you have been in. You want to know and relate to each member individually, and you also want to relate to the whole group. We cannot exhaust the mystery of the Three-Personal God[2], but like any relationship, the better we know the persons, the better we can participate in fellowship.
Turning to the second part of this passage, our group returned to the question of what John had to say about how sin affects our fellowship with each other and with God. Looking at those verses again, we noted that besides the word “sin” there are other subtle repetitions. The small word “if” is easily overlooked, but it occurs six times in seven verses (1 John 1:6-2:2). Three of those “ifs” occur in the phrase “If we claim…” (v. 6, 8, 10 of chapter 1). John seems to have had a specific, logical argument in mind (“if this, then that”).
Often it is helpful to take a fresh look at a passage. Using a different perspective or format can sometimes help us to trace the thought process of the writer. A word-processor (or a copy of the passage and a pair of scissors) can be a useful tool to view a passage in outline form. Such an outline of this passage from 1 John shows a series of John’s thoughts in a clear pattern: “If we claim…but if we do….”
6 If we claim to have fellowship…7 But if we walk…
8 If we claim to be without sin … 9 If we confess our sins …
10 If we claim we have not sinned…2:1 … But if anybody does sin…
In each of the three parts of the pattern, John described a possible way we all might evaluate our own spiritual condition. Then he contrasts each superficial boast with a more appropriate response. Our group discussed John’s statements. Sometimes we are tempted to exaggerate our “fellowship with him” (v. 6). Vague statements about our time with the Lord or prayer life can suggest a closeness that others admire but is not really part of our experience. Our group agreed that we typically do not say “we are without sin” (v. 8). However, it is all too easy to drift into an attitude of superiority, that we are better than someone who has obvious moral issues. We are more likely to say “we have not sinned” (v. 10). A member of our group suggested that claiming “we have not sinned” might be a denial of a particular action. We might say we didn’t do it, or if we did, that it really wasn’t sin. We make excuses.
John showed how different forms of deceit or denial or defense can focus our energy on ourselves and our actions rather than on the fellowship that God offers. Several people commented that we want to depend on our own resources. We want to feel good about ourselves. We don’t want to admit we need help.
Clearly our behavior can either confirm (v. 7) or contradict (v. 6) our words about fellowship with God. Denying that we have sin (v. 8) is remedied by our authentic confession (v. 9). Self-justification (v. 10) is unnecessary because of the Advocate who comes to our defense (v. 11). The point seems to be that all the energy expended in excuses is unnecessary. One member summarized: Pretending is exhausting. Rather than avoiding the reality of sin in our life, we can recognize the amazing work the Father made possible through the Son. We must never trivialize our sin, but neither should we obsess over it and try to hide it from God. Attempted deception about our sin is destructive to our fellowship with the Father and with the Son and with the people of God.
The question then became one of sequence or priority. Does our fellowship with each other grow from our fellowship with God, or does our fellowship with God grow from our fellowship with each other? Clearly John emphasized both. The conclusion of our conversation was that each enriches the other. The more our communion and fellowship deepens with God, the more we will see His grace in our lives and the more grace and fellowship we can offer others. The more we see God at work in the lives of others in different ways, the more our adoration and appreciation of God’s greatness will grow into adoration and fellowship with Him. Each kind of fellowship reinforces and expands the other. John’s letter describes that spiral of fellowship. He encourages the open and transparent response to our sin that enables that spiral to grow.
During the worship that followed our Calvary Institute discussion group, one of the songs included the lines:
Praise the Lord His mercy is more,
Stronger than darkness new every morn
Our sins they are many His mercy is more.[3]
Too often we forget the truth that our sins are many, but His mercy is more. That is when we need to remember John’s exhortations to walk in the light and confess our sins and depend on our Advocate. Then we can grow in our fellowship with the Father and with His Son and with each other.
[1] In direct quotations (such as the NIV and other translations) I try to follow the original source. However, in my own usage I prefer to follow the sound advice of C.S. Lewis: “I have also introduced a capital H for pronouns that refer to God … not because I consider this typographical reverence of much importance, but because, in a language where pronouns are so easily confused as they are in English, it seems foolish to reject such an aid to clarity.”
George MacDonald, edited by C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald – An Anthology (New York: Macmillan, 1978), Introduction.
[2] A term used by C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: HarperCollins, 2009), Kindle Electronic Edition: Location 2054, page 163.
[3] Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, His Mercy is More, 2016 Messenger Hymns (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.), Love Your Enemies Publishing.