A Glorious Message
W. Jay. 1 John 1:5-10 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.… I. A MESSAGE. 1. How was this message obtained? "We have heard it, and disclose it unto you," says John. Heard it; from whom? Unquestionably from the Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the Great Teacher sent from God. He delivered it to His disciples, and they to others. 2. What does this message express? God is Light, He makes us wise unto salvation. 3. What does this light exclude? It excludes all darkness, for "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." This shows the supremacy of God, and His sovereign perfection in distinction from all orders of His creatures. II. THE AWFUL DECISION. "If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." 1. Now men may say this by profession of it to others; and they may say it to their own souls, persuading themselves that they are real Christians, when they have "no part or lot in the matter," their hearts not being right in the sight of God. 2. Congeniality must precede "fellowship," and resemblance must precede fellowship. And therefore it will follow that a change of heart is necessary, for without this change we can neither enjoy God, nor serve Him acceptably. III. THE GLORIOUS PRIVILEGE. 1. It takes in fellowship. "We have fellowship one with another." There is a fellowship belonging to all the people of God wherever they live. But this is not the fellowship referred to here. Here the "fellowship one with another" means the fellowship that exists between God and us. He is their God, and they are His people. 2. The other article here is the assurance of pardon. "And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."(1) Observe the procurer, the Son of God. However this term may be explained, it always in Scripture means dignity. (2) Mark the efficacy of His death: "His blood cleanseth us from all sin." It delivers us from the heinousness of it, however offensive it is in the eyes of a holy God; and from the love of sin, and make us "dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God."(3) Then mark the extent of it: it "cleanseth us from all sin" — from original sin and actual sin; from all sin, however aggravated. His blood cleanseth perfectly from all sin, and completely from all transgression. (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. WEB: This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.