Though this Epistle does not bear, anywhere within its original text, the name of John as its author, it was universally conceded to him by the ancient Church. Polycarp, a disciple of John, quotes from it the very words of chapter 4: 2, 3. Papias, in the first half of the second century, also quoted it. Indeed, almost every decade bears witness to the universal view of the ancient Christians. Besides, there is a similarity of thought and style to the Gospel of John which show that they must have been written by the same author. The Epistle was evidently written after the Gospel, for a different class of readers, to meet new heresies, and to aid the saints to go on to perfection. The Gospel was written to show that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God," but the Epistle puts stress upon the fact that Christ had come in the flesh, it being held by some towards the close of the first century that Christ was not human at all.

      The time when and place where the Epistle was written cannot be certainly known, but as it is pretty well established that after the death of Paul and before the destruction of Jerusalem John went to Ephesus and spent the remainder of his life in that part of the world, it is probable it was written at Ephesus, not far from the year A. D. 90. It is the last doctrinal treatise written by an apostle.

      5. The four verses preceding the one with which our lesson opens are prefatory. They declare that the subject of this letter is The Word of Life, Christ the Word, the Author of Eternal Life, with whom we have fellowship and through him with the Father; and that the letter is written that our joy in him may be complete. With verse 5 John announces his message, which is, God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. As the sun is the light giver of the universe, and chases away darkness wherever his beams fall, and hath in itself no darkness, so it is of God, especially as manifest in Christ. In the imagery of the [258] Scriptures he dwells in light unapproachable, his presence is always manifested by brightness and light, and the New Jerusalem is filled with light. Christ is the light of the world. Not so much the physical, as the moral and spiritual light. The knowledge of Christ everywhere chases away darkness. The enlightened races are those which have the most knowledge of Christ. The darkest spots of earth are where he is unknown.

      6, 7. If we say that we have fellowship with him, etc. To have fellowship is to have a common life and spirit. If God is light, we cannot walk in darkness, without knowledge of him, living in the dark ways of sin, and have fellowship with him. To have a common life we must be children of the light, like Christ, the light of the world. As Christ gives light, so must we, if we claim to have a common life with him. As is the Son, so also must be the sons, his brethren. If thus we are in fellowship with him, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. This implies that we must turn from darkness, walk in the light, walk with him, or we will not be cleansed.

      8. It we say we have no sin, etc. If we claim, like the Pharisee, who went up into the temple to pray, that we are just, need no Savior from sin, we deceive ourselves." All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God." He is the greatest sinner who calls his sins righteousness.

      9. If we confess our sins, etc. The publican who went up into the temple to pray, and made full confession, was heard rather than the Pharisee. He who does not confess his sins thereby declares he is not a sinner. God's plan of redemption requires a confession of sin. Repentance and baptism are each a confession, the latter is in act a confession that the old life is sinful, worthless, worthy of death, and is to end in the baptismal grave, from whence a new life in Christ is to begin. Those who, led by faith, make such confession by repentance and baptism, are forgiven. In doing so God is faithful to his promise and just, because Christ has atoned for those who thus come to him.

      10. If we say we have not sinned, etc. If we turn away from God's plan of redemption we charge him with untruth. He has sent Christ because all are included under sin. We deny it when we affirm that we are righteous of ourselves. [259]

      2:1. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father. Those have the Advocate, the intercessor, pleader, (lawyer in human courts) who have employed him. Those who have obeyed Christ and walk with him have secured him as their Advocate with the Father. If any of these sin, not by a wilful course of sin, but by being overtaken in a fault, he pleads their case with the Father. And he gains it, for he points to their penitent confession and to his own blood that has cleansed them. He has atoned for their sin.

      2. He is the propitiation for our sins. The mercy seat in the Jewish tabernacle was called the propitiation. There the blood of the atonement was sprinkled for the sins of the whole people. Christ is our mercy seat, the sprinkling of the blood of the atonement, the cleanser from sin, and not only ours, but for the whole world. Hence, when he pleads for those who have employed him as their Advocate, he points to the mercy seat, where God has Promised mercy, even to himself, the Lamb slain for the sins of the world. In this Epistle, chapter 4:10 it is said God "sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

      3, 4. Hereby we know that we know him. What we need is knowledge. It is very, unsatisfactory to only think that Christ is the Son of God and our Savior. We want to know upon whom we have believed. To know God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent is eternal life. We know those men with whom we are personally acquainted. We do not know those of whom we have only heard. To know Christ we must get acquainted with him. We can. The way is to keep his commandments. He has said, "If a man love me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our abode with him." Again he says, "If a man will do my will he shall know the doctrine whether it be of God." The person who makes God's will the rule of his life will have the presence of the Son and the Father, will discern their presence, will know them, and have life eternal. Bat whoso claims to know God, and lives in disobedience, is hypocritical and untruthful.

      5. In him is the love of God perfected. In whom is it made perfect? In the one who keeps his word. James says that faith is made perfect by obedience. So is [260] love. Not obedience to one commandment, faith, or repentance, or baptism, but a life of obedience, a life in which God's will is made the supreme law of life; a life of which Christ is king. He who loves God in Christ keeps his words; then the Father and Son dwell with him, and love is thus made perfect by obedience. Hereby we know that we are in him. We must be in Christ to escape condemnation. Rom. 8:1. We know that we are in him by a life of obedience, or, as Paul expresses, "By doing the things of the Spirit." Observe how John emphasizes obedience: 1. We know that we know him if we keep his commandments. 2. The love of God is perfected in us if we keep his commandments. 3. We know that we are in Christ it we keep his commandments. The demonstration is a spirit within us, and that always says, "Thy will be done," and always seeks to do the Father's will. If we have this spirit, and we abide in him, we will walk even as he walked.

      1. Christ is the San of Righteousness, the light of the world. All who are his will walk in his light and shine with it upon the world. We cannot shine by our own light. We are like the moon. When it turns the face towards us on which the sun shines it is beautiful and full of light. When it turns the face on which the sun does not shine it is darkness. When it gets the earth between it and the sun it is eclipsed. So, too, if we walk in the light of Christ by keeping his words and dwelling near him, we will shine with beautiful lives, like his. If Christ does not shine on our lives they will be darkness. If we put the world between us and him they will be eclipsed.

      2. We must be in fellowship with Christ if we are the children of God. That is, partnership with him. All the children of a family are equally interested in its welfare. They are partners. They are joint heirs. They must all work together for its its interests. Now we are joint heirs with Christ if we are in fellowship with him. But we cannot be partners unless we work with him, walk with him in the light, keep from sin, and cling to him.

      3. If we have not Christ, where shall we find an Advocate to plead our cause in the great trial of Judgment? Satan will accuse us and claim us as his own; who shall defend us? Christ offers to take your case; he demands as his retainer the love of your heart. Shall he have it?

      4. Loyalty to the King is the final test of our hold on eternal life. Loyalty makes the King's will the rule of life. Do we ask if we know Christ? Yes, if we obey him. Do you ask if you love him with all your heart? Yes, if you always seek to do his will. Do you ask if you are in him? Yes, if you have made his love perfect by obedience, He who follows his own will is his own king. He who follows Christ's will has put him on the throne as King. [261]

[CLC01 258-261]