1 John 1:5-2:15

 “Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
Reasons for Writing 12 I am writing to you, dear children,
    because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.
14 I write to you, dear children,
    because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God lives in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.”
1John 1:5-2:14
 
Discussion:
Ch. 1
Throughout the remainder of this chapter, John continues to write to Christ followers about the life that they live. In Verses 5 the word “light” represents what is good, true and holy. On the other hand, “Darkness” represents what is evil and false.
In verse 6, John begins describing two different lifestyles-one characterized by wickedness and error, and the other by holiness and truth. Verse 6 also shows that we can not live in the darkness of our lives and claim to be Christians. The way that we live our lives show other weather we are in fellowship with the LORD or not. In other words, to have fellowship with God is to be in living, spiritual union with God.
Verses 9 discusses that, since we are broken and sinful people, if we tell God of our sins and turn from our wrongdoing, that God is willing and faithful to forgive us as long as we declare Christ as our Savior. Allowing Jesus to be the savior of our soul, God will be faithful in forgiving.
Verse 10-Throughout the Bible, God has revealed to us that we are all sinners and we are all unworthy of God’s grace and God’s heavenly kingdom. So, if we try to convince others that we have never sinned and that are not sinful, then we are calling Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father, a liar. If we are calling God a liar in our lives, why would we try to live by his words? Why would we place God’s words in our lives?
 
Ch. 2
Verse 1- John reveals that he is writing this letter to encourage the Christ followers to remain away from sin, but John shows that when we do fall into sin that Jesus speaks to God on our defense of our sin. One way to think about it would be if we were in court for murder. God is the judge and Jesus is our attorney, fighting for our freedom from our sin.
Verse 2- God’s holiness demands punishment for human sin. Jesus was sent to be the substitution atonement for the believer’s sin. In this way God’s wrath was satisfied with Jesus’ sacrifice. The wrath that was originally against the Christian’s sins was turned toward Jesus on the cross. This verse also shows that Jesus’ redemption for our sins is not solely aimed at one group of people, but that forgiveness is offered to anyone in the world who trust in Christ’s sacrifice.
Verse 3- john says that if we claim to know God and to have a relationship and it is not seen by our actions and the way we live our life, than we are lying to ourselves and to others. If we truly know God then the world and other believers will be able to see that by the way we keep His commands.       
Verse 5- when we follow the words and commands that God has given us His love is made complete in us. This could mean either one of two things; first, God’s love for the believers is made complete when it moves the believers to acts of obedience. Second, our love for God becomes complete when it expresses itself in acts of obedience. Either way you look at this verse we see that as believers we are called to follow God in obedience and that is shown in our actions and the way that we live.
Verse 7- The command to love one another is not a new idea, but because of the love that Christ displayed on the cross the command is seen in a new way and a new light. We are called to love each other and that command is shown through the life of Jesus. John is saying that this command is something that we have been hearing from the first day that Christ was placed on this earth.
Verse 9- This verse is a reiteration of what is said at the end of chapter 1. As believers we are called to love those in our lives.
Verses 10- throughout the Bible the hatred and love as moral qualities are not primarily emotions, but attitudes expressed in action. In this verse when it uses the word “stumble” is referring to stumbling into past sins.
Verses 12 to14- John is speaking to the members of the church. By using words such as “Fathers” and “young men” it seems that John is describing two different levels of spiritual maturity. In this section, John assuring the members of the church that they know the true God and that God knows them. In this, John is encouraging the church to stay strong in the truth of Jesus Christ. 
 
Questions to think about:
Why does John describe God as Light? Do you think that is a accurate description?
What are the ways we walk in the darkness?
How can we walk in the light?
What do we learn about sin? What is our job and what is Christ’s Job?
Of all the commands why does he mention #2-Loving others?
What sins get in the way of loving others?
How do we deceive ourselves? Have you ever done that?
What does he end the way he does-in a poem?