1 John 1
Walking Through 1 John 1 Together
As we sat with 1 John 1 this week, we were struck again by how short the chapter is—and yet how rich it is. John moves quickly but intentionally, guiding us from the historical reality of Jesus, to the contrast between light and darkness, and finally to the gift of confession and forgiveness. We found ourselves lingering in each section, encouraged and challenged by what God reveals through John’s words.
Below are the reflections we walked through together.
1. The Word of Life We Have Seen, Heard, and Touched
In verses 1–4, John reminds us that faith in Jesus isn’t built on myth or speculation. He and the early disciples actually heard Jesus’ voice, saw His face, and touched His hands. We love how John uses all the senses to emphasize that the Christian faith is grounded in real history—real people, real places, real conversations.
When we think about that, it fills us with gratitude. These eyewitnesses didn’t keep their experiences to themselves. They wrote them down so that we could share in the same fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. And as John says, their joy becomes complete when they pass that testimony on.
We often imagine how many additional stories, miracles, and moments with Jesus we’ll someday hear in heaven—stories the Gospels simply didn’t have space to record. But we’re already given everything we need: a reliable, firsthand account inviting us into fellowship and joy.
2. Walking in the Light
The chapter then moves to John’s beloved theme of light and darkness (vv. 5–7). He writes, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
We talked about how in movies—and especially in Star Wars—light and darkness often feel like two equal forces pushing against each other. But spiritually, that’s simply not true. Light always overcomes darkness. Even the faintest candle can pierce a room full of shadows.
We’ve seen this in our own rhythms at home, especially in a simple dinnertime tradition with our kids. Three tiny candles on our table can illuminate the whole room when the lights go down. Darkness never swallows them. Instead, the light stands firm and reveals what the darkness tries to hide.
It’s a vivid reminder that Jesus—the Light of the World—brings life to us the way the sun brings life to creation. Just as our bodies crave sunlight, our souls were created to live in the radiance of God’s presence. Walking in His light means honesty, clarity, warmth, and spiritual health.
3. The Freedom Found in Confession
Finally, John leads us into one of the most comforting and convicting parts of the chapter (vv. 8–10):
We all sin. We all hide. And we’re all invited to confess.
We found ourselves asking, Why do we resist confession? Often it’s fear—fear of being exposed, judged, or misunderstood. Sometimes it’s denial. Sometimes it’s the false comfort of holding onto a sin we’ve grown attached to, even though it only drains us.
We also talked about how painful it can be when confession goes wrong. Some of us have experienced moments when we shared honestly and were met with shame, mockery, or harshness. Those wounds can make us swear never to open up again.
But that is not the heart of God.
He is “faithful and just” to forgive. He welcomes confession with gentleness and mercy. And when we confess—not only to Him but with trusted, grace-filled brothers and sisters—we often experience profound freedom. Many of us have been reshaped by communities where confession isn’t met with condemnation but with compassion and accountability. That kind of fellowship is transformative.
God doesn’t ask for confession to shame us. He asks for it to unburden us.
4. Living in Light, Joy, and Honesty
As we wrap up our walk through 1 John 1, here’s what we’re taking with us:
Jesus is real—seen, heard, touched, and faithfully recorded by eyewitnesses.
God is light—and light always overcomes darkness.
We’re invited to walk in that light—with honesty, transparency, and trust.
Confession is a gift—not a threat. It brings freedom, closeness with God, and restored fellowship with others.
If fear has kept you in the dark, we’re praying for courage for you. God never meant for us to carry our sin in secret. When we step into the light, we find grace, joy, and life waiting for us.
