1 John 1v6-9

1 John 1v6 through 2v3 covers a series of seven ‘if’ statements.  These ‘if’ statements have been used as tests in two different ways:

  1. Tests for authenticity of redemption/of a genuine Christian;
  2. Tests of fellowship with God and other Christians.

The word ‘we’ is repeated throughout these verses and one must answer the question as to whom John is referring when he uses the word ‘we.’  I.e. is the ‘we’ false professing Christians or genuine Christians?  However, in answering this question there needs to be consistency throughout v6 to Ch2v3.

6 If we (might) Asay-2a that we have fellowship with him (God the Father) and we might Awalk in the darkness, we MorPlie and we Ado not the truth.

  • Claiming fellowship with God or thinking one has fellowship with God but in reality one does not;
  • What does walk in darkness mean?
    • Living in/with sin, evil deeds, impurity and ungodliness.
  • What is the truth?
    • The word of God – all that is right, correct and godly;
    • Also – Jesus said He was ‘the truth’ – a title/attribute of Jesus;
    • Therefore we do not follow His example.

Is this verse a test for a genuine believer?

W. MacDonald comments on this verse which is representative of the majority view within Protestantism:

“1A man who says he has fellowship with Him and habitually walks in darkness was never saved at all.”

Notice the word habitually has been inserted.  We are not told the length of time, it could be hours, days or weeks though it could include habitually.

However, 1 John 2v11 reads:

Moreover, the one Ahating the brother of him is in the darkness and Awalks in the darkness and has not Aknown3 where he Agoes because the darkness Ablind-a the eyes of him.

  • Brother implies that the one hating is also part of God’s family or the body of Christ;
  • This is then twisted to a false professing brother and on and on;
  • I believe ‘we’ is referring to believers/Christians;
  • Therefore, if these statements are tests, they are tests of fellowship rather than tests to establish if someone is a genuine believer;
  • It is possible for a genuine Christian to walk in darkness.

7 Moreover, if we (might) Awalk in the light as he is in the light, we Ahave fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, the son of him, Acleanses us from all sin.

  • What does walk in the light mean?
    • Opposite of walking in darkness;
    • Living in holiness, purity, living in Christ, following Christ;
    • Walking as Jesus walked (1 John 2v6).

Walking in the light leads to fellowship with other believers:

If we do not have fellowship with one another, it is likely that one party or both parties are not in fellowship with God.

From verse 7, the blood of Jesus cleanses us based upon a condition:

  • Our walk which is living;
  • Which is works of faith;
  • And therefore not on faith alone;
  • It is conditional upon works.
  • Our works do not cleanse us but when God sees us walking in the light, the blood of Jesus is applied to cleanse us.

8 If we (might) Asay-2a that we Ahave no sin, we Alead ourselves astray and the truth is not in us.

  • Sin – to miss the mark – missing God’s standards;
  • You can only be led astray if you were in the correct place to begin with;
  • Therefore ‘we’ must be genuine believers and this is about fellowship rather than establishing if someone is a genuine believer;
  • The truth is not in us – Not only the word of God (this is specified in verse 10) but may mean more than the word of God i.e. Jesus;
  • How is Jesus in us?  By the Spirit of the truth – the Holy Spirit;
  • Surely the HS indwells every genuine believer?  I think the doctrine concerning the indwelling of the HS needs to be re-examined.

9 If we (might) Aconfess the sins of us, he (Jesus) is faithful and righteous, that he might Aforgive-2a for us the sins and might Acleanse-a us from all unrighteousness.

  • What does it mean to confess?  To say the same as another;
  • When we walk in the light – the light will expose sin – the sin can then be confessed.  This is one of the purposes of walking in the light;
  • The more holy you realise God is, the more sin will be exposed in your own life which we need to confess.

Verse 9 is taken as a promise for Christians.  However, notice the ‘might’ before forgive and before cleanse.

Other translations:

NKJV …He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

NIV …he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Notice there is no might in either of these translations. The only English translation which I have found that has might/may is:

YLT …steadfast He is and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from every unrighteousness.

Why no might?  Why has this been left out of nearly every single English translation?

  • Even if you confess your sin after redemption there is no guarantee your sin will be forgiven.  It is conditional; 
  • Verse 7 – there is a condition to cleansing – walking in the light;
  • Perhaps heard it said or prayed – all our sins are forgiven, past, present and future – according to this verse – incorrect;
  • Ongoing forgiveness is conditional.

The following 3 passages show how ongoing forgiveness is conditional and in perfect harmony with what Jesus said:

Mat 6v12

We are praying that God will forgive us according as we forgive others.  Therefore God forgiving us is conditional upon us forgiving others.

Mat 6v14&15

If you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will you be forgiven.

Mat 18v21-35

The unforgiving servant was not forgiven. 

When translated correctly 1 John 1v9 is consistent with the words of Jesus.

  • Ongoing forgiveness is dependent upon what we do; 
  • It is dependent upon our walk and forgiving others (just 2 examples).

1W. MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p2310