What You’re Not Gonna Do… (1 John 1:1–10)
Recap from April 3,2025 and April 17, 2025
A real one’s letter about real faith.
Let me be real. I had been putting off reading and making my notes for two weeks. I wasn’t in the mood. I felt heavy, I felt off, and I wasn’t trying to dig into Scripture. But Thursday hit, and I knew Bible study was happening. Something had to be prepared, and I don’t believe in giving y’all something half-hearted. That’s not what God deserves, and it’s not what this community deserves either.
But once I sat with the Word, I realized… this chapter was me.
Every feeling I had that week? It wasn’t random. It was setting me up to teach from a place of truth.
God will really let you live it so you can lead through it. So if you’re reading this tired, discouraged, heavy, or confused—you’re not alone. This chapter reminded me that being in the light isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being honest.
Overview of 1 John
The letter of 1 John was written by the Apostle John to early believers who were dealing with false teachings, confusion, and discouragement in their faith. This wasn’t just a casual check-in. It was a spiritual father writing with urgency and clarity to bring the Church back to truth.
At the time, false ideas like Gnosticism were spreading. These teachings denied that Jesus came in the flesh and claimed that obedience and righteous living didn’t matter. John wrote to:
Refute false teaching
Affirm the truth about Jesus
Reassure believers of their salvation
Call the Church back to real fellowship with God and with each other
Before We Dive Into 1 John… Let’s Talk John.
One of Jesus’ original twelve disciples
Part of the “inner circle” (Peter, James, and John)
Nicknamed “Son of Thunder” for his boldness (Mark 3:17)
Likely in his 60s–80s when writing this letter
Author of the Gospel of John, 1–3 John, and Revelation
John wrote from personal experience. He had walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, and now, years later, was helping lead the early Church.
1 John 1:1–4 – The Real Jesus, the Real Connection
John opens strong:
“That which was from the beginning… which we have heard, seen, and touched…”
Translation:
“This isn’t secondhand. I was there.”
He’s not letting false teachers run wild. He’s setting the record straight:
Jesus isn’t a rumor. He’s real, and He wants real relationship with us.
Key takeaway:
John is protecting the truth by reminding them (and us) that this faith is not a trend. It’s a testimony.
Verses 5–7: God is Light, So Let’s Act Like It
“If we claim to have fellowship with Him but walk in darkness, we lie…”
John is calling out the fakeness.
It’s not about struggling with sin; we all do. It’s about hiding it, pretending, and choosing to live one way in public and another in private.
He reminds us:
Fellowship with God requires truth
Fellowship with others only works when that truth is mutual
You can’t fake the light and call it faith
Key takeaway:
Walking in the light means accountability, not appearances.
It’s brunch, Bible, and being real.
Verses 8–10: Confession Over Cover-Up
John closes this chapter with a call to confession:
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.”
“If we confess, He is faithful to forgive.”
God isn’t afraid of your mess. He just wants your honesty.
This hit me hard. Being in the light doesn’t mean smiling through your pain. It means bringing your pain into the light so God can heal it.
So What’s the Point?
1 John 1 isn’t about pretending. It’s not about having it all together.
It’s about knowing that Jesus is real and that He’s calling us to live in truth, light, and connection.
It’s about knowing we can be honest.
We can struggle.
And we don’t have to hide.