Today I want to walk through the entire book of 1 John, because it is incredibly clear and incredibly direct. This is one of those books that doesn’t dance around the issues. It tells you exactly what’s going on and exactly what to do about it.
I’m reading from the New Living Translation, and before we start, let me clarify something that still trips people up. First John is not the same as the Gospel of John. This letter comes near the end of the Bible, right before Jude and Revelation, and it was written by someone who personally walked with Jesus.
John opens by establishing trust. He makes it clear that this isn’t secondhand information. He says they heard Jesus, saw Him with their own eyes, touched Him with their own hands, and lived with Him. He’s saying, “We were there, and we’re telling you what we know to be true.”
That matters, because Scripture isn’t something you approach with suspicion. You approach it with faith. All Scripture is inspired by God, written through men, preserved through generations, and miraculously kept intact despite countless attempts to destroy it. If you read the Bible trying to decide whether you believe it, you’ll never receive what it’s offering.
John gets straight to the point. God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him at all (1 John 1:5, NLT). None. Not a trace.
That means God is not the source of evil, suffering, or darkness. People love to blame God for bad things, but Scripture makes it clear that darkness does not exist in Him. He is light, completely and fully.
John then introduces one of the most important patterns in Scripture: if–then statements. These are not about earning salvation. They are about showing us the path that gives access to what God has already provided.
If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7, NLT). That sentence is packed with indicators that tell us where we are spiritually.
How do you know if you’re living in the light? John tells us. One indicator is fellowship with other believers. That means real closeness, not gossip, not bitterness, not unresolved conflict. If you’re constantly at odds with people in the church, that’s not light.
Another indicator is ongoing cleansing from sin. The blood of Jesus cleanses those who are walking in the light. That doesn’t mean you earn cleansing. It means you step onto the path of light, and cleansing happens as you walk.
This also destroys a common lie people believe. You don’t clean yourself up first and then come to God. You step into the light with your mess, and as you walk with Him, He cleanses you. That’s the whole point.
John makes it clear that pretending you have no sin is self-deception. We all need cleansing. But the answer isn’t hiding or pretending. The answer is confession.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9, NLT). That word “cleanse” means to purge completely.
Anyone who has confessed sin honestly knows the feeling. Relief comes almost immediately. You don’t even finish the sentence before freedom shows up. Sin thrives in darkness, but it dies when it’s brought into the light.
John is quick to clarify something important. Grace is not a license to sin. He says plainly that he’s writing so that we will not sin, but if we do, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1, NLT).
Jesus doesn’t excuse sin. He deals with it. He stands before the Father on our behalf, and His sacrifice covers us fully. That doesn’t minimize sin. It makes repentance powerful.
Unconfessed sin is serious because it pulls you out of the light. But stepping back into the light is as simple as turning it on. There is no waiting period. There is no probation. You choose light, and you’re back in it.
John doesn’t sugarcoat this part. If someone claims to know God but does not obey His commandments, that person is not living in the truth (1 John 2:4, NLT). Obedience doesn’t create love for God. It reveals it.
If you live in God, your life should look like Jesus’ life. That’s not a vague spiritual idea. It shows up in how you treat people, especially other believers.
John repeats this over and over because it matters that much. Loving fellow believers is the primary indicator of walking in the light. Hatred, bitterness, and division are signs of darkness, no matter how spiritual someone sounds.
John pauses to speak directly to different groups. He reminds believers that their sins are forgiven. He reminds mature believers that they know Christ. And he reminds those young in faith that they have already won their battle over the evil one (1 John 2:12–14, NLT).
That matters more than most people realize. Many believers struggle because they think they’re still fighting for victory. Scripture says the victory is already won. Freedom starts when you believe that.
When I finally believed that sin no longer had power over me, that’s when things changed. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word. Once you receive that truth, you stop fighting from a place of fear and start living from victory.
John warns us not to love the world or the things it offers. He names cravings, possessions, and pride in achievements as traps that pull us away from God (1 John 2:15–17, NLT).
That one hits close to home. I used to measure my worth by productivity. If I didn’t feel like I accomplished something, it affected my mood and my peace. I called it fulfillment, but Scripture calls it pride.
The world fades. Achievements fade. But anyone who does what pleases God lives forever. That perspective changes how you measure success.
John explains that many antichrists already exist, and he gives a simple test. Anyone who denies the truth about Jesus Christ is not from God (1 John 2:22, NLT).
Discernment doesn’t have to be complicated. Ask someone to tell you about Jesus. Someone influenced by the spirit of antichrist will not be able to confess the truth about who He is.
The Holy Spirit lives in believers and teaches them truth. You don’t need to chase confirmation from people. You need to stay sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.
John comes back to love again and again. If you say you love God but hate a fellow believer, Scripture calls that a lie (1 John 4:20, NLT). That’s strong language, but it’s meant to protect us.
Love is how God becomes visible through us. Perfect love drives out fear. Fear shows up when we haven’t fully experienced His love.
When you live in love, you can approach God with confidence. Guilt disappears. Boldness grows. Prayer becomes effective.
John says we receive from God because we obey Him and do what pleases Him (1 John 3:22, NLT). Obedience doesn’t earn answers. It creates confidence.
When you’re walking in the light, you don’t hesitate in prayer. You know He hears you. You know He responds. That confidence is powerful.
Everyone who believes in Jesus is a child of God. That means access, inheritance, and authority. The world is under the control of the evil one, but believers live from a different reality.
John ends with a simple instruction that ties everything together. Keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your heart (1 John 5:21, NLT).
If something threatens your trust, peace, or devotion, step away from it. Light is always available. Forgiveness is immediate. Fellowship is restored the moment you choose it.
That’s the invitation of 1 John. Walk in the light.
