I am writing about what existed afrom the beginning, what 1we have bheard, what we have cseen with our eyes, what we dhave looked at and etouched with our hands, concerning the fWord of Life the One who existed even before the beginning of the world, Christ—John the Apostle wrote the Gospel of John, this letter along with two others, and the book of Revelation. He and his brother James (also an apostle) were the sons of Zebedee and Salome.John 1:1f; 1 John 2:13, 14Acts 4:20; 1 John 1:3John 19:35; 2 Pet 1:16; 1 John 1:2John 1:14; 1 John 4:14Luke 24:39; John 20:27John 1:1, 4 2 and athe Life an aspect of His being was manifested, and we have bseen it as eyewitnesses and ctestify and declare to you the Life, dthe eternal Life who was already existing ewith the Father and was actually fmade visible to us His followers—John 1:4; 1 John 3:5, 8; 5:20John 19:35; 1 John 1:1John 15:27; 1 John 4:14John 10:28; 17:3; 1 John 2:25; 5:11, 13, 20John 1:1 3 what we have aseen and bheard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship as partners with us. And indeed our cfellowship which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.John 19:35; 2 Pet 1:16; 1 John 1:1Acts 4:20; 1 John 1:1John 17:3, 21; 1 Cor 1:9 4 aWe are writing these things to you so that our bjoy in seeing you included may be made complete by having you share in the joy of salvation.1 John 2:1John 3:29
5 aThis is the message of God’s promised revelation which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that bGod is Light He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness, and in Him there is no darkness at all no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection.John 1:19; 1 John 3:111 Tim 6:16; James 1:17 6 aIf we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness of sin, we blie and cdo not practice the truth;John 8:12; 1 John 2:11John 8:55; 1 John 2:4; 4:20John 3:21 7 but if we really awalk in the Light that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God, as bHe Himself is in the Light, we have true, unbroken fellowship with one another He with us, and we with Him, and cthe blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations.Is 2:51 Tim 6:16Titus 2:14 8 aIf we say we have no sin refusing to admit that we are sinners, we delude ourselves and the btruth is not in us. His word does not live in our hearts.Job 15:14; Prov 20:9; Rom 3:10ff; James 3:2John 8:44; 1 John 2:4 9 aIf we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just true to His own nature and promises, and will forgive our sins and bcleanse us continually from all unrighteousness our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose.Ps 32:5; Prov 28:13Titus 2:14 10 aIf we say that we have not sinned refusing to admit acts of sin, we bmake Him out to be a liar by contradicting Him and cHis word is not in us.Job 15:14John 3:33; 1 John 5:101 John 2:14