Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 6, 7
1 JOH. 1.6, 7.
IN the Four firſt Verſes Saint John had declared the ſubject of his Doctrin, and the end.
The Subject was God-man, that which was ſeen and heard was Man, the Word of Life, that is God-man; this is amplified by ſome adjuncts in the ſecond verſe, of manifeſtation, and of declaration.
The end of his Doctrin was double;
1 Subordinate, to bring on Chriſtians to fellowſhip with the Apoſtles, and leſt they ſhould deſpiſe them, he tells them their fellowſhip was not baſe, it was with the Father, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt.
2 The ſupream and main end was, that their joy might be full; fulneſſe of joy in the Spirit, is the main end of this Epiſtle.
Then Verſ. 5. he comes to a particular of that Subject which he had handled before in general, he tells them one thing that he had heard of Chriſt, and that was, that God is Light, and in him is no darkneſſe at all; this was, one part of the Meſſage he was to deliver.
Some underſtand it of Chriſt, ſo he is called, Light, Joh. 1.9. that enlightneth every one that comes into the World; but Verſ. 7. he ſpeaks of Chriſt the Son of that Light, therefore here he ſpeaks of the Father, We have heard how God is Light, and in him is no darkneſſe.
Now we come to the application of it; he deſiring to train them up in the fulneſſe of joy, he deſires to clear all doubts; therefore this is his method, he tells you of ſome things he heard from Chriſt, and then he gives ſignes of their fellowſhip with Chriſt, that ſo every one might know what part he hath in this joy.
From this he gathers a double note of our fellowſhip with God, whereby we may know it, that ſo our joy may be full, verſ. 6. Negatively, for if God be light, then he that ſaith he hath fellowſhip with God, and yet walks in darkneſſe, is a Lyar.
Then on the other ſide Affirmatively, verſ. 7. If we walk in the Light, we have fellowſhip one with another, and ſo with God.
1 Then here is a ſigne of Hypocriſie, to ſay that he hath fellowſhip with God, and yet walk in darkneſſe.
2 A ſign of ſincerity, he walks in the light, which brings a double benefit.
1 We have fellowſhip one with another.
2 The blood of Chriſt cleanſeth us from all our ſins; If we ſay we have fellowſhip with God, and walk in darkneſſe, we lye, &c.
Doct. 1. Opinion and profeſſion of fellowſhip with God, is no certain ſign of true fellowſhip with him, opinion of Religion is no certain ſign of Religion.
If we ſay, &c. now ſaying includes three things; Oratio eſt
1 Mentalis, to think, a man may ſay it in his heart, when he thinks ſo, and that is his opinion, Pſal. 14.1. The foole hath ſaid in his heart there is no God, Exod. 2.14. Pſal. 30.6.
2 Vocalis, to ſpeak, to ſay in outward words, Gen. 22.7.
3 Vitalis, in outward carriage, to make ſhew and profeſſion in his walking, Rom. 1.22.
All theſe are meant here; to carry a mans ſelf therefore as if he were a Chriſtian, and yet walk in darkneſſe, is Hypocriſie, Prov. 14.12. Mat. 7.21, 22, 23. Not every one that ſaith Lord, Lord; It is not thinking, nor ſaying, that carries it, nor walking ſo outwardly, for we may do ſo, and have no fellowſhip with Chriſt.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe opinion may ſpring from foreign even as Hamans opinion was, that the King would honour no man ſo much as himſelf, H…ſt. 6.6. ſo many times out of ſelf-love, we think we wiſh well to God, and he to us, when there is no ſuch matter in truth.
2 Opinion may ſpring from common Graces, ſuch as may be in Hypocrites, Matth. 7.22, 23. they wondered why they were not received, becauſe they had done many good works, and Propheſied in his Name, and caſt out Devils, &c. therefore they doubted not of acceptance, ſo from theſe common Gifts it often falls out, that we have a good conceit of our ſelves, that God will accept us.
And for carriage, a man may ſo carry himſelf, as if he were a good Chriſtian.
1 A man may profeſſe Religion for worldly reſpects, as many became Jewes, H…ſt. 8.17. it may be for fear of the Lawes, or Friends, many love Chriſt for Loaves, for Profit, becauſe there is fullneſſe in Chriſt, Joh. 6.16.
2 Common Graces may make us profeſſe Religion; as a man that hath been enlarged at the word, he is willing to come to it, as thoſe Joh. 5.35. and yet were but foreign, Joh. 4.20. and the ſtony ground.
3 Some are drawn on through meer compulſion of conſcience, and yet live in darkneſſe; ſome have gifts in prayer, and preaching, and zeal, as Jehu had, and joy in the word, as Herod, yet becauſe they walked in darkneſſe, they had no Fellowſhip with God.
Ʋſe 1 A ground of comfort to ſuch as are afraid that they are Hypocrites, and are much diſcouraged, and think they have no fellowſhip with God, why this may comfort them; if there be ſome that ſay▪ they hav Fellowſhip with God, and have not, ſo contra, ſome may think and ſay they have no Fellowſhip with him, and yet may have.
Ʋſe 2 It confutes the Papiſts, that ſay we teach that mens opinion is Faith, and a man is juſtified by perſuaſion; but we do not ſay that every opinion and perſuaſion is a good argument of juſtifying Faith, but that kind of perſuaſion and opinion, that is built upon Gods Teſtimony, upon the Teſtimony of the Word and Spirit, that is a divine juſtifying Faith, otherwiſe we ſay many a mans perſuaſion is built on ſelf-love, or ſome Common Graces.
Ʋſe 3 It may exhort ſuch as have a good opinion of their own eſtate, and make a profeſſion of it, it may teach all ſuch, ſeriouſly to conſider whether they be well grounded, for a man may be deceived in it; if we ſay we have fellowſhip, and yet walk in darneſſe, we lye; a man would be loath to be cozened in a piece of gold; why, what are thouſands of gold and ſilver, to have all his eſtate and body current, and ſtrong, and to have his heart unſound and counterfeit, all current but his own ſoul? what greater confuſion than the cutting off a mans hopes? for a man to live all his dayes in a good hope, and at death to have his hopes to fail him, this confounds his Spirit; therefore take not all for gold that gliſters.
Ʋſe 4 It teacheth us not forthwith to be deluded with the opinion of others, but conſider whether they be not deceived that hee takes for good, or they be not ſound whom he takes for Hypocrites, do not eaſily take them for our Brethren and Siſters that carry a ſhew, the Church had never more wrong than by falſe Brethren that have ſpyed out their liberty, and informed againſt them; take not every Profeſſor for a Brother; men may ſay they have fellowſhip with God, and yet walk in darkneſſe, therefore take heed of entertaining ſuch into thy good opinion and fellowſhip.
1 It will diſhonour God, when ſuch have been imbraced by ſuch and ſuch people of God, and now what is become of them?
2 It will bring prejudice to Gods Saints many times; they are more wronged by them (than any) that carry it cloſely, and at length break out, 2 Cor. 11.26. ſo David complains Pſal. 55.12, 13, 14. it was a commendable practice of the Apoſtles, Acts 9.26. they would not eaſily admit of Paul, and it is commonly ſaid, if a man or woman carry a Bible, or come to good duties, why they begin to be eſteemed, but others that make not ſuch a ſhew are leſſe reſpected.
Doct. A life led in ignorance and uncleanneſſe is a certain ſigne of Hypocryſie, to live ſo and profeſſe Religion, or profeſſion of Religion, joyned with a life led in ignorance and ungodlyneſſe, is a ſure ſigne of Hypocriſie.
Darkneſſe implyes both ignorance and ungodlineſſe; darkneſſe hath a four-fold ſignification, ſometimes it is put for Ignorance, the people that ſat… in darkneſſe, &c. Mat. 4.16.
2 It is put Prophaneneſſe and Ungodlineſs, every ſin is called darkneſs, 2 Cor. 6.14. Epheſ. 5 8.
3. Sometimes it is put for horror of conſcience and confuſion of Spirit, Iſa. 50.10.
4. For obſcurity and diſhonour, confuſion and deſolation, Pro. 20.12. for as light is took four wayes, ſo is darkneſſe.
Light is put ſometimes for Knowledge, ſometimes for Grace, ſometimes for Comfort, ſometimes for Glory, Col. 1.12, 13. ſo contrary, darkneſſe is ſometimes put for darkneſſe of ignorance of ungodlineſſe, of diſcomfort, and of diſhonour and obſcurity.
The two laſt are not here meant; a man may walk in much diſcomfort, and yet have fellowſhip with God, Iſa. 50.10. Matth. 12.20. the bruiſed reed will he not break, &c. a man in ſuch a condition walks in darkneſſe, and yet God will not break and quench fuch.
2 Many a Child of God walks in much diſhonour and baſeneſſe, and yet have fellowſhip with God, 1 Cor. 4.13, Pſal. 22.6. David complains he was a worm and no man, a reproach and ſcorn of men, and yet was a good man, and had fellowſhip with God, therefore it cannot be meant of theſe two, for thoſe that are in ſuch a condition, are ordinarily moſt ſound and ſincere, whereas others having more comfort, walk more looſely and careleſſely, but if we live in Uncleanneſſe or Ignorance, we have no Fellowſhip with God, Prov. 19.2. God is a God of Light, omniſcient, and how can he have fellowſhip with God, that hath no light in him? Hoſ. 4.6. my people periſh for want of Knowledge; Ignorance is a certain note of deſtruction, Prov. 29.18. where no viſion is, the people periſh, that is, where there is no means of ſeeing, Matth. 15.14.
Reaſ. Why Ignorance cannot ſtand with the fellowſhip of God, becauſe where there is no knowledge, the light of the Word is wanting, the Word is a light and a lanthorn, now as one in an houſe cannot do work without light, eſpecially a ſtranger, he knowes not what to do, ſo a man is a ſtranger within himſelf that hath no light, and how can he order himſelf, tell what to do, if he hath no light in him? He that knowes neither himſelf, nor Chriſt, nor the way to him, how ſhall he be ſaved by him? many do think their eſtate good, but if they had light, they would not think ſo; others think their eſtate bad, but cannot get out of this, they have no light to get out of it, and therefore cannot have fellowſhip with God.
2 For Uncleanneſſe and Ungodlineſſe, that cannot ſtand with Fellowſhip with God, 2 Cor. 6.14. implying an impoſſibility, Pſal. 94. ult. Pſal. 5.4. Heb. 1.13.
Reaſ. 1 God is of pure eyes and cannot endure to behold any iniquity.
2 From the power of all ſaving Graces, they do purifie and cleanſe the heart, ſo Faith purifies the heart, Acts 15.9. ſo hope, 1 Joh. 3.3. ſo love, ye that love God depart from iniquity.
3 From the power of the Spirit in him that hath fellowſhip with God, 1 Cor. 6.17. Ezek. 36.27.
Ʋſe 1 It ſhewes that Ignorance is no Mother of Devotion, for what is Devotion but a ſtricter and nearer fellowſhip with God? it ſhewes therefore the dangerous Eſtate of wicked Ignorant men, they think their Ignorance will plead for them, but they are deceived, through want of knowledge my people periſh, God takes no pleaſure in Fools, you may think you have Fellowſhip with God, and yet live in Ignorance and Darkneſſe, but you deceive your ſelves, can a man live in the Sun, and have neither light nor heat? So what Fellowſhip hath that man with God, that hath neither light of Knowledge, nor warmth of Grace from him?
Ʋſe 2 It may be a Tryal of our Eſtate, if wee have no Knowledge of God, we have no Fellowſhip with him, if you delight in Ignorance, and be unwilling to be taught, as many Servants and Children are, how can theſe have any Fellowſhip with God, that have no knowledge nor deſire after it? it is true, many there are that deſire Knowledge, and cannot attain it, and ſuch, God will accept of their deſire, or give them Knowledge, but ſuch as pleaſe themſelves in their ignorance, have no Fellowſhip with God, 2 Tim. 3.11. they are ſealed up to damnation; if a man live in darkneſſe of ſin and ungodlineſſe, and is convinced of it, and yet will live in it, in idleneſſe, and wantonneſſe, and Sabbath-breaking, &c. be not deceived, if you make a ſhew of Religion you deceive your own ſoul, if a man walketh in darkneſſe, and ſaith he hath Fellowſhip with God, he lyes.
Queſt. Who can ſay his heart is clean? have not the beſt of Gods Children their failings?
Anſw. It is true, they have their failings, but do they walk therein? It is one thing to ſtep into a way, and another thing to walk in that way, David ſtept into the way of Adultery and Murther. but he walked not in it; a man that walketh in a good way, may be turned out of it by a wilde Beaſt, or a Storm, or Careleſſeneſſe, but when he ſees he is wrong, he turns into the right path again; ſo is it with a godly heart, he may be carried out of the way, by the violence of Temptation, &c. but he returns again as ſoon as he ſees his error.
Ʋſe 3 To teach men, as ever they deſire to have fellowſhip with God, to cleanſe themſelves from Ignorance and Ungodlineſſe; if you deſire to have Fellowſhip with God, you muſt, 1 Avoyd Ignorance, and labour for Knowledge, deſire to know his will, and they that love light, God loves them.
2 Turn not aſide to any dark crooked wayes, Pſal. 125 6. the Iſrael of God have no crooked wayes to walk in, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. with chap. 7.1. ſhewing us, if we would have fellowſhip with God, that God might ackowledge us for Sons, and we him for our Father, we muſt look into all dark corners, and caſt out all uncleaneſſe, and if you do thus ſtrive to reform your ſelves, you are not in darkneſſe; if you cleanſe your ſelves from dark, and crooked, and unclean wayes, you may aſſure your ſelves you have fellowſhip with God.