| Chapter 1
Chapter Outline
The apostle prefaces his epistle to believers in general, with evident testimonies to Christ, for promoting their happiness and joy.(1–4)
The necessity of a life of holiness, in order to communion with God, is shown.(5–10)
Verses 1–4
That essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had been from the beginning, from eternity, as equal with the Father, and which at length appeared in human nature for the salvation of sinners, was the great subject concerning which the apostle wrote to his brethren. The apostles had seen Him while they witnessed his wisdom and holiness, his miracles, and love and mercy, during some years, till they saw him crucified for sinners, and afterwards risen from the dead. They touched him, so as to have full proof of his resurrection. This Divine Person, the Word of life, the Word of God, appeared in human nature, that he might be the Author and Giver of eternal life to mankind, through the redemption of his blood, and the influence of his new-creating Spirit. The apostles declared what they had seen and heard, that believers might share their comforts and everlasting advantages. They had free access to God the Father. They had a happy experience of the truth in their souls, and showed its excellence in their lives. This communion of believers with the Father and the Son, is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of communion with God is all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness.
Verses 5–10
A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion. God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. There is no truth in their profession; their practice shows its folly and falsehood. The eternal Life, the eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from our sins in his own blood, and procures for us the sacred influences by which sin is to be subdued more and more, till it is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy walk is insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride is guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to God, in holiness and righteousness, are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin. God has given testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God, be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy and truth through the righteousness of Christ, for a free and full forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and practice of sin.
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--【译】何叶）-【校】湑然-【编】何叶2012年8月05日(日)12:22(CST)
第一章
章节大纲
第1-4节，为了促进广大信徒们的幸福喜乐，约翰以对基督无可置疑的见证作为书信开头。
第5-10节，这几节揭示了要与神相交，不可或缺的就是生命的圣洁。
第1-4节
在这封信中，使徒约翰写给弟兄们的重要主题是关于那来自起初、源于永恒、与父同齐，并最终为救赎罪人而道成肉身的耶稣基督的杰出、良善和自有的荣耀。在那些年里，十二使徒亲眼见过祂，目击了祂的智慧和圣洁、神迹、慈爱并怜悯，也目睹了祂为罪人被钉十字架，后来从死里复活。因着亲手摸过祂，也就能完全证明祂的复活。祂是神的位格、生命的道、神的道，祂以血肉之躯出现，藉自己宝血的救赎和新生之灵的感化，给世人创造并赐下了永生。使徒们将所见所闻告之于众，信徒们便可从中得享安慰和永久的益处。使徒们进到父神那里是畅通无阻的。他们灵魂深处有着对真理的愉快体验，并在生活中彰显出神的荣耀。信徒们与父并子的相交，因圣灵的感化而开始且延续。基督赐下的益处，不像尘世间微渺的财富会导致对他人的嫉妒，与神相交的喜乐是丰盛无限的，芸芸众生皆可分享，所以，凡确定相信朋友主耶稣真与父同在的，就会渴盼带领别人来共享这样的福分。
第5-10节
我们当全然欣喜领受这来自主耶稣生命之道、永恒之道的信息。伟大的神必当以纯净完美的光照显现给黑暗的世界。因为这是神的性情，祂的教义和戒律必当如此。正如祂全备的喜乐与其完全的圣洁相伴相生，我们的喜乐也将把我们的全人变成圣洁。在黑暗中走行的，生活和行为就都违背了信仰。神绝不包容任何与不洁灵魂的不诚情谊和交通。因为，那样的不洁灵魂，其宣言里没有真话，行事愚昧又虚伪。永恒的生命，永恒的子，凭血肉之躯，用祂自己的宝血来洗净我们的罪，为我们获取圣灵的感化，而罪借此便被一点点除去，直到完全除尽。圣洁的行事为人所必不可少的就是坚持，因着在基督耶稣里领受了神的果效和见证，怀着相同的忧虑，背道而驰的、自以为是的骄傲这样的过犯，都得以避免了。所有就近神，行走在圣洁和公义中的，都明了自己大好的日子和职责里掺杂着罪性。神早就为世人的罪赐下了证据，赐下了完全奏效的古今皆需的挽回祭。神要求信徒不断认罪，并因信请求挽回祭的宝血，这样，信徒的罪才得以揭示。我们要在神面前认罪，要谦卑，要愿意知道我们最糟的实况。我们要诚实地彻头彻尾承认所有的罪行，为了得无拘无束、完完全全的饶恕，脱离罪的权势和辖制，要因着基督的公义完全信靠神的怜悯和真道。
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