| 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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版權所有歸17191164主內翻譯事工群
--【譯】何葉）-【校】湑然-【編】何葉2012年8月05日(日)12:22(CST)
第一章
章節大綱
第1-4節，為了促進廣大信徒們的幸福喜樂，約翰以對基督無可置疑的見證作為書信開頭。
第5-10節，這幾節揭示了要與神相交，不可或缺的就是生命的聖潔。
第1-4節
在這封信中，使徒約翰寫給弟兄們的重要主題是關於那來自起初、源於永恆、與父同齊，並最終為救贖罪人而道成肉身的耶穌基督的傑出、良善和自有的榮耀。在那些年裏，十二使徒親眼見過祂，目擊了祂的智慧和聖潔、神跡、慈愛並憐憫，也目睹了祂為罪人被釘十字架，後來從死里復活。因着親手摸過祂，也就能完全證明祂的復活。祂是神的位格、生命的道、神的道，祂以血肉之軀出現，藉自己寶血的救贖和新生之靈的感化，給世人創造並賜下了永生。使徒們將所見所聞告之於眾，信徒們便可從中得享安慰和永久的益處。使徒們進到父神那裏是暢通無阻的。他們靈魂深處有着對真理的愉快體驗，並在生活中彰顯出神的榮耀。信徒們與父並子的相交，因聖靈的感化而開始且延續。基督賜下的益處，不像塵世間微渺的財富會導致對他人的嫉妒，與神相交的喜樂是豐盛無限的，芸芸眾生皆可分享，所以，凡確定相信朋友主耶穌真與父同在的，就會渴盼帶領別人來共享這樣的福分。
第5-10節
我們當全然欣喜領受這來自主耶穌生命之道、永恆之道的信息。偉大的神必當以純淨完美的光照顯現給黑暗的世界。因為這是神的性情，祂的教義和戒律必當如此。正如祂全備的喜樂與其完全的聖潔相伴相生，我們的喜樂也將把我們的全人變成聖潔。在黑暗中走行的，生活和行為就都違背了信仰。神絕不包容任何與不潔靈魂的不誠情誼和交通。因為，那樣的不潔靈魂，其宣言裏沒有真話，行事愚昧又虛偽。永恆的生命，永恆的子，憑血肉之軀，用祂自己的寶血來洗淨我們的罪，為我們獲取聖靈的感化，而罪藉此便被一點點除去，直到完全除盡。聖潔的行事為人所必不可少的就是堅持，因着在基督耶穌里領受了神的果效和見證，懷着相同的憂慮，背道而馳的、自以為是的驕傲這樣的過犯，都得以避免了。所有就近神，行走在聖潔和公義中的，都明了自己大好的日子和職責里摻雜着罪性。神早就為世人的罪賜下了證據，賜下了完全奏效的古今皆需的挽回祭。神要求信徒不斷認罪，並因信請求挽回祭的寶血，這樣，信徒的罪才得以揭示。我們要在神面前認罪，要謙卑，要願意知道我們最糟的實況。我們要誠實地徹頭徹尾承認所有的罪行，為了得無拘無束、完完全全的饒恕，脫離罪的權勢和轄制，要因着基督的公義完全信靠神的憐憫和真道。
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