1 John 1

This is the sum of the message: God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. Wesley: light of wisdom, love, holiness, glory; no contrary principle; pure, unmixed light.

Shared confession: God is light as 4:8 will say God is love. The God who is light still invites walkers out of darkness. The message is from the Son, not a later party platform.

Calvin: God is light, and is in the light—not to be taken too strictly. There is nothing in Him but what is bright, pure, unalloyed; He makes all things manifest by His brightness. No union between light and darkness, so no fellowship while we walk in darkness.

God hates an evil conscience, pollution, and whatever pertains to darkness. Held in common: in Him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship while we walk in the darkness, we lie. Wesley: say with tongue or heart; darkness is sin of any kind; our actions prove the truth is not in us.

Fellowship-talk is not a covering for an unholy walk. Grace that saves still refuses the lie. Walking in darkness while naming Christ is not a weak stage of the same grace; it is falsehood.

Calvin: an argument from what is inconsistent. God sanctifies all who are His. What God communicates is not a vain fiction; the power of this fellowship must shine in our life, otherwise possession of the gospel is fallacious.

We do not act truthfully. Both camps refuse a fellowship that will not walk. The lie is named so that the next verses’ confession can be not imaginary.

If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. Wesley: in all holiness; the blood, with the grace purchased thereby, cleanses from all sin, original and actual, taking away guilt and power.

Walk and blood belong together. Cleansing is no pretense—guilt and power. This is not perfection already arrived; it is the blood presently cleansing those who walk in the light they have.

Calvin: proof of union with God if we are conformable to Him—not that purity conciliates us as prior cause, but union is made evident by the effect. He who aspires to God’s likeness, however distant, is said to be like God. Integrity of conscience distinguishes light from darkness.

The blood cleanses from all sin as a daily, perpetual benefit in the Church. Remission cannot be separated from repentance. The whole cleansing is assigned to Christ’s blood, not half to works.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. Wesley: any child of man, before His blood has cleansed us; no sin to be cleansed from, instead of confessing.

Both traditions agree that believers still sin. Arminians will not let holiness language become a claim to present sinlessness. The child of God still has sin to confess. Self-deception is the alternative to 1:9.

Calvin commends grace from its necessity: no one is free from sin; we are all lost except the Lord comes with pardon. Sin here is not only vicious inclination but the fault that renders us guilty. A universal declaration: none of the saints are exempt. Augustine fitly refuted Pelagians with this verse.

Both traditions agree that believers still sin. Reformed readers deny a perfection that needs no pardon. The confession of guilt is required lest we by lying deceive ourselves.

If we confess, He is faithful and righteous to forgive and to cleanse. Wesley: with a penitent and believing heart. Faithful because He promised; just—and for this very reason He will pardon, because when the debt is paid it is equity to cancel the bond. Forgive takes away guilt; cleanse purifies from every kind and degree.

Both traditions share the promise of forgiveness for those who confess. The door is open as often as we come. Justice here is gospel justice—the paid debt—not a threat hanging over the penitent. Cleansing is both pardon and purification.

Calvin: God will be propitious provided they acknowledge themselves sinners. Hell reigns where there is no peace with God. He is called just because He has bound Himself by His word; He would not have Himself deemed just except He forgives. Confession to God must be sincere and includes true repentance. A twofold fruit: He forgives, and He renews.

Both traditions share the promise of forgiveness for those who confess. Facility of mercy is not an enticement to sin. Cleansing is begun and goes on daily until completed. No one in the flesh is yet fully cleansed as to reformation; John refers to what God performs.

If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar. Wesley: retain even to our lives’ end a deep sense of past sins. God says all have sinned; His word is not in us if we will not receive it.

Finished cleansing in glory does not license a present boast of never having sinned. The word must have place in the heart. 1:8–10 together: sin is true, confession is not in doubt, pardon is true.

Calvin: they who claim purity blaspheme God. He represents the whole race as guilty. To escape the charge is to war with God and accuse Him of falsehood. His word is not in us: we reject the great truth that all are under guilt.

Due progress in the word is to groan under the burden of sins and flee to mercy. 1:8–10 together: no saint is innocent; confession meets a faithful, just Forgiver.