The apostle John wrote the book of First John to squash doubts and to build assurance by presenting a clear picture of Christ. Entering history, Jesus was and is God in the flesh and God in focus; seen, heard, and touched by the author of this letter, John the apostle. He walked and talked with Jesus, saw Jesus heal, heard Him teach, watched Him die, met Him arisen, and saw Him ascend. John knew God because he had lived with Him and had seen Him work. Having laid this foundation, there are three points that the apostle John made in 1 John chapter 1 about God.

First, he presents God is light, symbolizing absolute purity and holiness. “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7) He goes on to explain how believers can walk in God’s light and have fellowship with Him with Christ as their Advocate.

Second, John presents God is love, giving, dying, forgiving, and blessing. God is love, and because God loves us, he calls us His children and makes us like Christ. This truth should motivate us to live close to Him. We can be sure of our family relationship with God when our lives are filled with good works and love for others. Also, john warns of false teachers who twist the truth. We should reject these false teachers as we continue to live in God’s love.

Lastly, John presents God is life. God’s life is in his Son. To have his Son is to have eternal life. Do you know that you have eternal life? First John was written to help you know the reality of God in your life through faith in Christ, to assure you that you have eternal life, and to encourage you to remain in fellowship with the God who is light and love.