1 John 1:6-7
If we say we have fellowship with him while we 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 his Son cleanses us from all sin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The most striking thing here is that John doesn't just say we are liars, but that we do not practice the truth. This isn't just about saying something untrue; it's about a whole way of living that's fundamentally out of sync with reality, a disconnect from how things truly are in God's light.
John is writing to believers who are facing false teachers who claim to have special knowledge but live ungodly lives. He's contrasting genuine fellowship with God, which requires walking in His light and confessing sins, against the hypocrisy of professing faith while continuing in a life of sin and deceit. This verse directly sets up the following verses, where John explains that true fellowship means actively living in God's light and experiencing His cleansing forgiveness.
We often talk about having 'fellowship' with God. But what does that really mean? Is it just a feeling, or does it involve action?
The Meaning of 'Fellowship'
The word translated as 'fellowship' in verse 6 actually means 'partnership,' 'sharing,' or 'participation.' It's not just a passive agreement, but an active, shared life.
Walking in Darkness vs. Light
The verse contrasts 'fellowship with him' with 'walking in darkness.' To walk with God means to share in His life, His ways, and His light. Darkness represents sin, ignorance, and separation from God.
Consistency is Key
John is clear: you can't claim to be partnered with God (walking in His light) while simultaneously living in a way that is contrary to Him (walking in darkness). The two are mutually exclusive. To claim otherwise is to be dishonest.
It's easy to fool ourselves, isn't it? John calls out a specific kind of dangerous self-deception that affects our relationship with God.
'We Lie' - A Bold Statement
John doesn't mince words. If we claim to have fellowship with God but continue to live in darkness (in unrepentant sin or away from His truth), John says 'we lie.' This isn't a gentle suggestion; it's a direct accusation against our integrity.
Not Practicing the Truth
The phrase 'do not practice the truth' is crucial. It means our behavior doesn't reflect or align with the truth of God we claim to embrace. Truth isn't just something we believe; it's something we are meant to live out.
Consequences of Lying
This lie isn't just an abstract offense; it severs the very fellowship we claim to have. It creates a false reality, a spiritual disconnect where we think we are close to God when we are, in fact, distant.
Understand the original words
koinōnia · Greek Noun
A state of shared life, partnership, or intimacy; in a biblical context, it refers to the spiritual connection and communion between believers and God, and among believers themselves.
skotos · Greek Noun
Metaphorically, this refers to a state of moral blindness, spiritual alienation from God, or a life lived in accordance with sinful desires rather than divine revelation.
alētheia · Greek Noun
The sum total of God's reality, character, and revelation; it is the objective standard of moral and spiritual truth to which believers are called to align their lives.
phōs · Greek Noun
A metaphor for the sphere of God's holiness, purity, and revelation; to walk in the light is to live in active obedience and honest transparency before God.
John is writing in a context where some claim a 'spiritual' connection with God but their lives contradict that claim, likely influenced by early Gnostic ideas that separated spiritual understanding from ethical conduct.
c. AD 85-95— this verse
John Writes His Epistles
The Apostle John, likely the last surviving eyewitness of Jesus, writes his Gospel, epistles, and Revelation from Ephesus. This period follows the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, a time of great upheaval and the formalizing of Jewish and Christian identities.
c. AD 90
Emergence of Gnostic Ideas
Early forms of Gnosticism, with its emphasis on secret knowledge and a dualistic view of spirit and matter, begin to challenge nascent Christian communities. These ideas often promoted asceticism or libertinism, downplaying the importance of ethical behavior.
c. AD 95
Church Grapples with False Teaching
The church is actively contending with teachings that deny Jesus' full humanity or His ethical commands. False teachers within or near the community claim spiritual insight while living immorally, causing division and confusion.
This passage echoes the same idea, stating that claiming to know God while not obeying His commands is a false claim, reinforcing the idea that true fellowship is demonstrated by our actions.
John 3:19-21Jesus speaks about light exposing darkness, and those who do evil hating the light. This connects by showing that those who 'walk in darkness' are actively avoiding God's light, which is incompatible with genuine fellowship.
James 2:14-17James powerfully argues that faith without works is dead. This directly supports 1 John 1:6 by showing that a claim of fellowship (or faith) that isn't lived out in truth and action is ultimately meaningless.
Proverbs 28:13This proverb states that whoever conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them finds mercy. This highlights the importance of forsaking the 'darkness' for true fellowship, as confession and turning away from sin are essential.
The most striking thing here is that John doesn't just say we are liars, but that we do not practice the truth. This isn't just about saying something untrue; it's about a whole way of living that's fundamentally out of sync with reality, a disconnect from how things truly are in God's light.
John is writing to believers who are facing false teachers who claim to have special knowledge but live ungodly lives. He's contrasting genuine fellowship with God, which requires walking in His light and confessing sins, against the hypocrisy of professing faith while continuing in a life of sin and deceit. This verse directly sets up the following verses, where John explains that true fellowship means actively living in God's light and experiencing His cleansing forgiveness.
John is writing to believers who are facing false teachers who claim to have special knowledge but live ungodly lives. He's contrasting genuine fellowship with God, which requires walking in His light and confessing sins, against the hypocrisy of professing faith while continuing in a life of sin and deceit. This verse directly sets up the following verses, where John explains that true fellowship means actively living in God's light and experiencing His cleansing forgiveness.
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haima Iēsou · Greek Noun
The vital, life-giving fluid of Christ shed in his atoning death; it represents the mechanism of atonement, substitutionary sacrifice, and the cleansing of the conscience from guilt.
hamartia · Greek Noun
A broad term for anything that falls short of God's glory or misses the mark of His moral law; it includes both specific acts of disobedience and an inherent state of separation from God.
"If we say we have fellowship with him while we 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 his Son cleanses us from…" — The most striking thing here is that John doesn't just say we are liars, but that we do not practice the truth. This isn't just about saying something untrue; it's about a whole way of living tha…
