1 John 1:1–2:2 (NRSV)
Read 1 John 1:1–2:2 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life- Verse 2this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us- Verse 3we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. Verse 4We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Verse 5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. Verse 6If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; Verse 7but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Verse 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Verse 9If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Verse 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Chapter 2My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; Verse 2and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Devotion
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in "Life Together" about the dangers of the Wish Dream. This is the temptation we have to go into a faith community and impose all manner of perfection upon them. We know in our mind how people should behave, we know how churches should act. And, of course, we must be right! Yet, when the community fails to live up to the Wish Dream (and it will) the disillusionment often leads to conflict.
Bonhoeffer reminds us that we are all sinners with darkness dwelling somewhere within. Pretending we have no sin—either individually or communally—is deceptive and untruthful. Instead, Christ is the center of every worshipping community. Christ brings light to the darkness of our secrets and sins. Therefore, the more honest and open we are, the more healing can abound.
True fellowship, as 1 John tells us, begins with honesty, confession and forgiveness. The goal may not be to avoid the inevitable sins that come with communal living, but rather to avoid the big one: pretending we have no sin at all.
Prayer
Dear God: give us the strength and humility to share our whole selves with others. Give us the strength to take others as they are. Give us the compassion to forgive ourselves and others for not living up to our Wish Dreams. Amen.