John Calvin Commentary 1 John 1:7

"but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin." — 1 John 1:7 (ASV)

But if we walk in the light. He now says that the proof of our union with God is certain if we are conformable to Him; not that purity of life reconciles us to God as the primary cause, but the Apostle means that our union with God is made evident by the effect, that is, when His purity shines forth in us. And, doubtless, such is the fact: wherever God comes, all things are so imbued with His holiness that He washes away all filth, for without Him we have nothing but filth and darkness. Therefore, it is evident that no one leads a holy life unless he is united to God.

In saying, We have fellowship one with another, he does not speak simply of men, but he sets God on one side and us on the other.

It may, however, be asked, “Who among men can so exhibit the light of God in his life that this likeness which John requires should exist? For it would therefore be necessary that he should be wholly pure and free from darkness.” To this I answer that expressions of this kind are accommodated to the capacities of men; he is therefore said to be like God who aspires to His likeness, however distant from it he may still be. The example should not be applied in any other way than according to this passage. He walks in darkness who is not ruled by the fear of God, and who does not, with a pure conscience, devote himself wholly to God and seek to promote His glory. Then, on the other hand, he who in sincerity of heart spends his life, even every part of it, in the fear and service of God, and faithfully worships Him, walks in the light, for he keeps the right way, though he may in many things offend and sigh under the burden of the flesh. Therefore, integrity of conscience alone is what distinguishes light from darkness.

And the blood of Jesus Christ. After having taught what is the bond of our union with God, he now shows what fruit flows from it: even that our sins are freely remitted. And this is the blessedness which David describes in Psalm 32, so that we may know that we are most miserable until, being renewed by God’s Spirit, we serve Him with a sincere heart. For who can be imagined more miserable than that man whom God hates and abominates, and over whose head are suspended both the wrath of God and eternal death?

This passage is remarkable; and from it we first learn that the expiation of Christ, effected by His death, properly belongs to us when we, in uprightness of heart, do what is right and just. For Christ is no redeemer except to those who turn from iniquity and lead a new life. If, then, we desire to have God favorable to us, so as to forgive our sins, we ought not to forgive ourselves. In short, remission of sins cannot be separated from repentance, nor can the peace of God be in those hearts where the fear of God does not prevail.

Secondly, this passage shows that the gratuitous pardon of sins is given us not only once, but that it is a benefit perpetually residing in the Church and daily offered to the faithful. For the Apostle here addresses the faithful; since undoubtedly no one has ever been, nor ever will be, who can otherwise please God, since all are guilty before Him. For however strong a desire there may be in us of acting rightly, we always go haltingly to God. Yet what is half done obtains no approval with God. In the meantime, by new sins we continually separate ourselves, as far as we can, from the grace of God. Thus, all the saints need the daily forgiveness of sins, for this alone keeps us in the family of God.

By saying, from all sin, he intimates that we are, on many accounts, guilty before God, so that undoubtedly there is no one who does not have many vices. But he shows that no sins prevent the godly, and those who fear God, from obtaining His favor. He also points out the manner of obtaining pardon, and the cause of our cleansing—namely, because Christ expiated our sins by His blood; but he affirms that all the godly are undoubtedly partakers of this cleansing.

The whole of his doctrine has been wickedly perverted by the sophists, for they imagine that pardon of sins is given us, as it were, in baptism. They maintain that there only the blood of Christ is effective; and they teach that after baptism, God is not otherwise reconciled than by satisfactions. They, indeed, leave some part to the blood of Christ; but when they assign merit to works, even in the least degree, they wholly subvert what John teaches here regarding the way of expiating sins and of being reconciled to God. For these two things can never harmonize: to be cleansed by the blood of Christ, and to be cleansed by works. For John assigns not half, but the whole, to the blood of Christ.

The sum of what is said, then, is that the faithful know with certainty that they are accepted by God, because He has been reconciled to them through the sacrifice of the death of Christ. And sacrifice includes cleansing and satisfaction. Therefore, the power and efficiency of these belong to the blood of Christ alone.

By this, the sacrilegious invention of the Papists regarding indulgences is disproved and exposed; for as though the blood of Christ were not sufficient, they add, as a subsidy to it, the blood and merits of martyrs. At the same time, this blasphemy advances much further among us; for they say that their keys, by which they claim to control access to the remission of sins, open a treasure made up partly of the blood and merits of martyrs, and partly of works of supererogation, by which any sinner may redeem himself. No remission of sins remains for them except that which is derogatory to the blood of Christ; for if their doctrine stands, the blood of Christ does not cleanse us, but comes in, as it were, as a partial aid. Thus, consciences are held in suspense, which the Apostle here instructs to rely on the blood of Christ.