1 John 1

The apostle John writes to his audience so that they might rejoice in their relationship with God.  John had first-hand knowledge of experience with the Son of God, and he wants his readers to know that same joy.  Throughout this letter, he will provide numerous benchmarks that can be used to validate one's relationship with God the Father.  The first benchmark is lifestyle:  the person who claims a relationship to God and does not live a transformed life really knows nothing of a relationship to God.  The second benchmark is a perception of sin.  The one who claims to have no sin is fooling only himself.