1 John 1:7 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

1 John 1:7 kjv

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 nkjv

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 1:7 niv

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, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 esv

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.

1 John 1:7 nlt

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1 7 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Ps 119:105	Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.	God's word guides our walk in light.
Prov 4:18	But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter	The righteous path is a walk in increasing light.
Isa 2:5	O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.	Invitation to live according to God's presence.
Eph 5:8	For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.	A call to ethical living consistent with new identity.
Col 1:12-13	...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.	Delivered from darkness into light's kingdom.
1 Thess 5:5	For you are all children of light, children of the day.	Believers are inherently children of light.
1 Jn 1:5	God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.	God's absolute holiness defines light.
Jas 1:17	Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights...	God as the unchangeable source of all light.
Mt 5:14-16	You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden...	Believers' light is meant to be visible.
Rom 13:12	The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.	Abandon dark deeds for light's righteousness.
1 Jn 1:3-4	...that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.	Purpose of gospel is fellowship.
Acts 2:42	And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship...	Early church characterized by shared life.
Gal 2:9	...and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace... they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and Saul...	Fellowship signifies spiritual partnership.
Phil 2:1	So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy...	The Spirit creates spiritual participation.
Heb 12:14	Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.	Purity of life fosters communion.
Lev 17:11	For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls...	Old Testament basis for blood atonement.
Rom 3:25	...whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood...	Christ's blood as means of propitiation.
Rom 5:9	Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood...	Justification is by Christ's blood.
Eph 1:7	In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses...	Redemption and forgiveness are by His blood.
Heb 9:14	How much more will the blood of Christ... purify our conscience from dead works...	Christ's blood purifies conscience.
1 Pet 1:18-19	...you were ransomed... with the precious blood of Christ...	Redemption at a great price: Christ's blood.
Rev 1:5	...and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness... who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood...	Freed from sins by Christ's blood.
Rev 7:14	These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.	Spiritual cleansing through the Lamb's blood.
Zec 13:1	On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.	Prophetic cleansing for Israel.
Tit 2:14	He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.	Christ's aim is purification and good works.
1 Jn 2:1-2	...if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins...	Advocate provides continuous cleansing for sin.

1 John 1 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 John 1 7 Meaning

This verse declares that walking in God's light—meaning living in truth, holiness, and moral purity according to His revealed will—is the essential condition for experiencing true spiritual community among believers and for continuous cleansing from all sin by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It highlights that an active lifestyle aligned with God's nature results in both horizontal fellowship with fellow believers and vertical purification through Christ's blood.

1 John 1 7 Context

First John chapter 1 begins by affirming the tangible reality of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the eyewitness testimony of the apostles regarding His life, death, and resurrection. This foundational truth establishes the basis for fellowship (1 Jn 1:3-4). Verse 5 then introduces God's essential nature as light, explicitly stating "God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." This serves as the divine standard against which all human claims and conduct are measured. Verses 6, 8, and 10 present polemics against those who claim to have fellowship with God, or to be without sin, yet deny the ethical implications of light or the ongoing reality of sin in believers' lives. Therefore, 1 John 1:7 functions as a crucial middle ground and counterpoint: it posits that genuine fellowship with God and fellow believers, and ongoing spiritual purity, are contingent upon actively aligning one's life ("walking") with the character of God ("as He is in the light") and recognizing the continuous need for Christ's atoning blood for cleansing from ever-present sin. It refutes both ethical indifference and perfectionistic claims, stressing both righteous living and constant reliance on grace.

1 John 1 7 Word analysis

But if: The Greek ean de (ἐὰν δέ) introduces a condition, setting up a contrast with the preceding statement (1 Jn 1:6) where claiming fellowship with God while walking in darkness is deemed a lie. This conjunction underscores a necessary behavioral choice.
we walk (περιπατῶμεν peripatōmen): From peripatéō. This is the present subjunctive active form, signifying a continuous or habitual action, an ongoing manner of life or conduct, not a one-time event. It denotes a person's entire lifestyle, moral actions, and character.
in the light (ἐν τῷ͂ φωτί en tō phōti): Refers to the sphere of divine truth, moral purity, righteousness, and holiness as revealed by God. It is a way of life that is transparent, truthful, and morally sound, opposite to "darkness" (moral evil, falsehood).
as he is in the light: The Greek hōs kai autos estin en tō phōti sets God's absolute purity and truth as the standard and pattern for believers. Our walk in the light is to emulate His perfect, unblemished nature, serving as the basis and power for such a life. This isn't about achieving divine perfection, but living consistently with His character.
we have fellowship (κοινωνίαν ἔχομεν koinōnian echomen): Koinōnia means common participation, sharing, partnership, communion. It's a deep, shared life and spiritual bond. This is a present indicative verb, indicating a present reality or a natural consequence. It signifies the true, active communion among believers, based on their shared life in Christ and walk in His light.
with one another (μετ̓ ἀλλήλων meth' allēlōn): Emphasizes the horizontal dimension of fellowship within the community of faith, enabled by a vertical alignment with God. Genuine fellowship flows from common devotion to God and shared participation in His nature.
and the blood of Jesus his Son: This introduces the means by which cleansing occurs. "Blood" (αἷμα haima) symbolizes Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, His atoning work (propitiation, expiation, ransom). It represents the full redemptive power derived from His giving of life for sin. "His Son" stresses Jesus' divine nature and authority as the unique agent of this salvation.
cleanses us (καθαρίζει ἡμᾶς katharizei hēmas): Katharizō (καθαρίζω) is a present indicative verb, emphasizing a continuous, ongoing, and never-ending process of purification. This implies that even while walking in the light, believers, still imperfect, will stumble and need constant divine cleansing from indwelling sin. It is not just an initial act of justification but an ongoing sanctification.
from all sin (ἀπὸ πάσης ἁμαρτίας apo pasēs hamartias): Pasēs (πάσης) means "all" or "every." This emphasizes the comprehensiveness of Christ's cleansing work, covering every kind of sin, all instances of sin, and the pervasive nature of sin itself within the believer. No sin is too great or too small for His blood to cover.

1 John 1 7 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "walking in the light" (suggesting moral purity and absence of darkness) and the simultaneous need for "cleansing from all sin" highlights a core theological tension resolved in Christ. It underscores the concept of progressive sanctification: even the holiest of believers remain reliant on Christ's ongoing work, acknowledging that indwelling sin persists in this life. The verb "cleanses" being in the present tense strongly emphasizes the dynamic and continuous nature of this divine purification, rather than a single past event or a future one. It means that as we strive to live uprightly, confessing our shortcomings, God's grace continually washes us, enabling sustained fellowship. This verse directly refutes any Gnostic leanings (that held physical acts as irrelevant to spiritual purity) by asserting the indispensable link between outward moral conduct and inward spiritual reality and ongoing cleansing by Christ's blood.

1 John 1 7 Commentary

This pivotal verse encapsulates the essence of the Christian life, linking lifestyle, community, and divine grace. It asserts that true communion with God and with fellow believers is predicated upon an ethical life lived in conscious alignment with God's holy nature, His "light." Such a walk in light doesn't imply sinless perfection, as the immediately following clause addresses the ongoing reality of sin. Instead, it underscores a life characterized by honesty, truthfulness, and a genuine desire to obey God's will. The remarkable and essential truth is that this walk, far from being a basis for self-justification, reveals our ongoing need for cleansing. Thus, simultaneously with horizontal fellowship, the vertical grace of Christ's atoning blood provides continuous, comprehensive purification from every sin. It's a perpetual work of grace, not a one-time event, sustaining the believer's standing before God and empowering their holy walk. It calls for humility, constant repentance, and absolute reliance on Christ's finished work.