1John chapter one has just ten verses -- The Separation Chapter -- Also known as Fellowship Chapter
There are 20 chapters in the Bible that have exactly ten verses and each of these chapters seem to reveal the ten parts of the Redemption Pattern in an especially clear way. When looking at the pattern in these chapters it is important to remember that the overall chapter theme follows both the book theme and the theme related to the chapter number itself, so how the ten verses reflect the pattern typically is seen as a sub theme of the overall theme.
1John chapter one is often called the fellowship chapter as we see it speaks of how we do and do not have fellowship with God which is through Jesus Christ. It is true that it is about fellowship but in terms of the Bible's themes and Redemption Pattern numbers, it may better be seen as the separation of fellowship chapter. Number one is about individual things and things that stand apart or by themselves as well as beginnings and first things. One of the key messages of the first step of the Redemption Pattern is that we are separated from God by sin. This is the same as the first theme of the commonly known "Four Spiritual laws".
The ten verses of this chapter address the overall theme of separation from God and within them we see the messages of the other Redemption Pattern themes thus showing how patterns fit in patterns to all form the DNA like perfection of the Bible's Numeric Map.
Note how the text of each verse somehow relates to the theme of it's corresponding Redemption Pattern step.
The Progressive Ten Themes of the Redemption Pattern |
10 Verses from 1John | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | v1 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-- | In this verse we find number 1 reflected
in reference to the beginning as well as in reference to ourselves--we
heard, we saw, we looked, our eyes, our hands. |
|
| 2 | #2-Jesus-A Redeemer Comes, relationship, sons, daughters, love |
v2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- | Jesus came to them, similar to where
in Exodus (2nd book), moses, the servant of God came to free God's
people. |
| 3 | #3-Holy Spirit-God in us, Righteousness, Purity, Power of God |
v3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. | fellowship with is an attribute of
the Holy Spirit and is through the Holy Spirit |
| 4 | #4-Wilderness-Trials, creation, men, earth, time days, things and actions in the world. |
v4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. | "these things we write"--referring
to actions taken by men to tell
others |
| 5 | #5-Covenants-Instructions, teachings, rules, obey and be be blessed, ignore and be cursed |
v5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. | Jesus gave us instructions and we are
passing them on to you.. |
| 6 | #6-Turning from Sin, sin, repentance, crossing over and accepting God's plan of salvation |
v6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; | We have no fellowship with Jesus if we
have not turned from the world's ways-we lie to ourselves if we think
we are Christian yet are not continually fighting strongholds
of sin. |
| 7 | v7 but 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. | Walking in the light can be compared
to walking under the guidance of the Good Shepherd and learning his
ways. |
|
| 8 | v8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. | If we do not admit to being sinful
people we are considered
part of the ungodly and we will not have the truth (Holy Spirit) in
us. |
|
| 9 | v9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. | Refers to how we conduct our lives
and alludes to the day Jesus will come and cleanse us
from unrighteousness taking us up with him to his kingdom |
|
| 10 | v10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. | A final declaration...if we appear
before God and claim we are good enough and have not sinned then
we do not have Jesus (his Word) to save us. |
The 20 Bible chapters that have 10 verses: Exo 11, Josh 16, Est 7, Psa 6, Psa 24, Psa 64, Psa 75, Psa 111, Psa 112, Psa 141, Psa 146, Ecc 11, Isa 35, Jer 24, Eze 2, Jnah 2, Jnah 3, Zech 3, 1The 1, 1Joh 1