(and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);
Now the Bible warns us about self-deception, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked." James said, "If any man seems to be religious and bridles not his own tongue, this man's religion is vain." John tells us that it is possible for us to deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. The way we deceive ourselves many times are in the claims that we make. But the claims that I make are not valid unless they are backed up by corresponding experience. So false professions, and as we look at 1 John, he tells us of many of these false professions that people make. In verse 1 John 1:6 of chapter 1, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him," and what a glorious profession to make, "Oh, I have fellowship with God. I have communion, or I'm one with God." It's a great thing to say, but if you say you have fellowship with God and you are walking in darkness, then you are deceiving yourself; you're lying and you are not telling the truth.