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Character Traits of the Believer # 4
1 John 2: 7-11
In these verses Jesus reveals that the true nature of our hearts, is known by the lives we live, the words we speak, and the actions we perform.
What we possess on the inside will eventually, and inevitably, make its way to the surface.
If we were to survey the community around us, I am certain many of those surveyed would claim association with Christ and consider themselves to be a Christian.
But, we must ask:
what do their lives reveal?
Is there any fruit that bears witness to such a claim?
Are their lives lived in light of God’s Word?
Simply, Christians will be known by the life they live.
That is not to say we are perfect, or that we never sin, but there will be evidence of our conversion.
In our text John speaks of such evidence, the fruit born by believers.
He reveals two characteristics that ought to be present in the life of a Christian.
Some commentators see this section of verses as only being about the command that John is giving to them.
But I see that actually John is laying out two important characteristics that every believer should have.
With that in mind
I want to consider these characteristics as we think on: Character traits of the Believer.
First we must consider:
I. Obedience to the Scriptures
(7-8) – A genuine believer, one truly born again in Christ will embrace the Scripture as the Word of God. and accept that he or she is to live their life according to the dictates of it.
Having a characteristic of obedience to the scriptures first involves a general understanding of them.
The first thing we see John speak of is:
A. The Authority of Scripture
(7a) – Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning.
The words John has written and the thoughts he hopes to convey are nothing new.
He is simply rehearsing to them commandments given of old from the Lord Himself.
He was not asking the reader to embrace these words because he had written them, but because they were founded in Scripture.
A genuine believer, whose heart is right with God, will accept the Word recorded within the Bible as the very word of God.
It is given directly of Him, literally God breathed.
It was penned of old by mortal men who were supervised by the Holy Spirit.
2 Tim.3:16
We must accept the Word, as it is written, to guide our lives whether it comforts, confronts, or convicts!
God’s Word is the final authority for our lives.
B. The Application of Scripture
(7b) – The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
As we saw, John was not offering something foreign to them.
He was giving them instruction consistent with the Scriptures, the very words they had heard since childhood.
He knew a genuine believer would be reluctant to discredit or ignore God’s Word and he urges them to apply these truths to their lives as well.
I will admit certain portions of Scripture are easier to embrace than others.
We love the thought of being able to do all things in Christ (Phil.4:13),
but we don’t relish the thought of being unable to do anything without Him (John 15:5).
We boldly proclaim those portions we assume apply to others, but rarely mention the verses that bring conviction to our lives.
God has given His Word for our benefit.
We have no problem embracing it as the Word, but often we have difficulty making application.
A mature, victorious Christian will embrace and seek to apply the Word.
(8) – Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
If there was any doubt or reservation, John sought to put those to rest here.
Notice:
1.
The Presentation
(8a) – Again, a new commandment I write unto you…
Some view this statement as contradictory to the previous verse, but there is no contradiction here.
Again it has the idea of “on the other hand, or from a different point of view.”
As we will see in a moment, John is referring to Christ, the living Word.
His life confirmed the Word.
He came not to discredit the law and writings of old, but to fulfill them.
Since God’s Word was given to humanity, men have sought to discredit and disprove it.
Skeptics and scoffers remain today.
They claim the Bible is filled with inaccuracies and contradictions.
In fact, it possesses neither.
God’s Word is pure.
It will remain when all else has been destroyed.
If you feel you have found a contradiction, you have erred in your interpretation.
Scripture must be considered within its context.
Measure your thoughts of Scripture against the Scripture.
It will always reveal truth and accuracy!
2. The Person
(8a) – Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you:
John speaks of the person of Jesus Christ.
Keep in mind that John walked with Jesus.
He experienced His miracles, His life, and the authority with which He spoke.
John stood at the foot of the cross; he witnessed the empty tomb; and he spoke with the resurrected Lord.
Jesus is the affirmation of the Scripture.
The written Word became the living Word in a body of flesh.
You may wonder what the significance of this verse is.
It is very significant in fact.
God gave the law to humanity to reveal the holiness of God and the utter depravity of mankind.
Through the Old Testament writings we discover that God demands absolute righteousness and that we are incapable of obtaining that within ourselves.
Had there been no gospel record, we would all remain in sin, condemned of God.
Christ came to earth, lived a prefect life, offered Himself the atonement for sin, bore the judgment of God as He died on the cross, and rose in victory.
That was done for our benefit.
The gospel of grace is extended to us.
Christ came to fulfill redemption’s plan!
Had there been no Jesus and no sacrifice, we would have no hope!
3. The Perfection
(8b) – because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
John reveals that Jesus secured our redemption.
The darkness of humanity, the sin that created separation and condemnation, has been dispelled by the Light of the world.
His sacrificial death and victorious for our salvation and eternal life!
We have hope and the assurance of salvation in Christ our Savior.
His light also brings perfection by shinning through us so we are to fulfil the two greatest commandments.
Matt.22:37-40
Jesus reveals that these two commandments literally sum up the Scriptures.
We cannot love and serve God if we do not accept His Word and embrace it.
and when we accept it and embrace it I believe we become that light that is sat on a hill.
Now John addresses the second characteristic, consistent with the great commandment.
II.
Affection for the Brethren
(9-11) –
John is known as the “Apostle of Love” because in his Gospel and his epistles he gives such prominence to this subject.
However, John was not always the “Apostle of Love.”
At one time Jesus gave John and his brother James, both of whom had hot tempers, the nickname “Boanerges” (Mark 3:17), which means “sons of thunder.”
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