The New Commandment

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One proverbial saying most all of us have heard is, "The proof is in the pudding." It's come to mean that you'll be able to observe or see what is actually true about something. John's letter is a bit of a "proof is in the pudding" letter. He continues to give "tests," per se, as to how a person may confirm the validity of their faith.

Today's passage, 1 John 2:7-14, is another example. John instructs us with a command that is both old and new to love one another and be free of hate. This love is evidence that we have true faith and grows out of the fact that we have indeed been saved by Christ.

Let's read together and pray.

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I. John's command: love (vv.7-11)

The nature of the command - both old and new (vv.7-8)

How is the commandment simultaneously old and new? The command was given with the beginning of the commandments in Lev.19:18 (love for God is commanded as well - see Deut.6:5, but John deals particularly with brotherly love in this context). Jesus affirmed the primacy of loving one another in Mt. 22:34-40, so it likewise new. While the command was old, originating with Moses, where John would’ve likely learned the command learning in the synagogue, it also new because He learned the command from Jesus as well (see Jn. 15:12; 13:34).

The commandment is true in Him, that is, Jesus. The life of Christ perfectly fleshes out what love for others looks like. Further, it is true in you when believers walk in the light as Jesus is in the light, walking as Jesus walked. The “new”-ness of this command also relates to the age in which it comes. The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. While Jesus’ final kingdom has not fully arrived, it is advancing in this world. Indeed, multiple times the gospel writers note that the kingdom of God had arrived. There is a particularly interesting note in Matthew 12 where the people proclaim that Jesus is the Son of David. After a dispute with the religious leaders concerning how Jesus drove out demons, Jesus says that if He has cast out demons by God’s Spirit, the religious leaders should know that the kingdom of God had arrived. The true light shining remembers back to 1 Jn.1:5 as well as John’s gospel (Jn.1:5). The present evil age is being invaded by the true light.

The essence of the command - love, not hate (v.9)

John tends to write in very either/or terms (which makes the both/and of the “old” and “new” command striking). This verse is no different - light vs. dark. Hatred, which is marked by intense dislike and aversion toward another, is inconsistent with the light. Therefore, the one hating his brother is still in darkness. As noted already, light and dark are ways that John distinguishes righteousness from sin.

The word still comes from a Greek phrase (heos arti) that means “until now.” Here, it carries the idea of “all along.” In essence, if a person carries hatred for others, failing to live out the basic command of the Christian ethic, then all along they’ve been walking in the darkness. The word for hates is present tense, so it’s an on-going, habitual action. If you can go on hating someone, we must consider the condition of our heart. Love should mark out the Christian community - Jesus named it as a defining mark (Jn.13:35).

Just as love is an action, so hatred is also an action. Here, actions speak louder than words. It’s not the profession as much as the action that speaks truth. The only thing necessary for hate to exist is for there to be an absence of love.

The effect of the command (vv.10-11)

Obedience means walking in the light, which leads to purity. A person who loves lives in the light. This means there is purity in both his actions and motivations. If love for God and neighbor is the foundation for all the law and prophets, and if love is the kingdom ethic (James calls it the royal law, or the law of the king(dom), it then makes sense that if we walk in love, our motives and actions are pure and we have no cause for stumbling.

Disobedience means (and this is persistent and consistent refusal to love):

They are in the darkness, that is, spiritually dead. This is their current state.

They walk in the darkness. Not only is this person spiritually dead, but they actively rebel against God.

They do not know where they are going. This is a life devoid of purpose and leading to destruction.

They are blinded in their eyes. This means they lack the wisdom to avoid pitfalls and disaster.

John focuses on the attitude that causes us to either show kindness, affection, regard and service to others or that causes us to ignore and despise others, treating them as irritants and competitors, as if they’re our enemy. As members of God’s kingdom, we’re called to love, and as we do so, God’s Spirit empowers us all the more and we grow in Christ-likeness. But to not do so, the consequences are quite terrible.

Illustration: There is a stark contrast between God, who is love, who brings life according that love, and the thief who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy.

Application: Love well. Serve. Prefer others to self. Weep when they weep, rejoice when they rejoice, which requires deep relationship.

II. John's Writing: encouragement (vv.12-14)

In this verse (and the ones that follow), John seems to be concerned with building up believers, reassuring them of their position in Christ. If John is indeed combating some form of false teaching, which scholars are pretty unanimous on, then he has written about these false teachers previously and now seeks to reassure his audience of their position in Jesus. His writing gives encouragement for the believer to keep going, to persevere, to continue in the truth that they have received and to reject the false teachings that may be coming their way.

While John writes to three distinct groups, he begins with little children. While he is giving instruction, he begins with a phrase that he has previously used in reference to everyone. So, while there may be some validity in exploring each individual section, it is important to remember that a universal address begins the whole thing. Further, the thing that sets all of these verses in motion is what has been accomplished by God - our sins are forgiven. This verb is passive, the only passive verb in this series, but it’s the thing that sets it all in motion. If we are not forgiven, we do not know God, we do not overcome the evil on, we are weak, and we are enslaved by the enemy.

What God has done - forgiveness

Concerning the fact that we have been forgiven and now live in that state: Wrapped up in the Day of Atonement is both the idea of expiation, where sin is removed from the individual and placed on another (the azazel - scapegoat) while a second sacrifice poured out its blood to justly satisfy the wrath of God (propitiation).

What we now have - knowledge

Concerning the fact that believers know Him who is from the beginning: Knowing God reflects back on God’s promise to Jeremiah: “And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’” (Jer.31:34). This is provided by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (mentioned above). Some have called this a summary statement of the new covenant. Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” in John 17:3.

What we are called to do - overcome

We are strong (because of what God has done). You are not already defeated. Actually, read Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

God's word abides in us. Sometimes I think we fail to wrestle with just how powerful God’s word is. Luke 16:19-31 is the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

The first two clauses written to the young men in verse 14, you are strong and the word…abides in you, are present tense, meaning that strength is their habit and the word currently abides. I think this is the encouragement (you are strong) and truth (the word, which is elsewhere the single weapon used in spiritual warfare [Eph.6:17]) needed to overcome.

Illustration: It's amazing the power of words. We can bind or set free, empower or imprison. You are fierce and capable, lovely and valuable.

Application: John writes to encourage believers that they belong to Christ, which means the point of all that we've been talking about shouldn't just be fearful, but confirmation.

Experience

I want to come back to this idea of the "proof is in the pudding." What's interesting is that, like many proverbial sayings, it has morphed over the years. The original saying was, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." It comes from Britain where, for centuries, pudding wasn't a sweet dessert but a type of sausage where the intestinal casings would be filled with minced meat. That's something you certainly would want to try before diving head-long into it. So, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You would test it by actually partaking of it.

This is really much more in line with John's reasoning. Yes, there should be evidence of our faith, but that evidence is our actual partaking of faith, our actual participation in faith, our actual commitment to following Christ. Chief among the ways we follow Christ is love, and harboring hatred is inconsistent with those who have been forgiven and are actively following God's word.

John makes it abundantly clear there are some who are have proved themselves not followers of Jesus. And, there are some who have clearly proven themselves to be forgiven, to know God, to be strong through the Spirit and abiding word. So, what's the proof in your life today? If there is something lacking, why? Have you stumbled? Slid? Taken your eyes off of Christ? Or, have you not yet surrendered your life? Or...

Are you committed? Loving? Not perfect, but striving after Christ? Then rejoice, your sins are forgiven and keep up the good fight! You are strong! God's word abides in you! Let us continue to stand firm and overcome the enemy because we belong to God!