62-07 The Commandment That Is Old and New

1 John 2:7-11

Apostle John-writing to believers in the churches of Asia Minor (from Ephesus). Purpose (5:13) "that you may know that you have eternal life". The believers ( same churches he would write to a few years later in Rev) were exposed to false teaching from those who held Gnostic beliefs (matter was evil, spirit was good). From that teaching stemmed numerous errors that the early church needed to confront with the authority of God's Word.

John writes to promote the personal assurance a believer should have concerning God's truth and salvation by providing a series of tests enabling them to detect and refute the error that was being taught them. The same kind of discernment in needed in the church today b/c of proliferation of false teaching coming from all different angles.

Basically 2 types of tests: doctrinal and moral/spiritual.

Doctrinal tests have to do with the nature of Christ (Ch 1 dealt a little about this). John begins this letter by emphasizing the deity of Christ-He is no less than God Himself. To have assurance of truth and salvation you must believe what God reveals about JC. We'll return to this doctrinal test later in this chapter.

Moral/spiritual tests speak to the behavior of the believer. Doctrinal about what we believe, moral-how we behave/live. We studied the 1st moral test-obedience (2:3-6).

Matthew 7:17–20 NASB95

17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Believer gives evidence that he is such in his obedience to the commandments of Christ. John narrows this focus of obedience to another moral test that becomes the ultimate responsibility of every Xian.

2:7-11

Love is the ultimate attitude/behavior of God's people.

Matt 22:36-40

Loving God is our supreme-most duty and loving others is closely connected-fulfilling everything God commanded in OT. John's focus is now on brotherly love-moral test that one has fellowship with God.

There are 2 parts to our vv (vv 7-8, 9-11) that give us understanding of what we are commanded to do and then how we ought to respond in light of that commandment.

I. We are Commanded to Love (7-8)

Begins:

"beloved" for the 1st time John describes the affection he has toward the recipients of this letter. From GK agape-Xian love (6x--1 Jn; 4x-3Jn)--describes one who has a very special relationship with another. God actually used of Jesus (my beloved Son ... Mt 3: 17; Mk 1: 11 ). Paul called Timothy “beloved and faithful child in the Lord" (1 Cor 4:17). We are “beloved of God” (Rom 1 :7). John is expressing his own deep love for these precious saints. They were the objects of God's love and his as well.

John just wrote about the love of God being perfected in the one who keeps His Word and where it is perfected, love for one another will be manifest.

This word (agape) was not widely used in secular Gk before the NT. It is a deliberate and free act that is the decision of the one loving not the result of emotion. Love is a choice not a response-exemplified in John's life and ministry.

“not writing"

A. An Old Commandment

Not a "new" (kainos) commandment-term does not refer to chronological time but new in kind or quality. This is referring to something strange or not previously known. "the commandment I am writing is not new, not strange or previously unknown ... but and old ... "

"from beginning" term must be defined in context. 1:1 it meant the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Jn 1:1 beginning of eternity. Here it means the beginning of the readers Xian life/experience-"commandment which you have had" implies their continuing possession of this message. When they heard the message/gospel and believed it, the commandment to love was no longer a strange command. The word they heard (apostolic message) was the gospel they received at the beginning of the Xian life.

"old commandment" means ancient, present for a long time.

John 13:34 John uses the same words to describe this commandment

When Jesus gave this command it was new in kind/quality not b/c it was the first time they were commanded to love but b/c they were never before commanded to love the way Christ displayed love.

Love is an old commandment-OT

Lev 19:18

Rom 13:8-10

What was already established in the OT Jesus reiterates in the NT and gave a perfect, infinite example that believers ought to follow. So instead of giving a new duty for these Xians, John was simply reminding them of an old obligation they have had.

Vs 8 "on the other hand ... "

B. A New Commandment (vs 8)

"new" same word in vs 7-new in kind or quality. From 1 perspective the commandment was not new, strange or unknown since they have know the ancient commandment from the time they came to know the Lord. From a different perspective it is a new commandment in kind because it was demonstrated in a way that had never before been observed.

The illustration John provides helps us understand the newness of this law of love.

Illustration (In Christ)

"which is true in Him ... " the word "which" does not point to the commandment but the newness involved-newness is true in Him ... true/factual/authentic in Christ.

JC perfectly obeyed the law to love. Wonderful example in the upper room on the night our Lord was betrayed.

John 13:1-17 he made many promises to the disciples that night-prepare a place, peace I give you, sending HS, eternal abiding bearing much fruit. But the most thought provoking, heart transforming display of love was washing their feet.

He loved His friends to death-Jn 15:13

What Jesus did in the upper room perfectly manifested God's heart to us-perfect love, perfect sacrifice, perfect obedience.—humility

Newness is not only illustrated in Jesus' humble submission to death on the cross but John says "true in you." The new expression of this commandment is evident in the lives of believers.

2 Cor 5:17 '~new" is same word. What it means to be a new creation is demonstrated in the command to love. Our love stems from God's love (poured out in our hearts, we love b/c He 1st loved us).

What is this picture of biblical love-1 Cor 13 majestic hymn of the superiority of love over every other spiritual gift.

Agape love is selfless, humble, sacrificial, takes action and makes provision, unsolicited for personal gain, seeks to obey God in every situation, choice that gives of oneself (Jn 3: 16).

This newness is illustrated in the believer's life b/c John says “darkness is passing away ... "

Darkness for John is the worldly system (controlled by Satan) that is opposed to God's kingdom of righteousness. This is wickedness, error and false teaching.

Darkness is fleeing only in the lives of those truly redeemed. Darkness is present in the world-at the time of Messiah's birth, Isaiah prophesied people were sitting in darkness…live in a dark land ... will see a great light, light will shine on them.

When Jesus was born the world was in darkness but He is the true light which came into the world and began the process of dispelling the darkness.

John 8:12 "I am the light of the world." At the inauguration of His kingdom He began to overcome the darkness-Col 2:15

The light of Christ continues to dispel the darkness and in His Millennial Kingdom will shine brighter than when it first came until darkness is gone.

"passing away" indicates an action in process. It is not totally gone but it is being dispelled thru the lives of believers as this commandment becomes a reality in their lives.

II. We are Compelled to Love (vs 9-11)

b/c of the newness of our nature-set in contrast to those in darkness.

John's absolutes-love or hate, no neutrality here. Belong to the hating ones or the loving ones.

Moral test=does he love his brothers

A. The Hating Ones (9,11)

Notice the claim the one who is hating makes: “He is in the light" This is the claim of salvation yet he has a continuing attitude of hatred toward his brother he is in darkness until now.

There is a remarkable contradiction between his claim and his behavior.

You might have the question "who is my brother?" Who am I to love? Several possibilities-all of humanity (fellow mankind), blood relatives, fellow Xian. Loving all of these are commanded right? I think the context argues for the command to love fellow believers in the Lord. This does not mean we can hate non-Christians;- John is specifically dealing with the family of believers. If a person who claims to be in the family cannot love within the family circle he cannot be expected to love in other relationships either. He is simply giving evidence that he is "in darkness until now." There has never been genuine redemption in this person. He is in the darkness as he has always been in the darkness. If you love those who belong to God you are part of His kingdom, if you hate Xians you belong to Satan's kingdom. That's pretty harsh isn't it? If you don't love people the way God loves people then He is not controlling your heart. Very serious.

I could get into the extent of hatred here-mild dislike, loathing, despising? For time's sake-"Murderous attitude" (I mean in the way elevated by Jesus in Mt 5-murder/anger)

So the one who hates is lost. The reason he is lost is given in vs 11. Walks in darkness, does not know where he is going b/c he has blinded eyes. Hatred is the characteristic of darkness, his way of life is characterized by the deeds of darkness. His destination? He doesn't know. He is moving blindly thru the darkness b/c his eyes are blinded (speaks of long-standing condition)--blinded 2 ways:

1) Satan blinds the minds of unbelieving to keep them from seeing the light of gospel of glory of Christ.

2) His sinful nature blinds him. The unbeliever does not have the capacity to understand spiritual truth. That is the role of the HS to enlighten the mind giving the ability to understand spiritual truth and a capacity to live it out.

Here, the unbeliever (hater) is blinded by the darkness. Because he remains in darkness, he is overcome by, the darkness. I am told that there are fish in the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky which live in perpetual darkness. They have eye sockets but undeveloped eyes-effectively blinded by the darkness. Loveless people are outside of the kingdom of Light and devoid of spiritual life (Can’t see b/c blinded by the light)

B. The Loving Ones (vs 10)

Contrast:

True believers actually do love their brothers in Christ. They express the same selfless love toward fellow Xians just as Christ loves them-they remain in the light. His fellowship is evidenced by the expressions of love toward others.

As he loves there is no cause for stumbling in him. What's that mean? Term (skandalos) stumble originally meant (springing forward, slamming, closing, trapping) the stick in a trap on which bait was placed. It was used for the trap itself and later used for a stumbling block. Stumbling in NT refers to sinning.

John is not saying that whoever loves his brother will not cause that brother to stumble but he himself will not stumble into sin, particularly against them. If you love you won't murder, covet, commit adultery, you won't speak falsehood against. It is truly the fulfillment of the law to love others.

Jesus taught-by this all men will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another."

Obedience provides a distinct contrast to those who have a murderous attitude toward those of the household of faith and in the world generally.

We are compelled to love b/c of that contrast between us and unbelievers. We have been given a perfect example of selfless love in our LJC-a new commandment to love which is true in Him and in us if we follow His example.