The New Commandment of Christ

It’s a real shame when the church looks like the world. When there are divisions and slander and backbiting in the people of God. The place that is supposed to be set apart, from the world the very body of Christ is divided, if it were possible and looks like the world. It is not just a shame, it shows the lack of understanding of God’s word, and it lacks the very Spirit of God in the people of God. It really shows that there may not be actual regeneration in a church that is split and splitting. There may not be regeneration in the church that is dying. Today we come to a text in 1 John that is hard. While he is loving as he presents his case, I want you to know that it is a warning to the church. If you do not have love for one another, you are blind. Let’s go to our text. 1 John 2:7-17

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 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. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The Church Commanded to Love One Another

There is no greater love than for someone to lay down his life for his friends. Of course these are the famous words of or Lord and Savior as he prepares to go to the cross. I want to challenge each and every one of you this morning. Hatred in the church is an absolute abomination. John here in v.7-11 may sound like he’s saying contradictory things again but he isnt. He is appealing to the law of Christ. This text has a direct parallel with John 13:34-35   A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

We have to understand that John is writing this letter years after Jesus giving this commandment. This is why we have the apparent contradiction in v. 7-8. The commandment is not new because Jesus said it years ago, however it is new because Jesus has said this was a new commandment. lets look at v.7-8 again.

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 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.

So, how does that work? How is there no new commandment but yet there is a new commandment. Well we have already seen what Jesus has said in John 13, but I want you to see the connections with Jesus New Commandment and the Law. You see Jesus came to fulfill the law of Moses, as John writes in the first chapter of his gospel.

You see there are two tables of the law of God. The first table deals directly with our relationship to God, and the second table deals directly with our relationship to one another, and the law isnt meant to just be an abstention of doing wrong to one another. It is more than just not murdering, stealing, committing adultery, lying, and coveting. It is actively seeking the good of your brothers and sisters. It is making sure your neighbor has life to the fullest in Jesus Christ. It is actively seeking that they are cared for and have what they need not just to survive but to thrive. You see there is no law that says you shall not hate your brother and sister, however its written between the lines of the entire Law. The commandments use prohibition language because God knows the heart of man. The first recorded sin outside the Garden of Eden is Cains murder of Abel.