Some will say, it does not matter if I am sincere. Answer: If sincerity were a threshold to gain eternal life, how would you know when it was achieved? That is kinda like saying, “if I know my heart?’ The Bible says we do not know our own heart, [Jer_17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?]. There is only one promise for everlasting life/eternal life and Jesus gave those words of life to Nicodemus in [John 3:13-16]
So, we pick up our study with these words, 1Jn 2:7 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. 1Jn 2:8 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.
And supporting verses, Tit 2:10 Not purloining but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
This new commandment is now the old commandment, but it is still new, Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. This is now the old commandment mentioned in 1John 2:7, that Jesus gave them when He was with them.
In 1 John 2:8 John rewrites the same commandment as new because Christ has ascended. And even though He has ascended that new commandment is still true in Him and in you. 1Jn 2:8 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.
The believer should not lose touch with the True Light, but live in Him, As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Christ has now ascended and sent the Holy Spirit, this is the new age of grace. The true light now shines,
Tit 2:10 Not purloining, [keeping back not shewing forth] but shewing all good fidelity [ obedience]; that they may adorn [bring honor and glory to our Saviour] the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Living with hate or with a spirit of vengeance will cause you to stumble being blinded and will cause others to stumble. Follow the LORD and allow Him to apply correction.
The question that we must answer is found in V9, He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. To whom is he speaking? It must be understood as saved to saved [brother to brother. It could not be to an unsaved person hating a Christian, they are not brothers. John has in mind the love of Christians for one another [cf John13:34]. [ A side note, the unsaved is not to hate their unsaved physical brother because they need the New Birith, and both are consumed by hate and vengeance and a Christion is not to hate an unsaved person but to pray for their salvation].
What defines a brother in Christ? Answer: The Holy Spirit. He seals the Believer in Jesus, Eph. 1:13, : “.....,in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”, and He indwells the same believer, 1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. And it is the Holy Spirit that places the believer in the Body of Christ. A brother is anyone who has been born again, [John 3:3-16].
Our life as a believer impacts the unsaved, 1 Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. [the knowledge of God is the light that we have been brought into, 2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.]
The context supports Jesus’ command for the disciples to love one another because they are in the light. V10, 11, He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him [He who is abiding in Christ gives no occasion to stumble nor does he receive an occasion from another]. 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. [our eyes of understanding have been enlightened {Eph.1:18} and let us walk in that place of understanding, the light of His Grace and forgiveness]
Walking in darkness is an inner spiritual condition that will cause you to stumble, 1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: This is not a case of sinless perfection but a case of a believer losing touch with the True light and the only cure is repentance and confession by the believer,
What is Repentance? Answer: start walking in the light 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
What is confession? Answer: Acknowledging that sin to Christ and believing His promise of forgiveness 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Certainty for the Believer is given in 1 John 2:12-14 1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 1Jn 2:13 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. 1Jn 2:14 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. These verses again remind us that John is writing to believers.
Four thoughts about these three (3) verses: 1] You have experience forgiveness through faith in the promise of Christ [2:1-2]and that makes you as the little Children of our Heavenly Fathe, [2:12]
2] And we are not to remain as “little children” babes in Christ, 1Jn 2:13 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.
3] Forgiveness has been granted on the account of His name. Because He himself is the Propitiation for our sins, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”: “For His name sake” Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Believing in Jesus and believing in His name are synonymous.
4] Our forgiveness is through the efficacy [the power, the value] of Jesus Christ according to God’s promise of eternal life, Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 2Ti 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Do you believe [are you persuaded] that Jesus can keep His promise of eternal life to you? Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
These verses are speaking to the believer about walking in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling. Hatred is a snare; a trap and it will cause you to stumble. If you are walking in darkness, you have lost touch with the True light, Jesus Christ,
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
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