A NEW COMMAND
1 JOHN 2:7-14
In our study of 1 John, last week we introduced the question:
“How can we know for sure that we really belong to God’s family?”
“How can I have assurance that I belong to Him?”
“Can we KNOW for sure?”
That’s a critical question that many “church-going people” ask themselves.
It’s a question we must have the answer to.
John responds to that concern in 2:3-27.
JOHN’S PURPOSES
1. That we might enjoy fellowship 1:3 —with other people —with God
2. That we might have complete joy 1:4
JOHN’S MESSAGE:
Amos 3:3: “Can two walk together unless they agree?”
To enjoy fellowship with God, we must be like Him.
GOD’S HOLINESS 1:5-3:10
Description of God 1:5 “God is Light” => God is HOLY.
Implications for God’s children 1:6-3:10
If God is holy, then His children ought to reflect His character.
We ought to be “a chip off the old block!”
We ought to resemble our Father.
WE should be holy.
Summary: Our need to walk in holiness 1:6-7
To enjoy fellowship with a holy God, we must be holy!
[When we come up short, . . . ]
God’s provision for our restoration to holiness 1:8-2:2
None of us are totally holy all the time. 8, 10
When we “agree with God concerning our sin, He forgives and cleanses us. 9
God wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him, by avoiding sin 2:1a
But when we DO sin, God provides a perfect defense attorney: Jesus 2:1b-2
EVIDENCE OF OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 2:3-27
Four ways we can know we’re in fellowship with God.
Those who have trusted Christ, and who enjoy fellowship with God, will demonstrate it in our daily lives by:
Four evidences we are in fellowship with God:
1. OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS IN GENERAL 2:3-6
We know that we know Him, . . .
when we are keeping His commands 3
Contradictory lifestyle characteristics:
SAYS he knows Him + DOESN’T keep His commands = Liar 4
God’s love has been perfected
in people who keep His commands 5a
How do we know that we are in fellowship with Him? 5b-6
when we are walking as He walked 6
Consistent lifestyle characteristics:
SAYS he abides in Him => Ought to walk as HE walked!
Unless we are walking as He walked,
we have no basis to claim we are abiding in Him!
What’s the 2nd evidence that we’re in fellowship with God?
“How do I know one when I see one?” –Specifically, . . .
2. OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMAND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER 2:7-14
3-6 General obedience to His commands => Specifically, loving one another 7-11
The command 7-11
A “new”/”old” command 7-8
An old command 7
A new command 8
In one sense, it’s the oldest commandment in the book!
“Love your neighbor as you love yourself!”
In the context of the church, it takes on a totally new meaning.
We’re family.
The world hates God’s children.
We’ve been “called out” from the world.
We’re not like the world.
We’re light in the darkness.
The world hates the light.
But God’s true children love one another–that’s what sets us apart.
Christ demonstrated the significance of this command.
It’s also evident in His children.
It’s true in Him AND in us!
Because God is already at work in the world,
the darkness is beginning to pass away
& the light is already starting to shine through us.
We’re on the right path, though it’s not yet all God wants it to be.
The revelation of the light isn’t complete–it isn’t a perfect reflection of God’s light. –But it IS becoming evident to people who are watching us.
Contradictory lifestyle characteristics: 9
SAYS he’s in light + HATES brother => Still in darkness
Consistent lifestyle characteristics: 10
LOVES brother => ABIDES in light + No cause to stumble
The only way any of us will live that way is by abiding in Him.
He produces HIS light in us!
The other side of the coin => 11
HATES brother => In darkness + WALKS in darkness
+ Doesn’t know where he’s going
A person characterized by hatred for his brother isn’t in the light.
He’s still in the darkness.
He’s walking in darkness.
He can’t see where he’s going!
The darkness has blinded him.
He can’t see! You can’t see in the dark!
If you’re part of the family, you will love your brothers.
This doesn’t mean you’ll love every one, every day.
Some members of our family are hard to love!
But this is a general response to belonging to the family.
Members of an authentic family love each other.
–especially if it’s a family that is characterized by authentic love.
–when the Father’s identifying characteristic is love.
Therefore, when we know we love God’s children,
it gives US assurance that we belong to His family.
Parenthesis: His confidence based on our experience 12-14
We’ve all seen God’s work in our lives–at different maturity levels
Assumes that all three levels genuinely belong to the family.
John wants them to know that he’s convinced his readers belong to the family.
They may be at different levels, but he assumes that they have the real thing.
He repeats the list– (12 => 13-14)
He’s written before–now he writes again,
always assuming they belong to the family.
He repeats it, because it’s important!
He’s confident he can appeal to us on the basis of our experience, because we’ve seen in distinct ways–at different maturity levels–how God has changed our lives.
Children = “descendants”–even immature ones
2:12 = “descendants”–without regard to age or size.
They are their father’s children.
2:14 = small children, little ones, immature children
The two words together tell us he is referring to those who are God’s children
–no matter how immature they may be!
=> Your sins are forgiven
You have known the Father.
An appropriate characteristic for God’s children!
However childish or immature we may be, God’s children can be sure that our sins are forgiven and we know the Father personally.
Parents => You have known the One Who is from the beginning.
These seem to represent mature, older saints who have been around for a while.
They have the stability of faith from having known the Eternal One.
Young men = strong, brave, bold, “warriors”
=> You have defeated the evil one.
You are strong.
The Word of God ABIDES in you.
If you’re part of the family, you experience God’s work in your life!
–at your maturity level!
The experience won’t be the same for everyone.
All members of the family WILL experience God’s work in their life
at SOME level!
Whatever level of maturity we may be on, we can ENJOY FELLOWSHIP with Him, if we abide in Him and walk as He walked.
One way we should ALL experience God’s work in us
is by our love for one another!
That’s the main thought through this section:
When we’re obeying his commands,
especially when we’re obeying His command to love one another, . . .
we KNOW we’re His children!
That confidence gives us assurance before Him.
HOW SHOULD THIS STUDY AFFECT OUR LIFE?
We can KNOW that we know Him!
We’ll never be perfect.
But there will be concrete evidence we can SEE that will result in assurance.
We must understand the crucial importance of our love for one another.
If we hate God’s people, . . .
If we want to avoid the people of God, . . .
there’s good cause to doubt that we really belong to Him.
When we abide in Him, He produces His love in us
and we will naturally love His people.
Corollary we’ll look at later in our study of 1 John:
You can’t hate your brother
and enjoy fellowship with God at the same time.