Love or Hate?

1 John 2:7-11

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Notes

John made his purpose clear. He wrote so that readers would not sin because living in sin is walking in darkness. However, he warned that anyone who claims to have no sin is a liar. What did he mean? He meant to say that all are sinners; however, those who walk in the light confess their sins. They are not comfortable with the darkness. The author then made a strong connection between knowing God and keeping His commands. Furthermore, John would make a connection between the light and loving the brothers, and hatred and living in the darkness.

1. Old Commandment

   John refers to an old commandment, which is to walk in the light and to walk as the Lord Jesus walked. It may also refer to loving God and loving your neighbor (Dt 6:5 and Lev 19:18). The root is found in the Old Testament, but it is also present in apostolic teaching.

   
   1 John 2:7: Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
   
   Deuteronomy 6:5: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
   
   Leviticus 19:18: You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD

2. New Commandment

   John explained that the old commandment is also the new commandment. The commandment is to love one another as He loved them. The author also made a prophetic statement that the darkness is passing away because the true light is shining. This new commandment is in the light of the Light of the World, who is Christ.
   

   1 John 2:8: At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
   
   John 8:12: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
   

3. Love vs. Hate

   The author establishes a clear connection between walking in the light and loving one's brother, and walking in darkness and hating one's brother. Whoever loves the brother or sister is in the light, while the one who hates the brother or sister is in the darkness. Furthermore, the one who is in the light does not stumble for there is no hatred, nor does he lead others against the will of God.

   
   1 John 2:9-11: Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
   
   John 13:34-35: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
   

   Application:

   1. Recognize that the command to love God and neighbor is rooted in the Old Covenant.
   2. Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the World and that His light will overcome the darkness of our souls.
   3. Obey the Lord by loving one another as He loved us, and turn away from hate, for that is walking in the darkness.

Reflection & Discussion

1. What did John mean when he said he gave them not a new commandment?

2. What did John mean when he said that he also gave them a new commandment?

3. What are clear indicators of one walking in the light and darkness?