Pursuit of wisdom for today from the Ancient of Days
1 John 2:7-11
The new commandment.
John is working hard to instill confidence in his readers. They have already heard the truth of apostolic teaching and are well settled in the eternal life that the gospel brings. He doesn’t want to exacerbate any sense they might have that there is secret knowledge that they are missing.
Although John’s last paragraph asserts that obedience to God’s commandments gives us evidence of our new life in Christ, there is no pressing need for John’s readers to learn some unheard commandments.
The Lord Jesus gave the fundamental command in the upper room the night of His betrayal: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)
This command was 60 years old by the time John was bringing it to their attention. It’s an old commandment and their worldview will be best if it conserves this structure under which they guide their lives. There should be confidence that they are on the right path and that they should just keep going without deviation.
On the other hand the command to love one another is new because Christ called it new. Jesus set the pattern of this love in that we are to imitate Him "as I have loved you."
That night He had washed their feet and afterwards He proceeded to crucifixion for our rescue. His command to love marked the unmistakable pattern for Christian assemblies. It is so unique that it establishes convincing evidence for the deity of Christ.
It is also new because it brings a newness of life: renovating hearts; banishing the darkness of evil, selfishness, and guilt; ushering in bright days of God’s gracious power.
The light of such love is a sure sign that divides the saved from the lost. Someone whose heart is filled with hate remains in the darkness regardless of any protestations to the contrary.
On the other hand the one who has habitual love for others has made his home in the light of God’s presence. This light enables him to see where he is going and prevents stumbling into sin. It prevents him from causing others to stumble into sin.
The one trapped in a life of hate dwells in a moral darkness which blinds him to spiritual realties and makes him unable to guide himself down any sensible path.
The essence of the Christian life should not surprise you. Jesus commanded us to love one another following the pattern He set. Trying to do this in your strength will not make you a Christian. It will just make you a pharisee.
The Lord saves us by our trust in is gracious promise. And having passed out of darkness and misery into the light of peace with God, we can walk into a life of self-giving love by the power of His gracious enablement alone.
Take note of that in your own heart for the confidence it gives you that eternal life is yours and that you are on the right path.
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Pursuit of wisdom for today from the Ancient of Days
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