1st John 2:7-11 A NEW COMMANDMENT A characteristic of one who is walking in the light is the desire for, and practice of, fellowship. This fellowship with divine Persons and the people of God is one that is both outwardly seen and inwardly cherished. John began the epistle with truth concerning our fellowship with the person of Christ [1:1-4]. Then he showed how the character of God in His message of the Gospel to us creates fellowship with Him [1:5-7]. Thirdly, confession of sin is essential to maintain spiritual fellowship [1:8-10]. The advocacy of Christ on our behalf keeps our fellowship a reality [2:1-2]. The obedience of believers to the word of God and its precepts, and the pattern of life that accompanies that obedience keeps that fellowship as a vital characteristic of our Christian life and walk [2:3-6].
There is another fundamental characteristic of fellowship that is proof of life, and that is not following the ways of the world nor loving the world [2:7-10]. The conduct of fellowship involves the principle of obedience to God [2:1-2], the practice of love of the brethren [2:3-6], and the proof seen in separation from the world's system of living for self-interest. The love of the Father and the Son is the principle by which fellowship of believers can be a constant reality. John introduced the subject in verse 7 by using the word "brethren" in the sense of those who are "beloved" or "dear friends," as a way to go beyond a generic family term to the opening of one's heart to another.
To love one another was not a new or radical teaching. That goes back to the beginning of mankind and was commanded by the law as in Leviticus 19:18. The new commandment contained some startling new concepts that were taught by our Lord Jesus when He was here. What He taught, He practiced and it is His intention that we too practice what He taught. It was a totally new command to go beyond having respect for others to self-sacrifice on our part for the benefit of others and expect nothing in return. The spirit of the new commandment goes beyond the letter of the law to a daily love toward others that grows. Our Lord demonstrated this by touching a leper, eating with publicans and sinners, going to a feast put on by a hypocritical Pharisee who wanted to trap Him in some way. The children and the outcasts were as important to Him as anyone else.
This kind of love that the new commandment teaches goes even beyond self-sacrifice to deliberately serving others. This kind of selfless giving extends to loving our enemies and those who persecute us. This loving is a unifying principle among believers that should mark us as those who belong to our Lord Jesus Christ. This new command is the key to walking in the light and maintaining an effective relationship with God and a growing relationship with His people.
Our attitude is associated with the new commandment when we make the deliberate choice to want and work for the well-being of others. In that way we will be respectful of, and willing to serve others, for whom we may not feel affection. We like some people better than others, but we do not ignore or despise those who we may not like, nor should we treat them as if we are in competition with them like enemies. This love is a choice more than emotional feelings. We choose to love them and God gives us the ability to express that in ways that are appropriate.
To say I am a believer who is walking in the light without evidence of love is a contradiction. Hatred is a characteristic of those who are in darkness, not of a child of God. A Christian walking in the light obeys God and loves God's people because they are our brothers and sisters. The person whose pattern of life and habits are contrary to the characteristics of love, is walking in darkness. The One who is the Light captures the heart with its affections and choices and influence them to walk in the light themselves. The actually are identified by our Lord as "ye are the light of the world." We reflect divine light when we are walking if fellowship with our Lord and Savior.
By contrast to those in darkness are those whose love is evident toward others who are in the light. They abide in the light. There is no twilight zone for those who abide in the light. They are kept from stumbling because they are conscious of being in the light as well as walking in the light. That light is the truth of God and the Person who is both the Light and the Truth. The truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Person of Christ are inseparable. The condition in which we are found determines the conduct of our life.
The one who hates his brother is in darkness and does "darkness" because he walks in darkness. Character and conduct are tightly bound together. The darkness of character reveals the darkness of conduct and vice- versa. One who deliberately blinds his mind and the eyes of understanding to the truth of God, has no evidence of divine life in him. Children of light on the other hand, follow our Lord and do not walk in darkness, "but have the light of life." They are associated with those whose inheritance is in light. They dwell in the light. They love the light and love being in the light. The love in the believer gives clear insight into that which is light and they choose to demonstrate that love and light in a balanced way of living that affects not only us, but those who watch our choices and conduct.