Daily Writing

Sunday, 22 March 2020

Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 1 John 2:8

John just wrote about “an old commandment which you have had from the beginning.” In those words, he was referring to the commandment of love which had been given by Christ at the introduction of the New Covenant. Now he says, “Again, a new commandment I write to you.”

His words are still speaking of the same command to love. However, he now terms it “new” to show that it is something which specifically applies to the New Covenant. As Jesus said –

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34, 35

Jesus called it “new,” and thus, it is new in the sense that it specifically belongs to the New Covenant. If someone has a ten-year-old car that needs repair on its motor, he may take it to the mechanic who might say, “No problem, this is an old fix.” He has been working on cars like this for almost ten years now. At the same time, he may say, “This is a new technology,” because the type of motor was just introduced when that car came out. Thus, the fix is “old” because it has been since the beginning, and yet it is “new” because it belongs to the newest line of motors.

Of this, “new commandment,” John then says, “which thing is true in Him.” This refers to Christ Jesus. Jesus demonstrated the very love He commanded to his disciples. He was making a connection between the life He revealed, which reflects the very nature of God, and how Christians should also conduct their lives, thus being imitators of God as well. That is reflected in John’s next words, “and in you.”

The connection between Christ and His disciples is exhibited in the love between His followers. To lack such an exhibition of love is to fail to meet the very standard which Jesus lived out and which He then commanded. That will be addressed in the next verse. But to set up that thought, John next says, “because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.”

This ties in with what was said in Chapter 1 –

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7

The darkness is that which is contrary to God and His nature. The “true light” is that which is revealed through Christ, and in His gospel. That true light is then conveyed through, and in harmony with, the love of God. The gospel – which reveals the light of God in Christ – is causing the darkness to pass away as this is light shines in those who receive this message of reconciliation.

Someday, only that which is light will remain. The darkness of false religion, of hate, and of the works of the devil will be ended, and only those who have come to God through Christ will be left. The true light, which is already shining, will be evidenced everywhere and forever.

Life application: Jesus spoke His command to love before the crucifixion, when darkness still covered the world. But just as a sailboat disappears over the horizon, fading into the sea, the spiritual darkness would fade away as the Light of what Jesus did rose to an anxious world. The love He directs us to – the gospel message – was already beginning to shine, but His victory over death brought it to its full splendor when He rose from the grave.

The darkness is simply dissipating from its own inability to overcome the Light; the Light dispels the darkness. And so, the “new commandment” is that we emulate the fullness of the love received in the Person of Jesus. We now have not only the command, but we also have the ability to love our fellow Christians. This “new commandment” is given from the mouth of Jesus before His death and is repeated by His apostles after His resurrection. Truly, what Jesus says in Revelation is true – “Behold I make all things new.” Revelation 21:5

Marvelous and wise God! Thank You for the New Commandment – that we love our fellow believers even as You have loved us. Give us the desire and the wisdom to be loving and gracious friends to those who belong to You. May we not withhold our love from the fellowship just as You didn’t withhold Yours when You gave us Jesus – the greatest demonstration of love ever. Amen.

Saturday, 21 March 2020

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 1 John 2:7

Without understanding what John is getting at in verses 2:7 and 2:8, one might think he is confused. He will speak of writing no new commandment and then of writing a new commandment. There is no confusion though. His words of writing “no new commandment” are a way of referring to a doctrine which has been set since the inception of the New Covenant. The new commandment he will write about will be referring to the fact that this is a part of the New Covenant, which has superseded the Old. With this understanding, He begins with, “Brethren.”

There is a variance in manuscripts here. Some say, “Brethren,” while others say, “Beloved.” “Beloved” would fit better with the previous context concerning “the love of God,” but either way, He next says, “I write no new commandment to you.”

The word “new” is one which defines freshness, not age. For example, it would speak of the “New Covenant” as opposed to the “Old Covenant.” The age of a covenant isn’t what matters, but whether it is applicable still or not. John is saying that he is not writing something new to the ears, but something that has already been established. That is seen in the words, “but an old commandment.”

In this, Vincent’s Word Studies notes that in the New Testament there are four words used to describe “old” or “elder.” He further provides details on each. For brevity, the word used by John here is palaios. He defines it as –

“Παλαιός carries the sense of worn out by time, injury, sorrow, or other causes. Thus the old garment (Matthew 9:16) is παλαιόν. So the old wine-skins (Matthew 9:17). The old men of a living generation compared with the young of the same generation are παλαιοί. In παλαιός the simple conception of time dominates. In ἀρχαῖος there is often a suggestion of a character answering to the remote age. The commandment is here called old because it belonged to the first stage of the Christian church. Believers had had it from the beginning of their Christian faith.”

This is what John was referring to in the verse 2:5, where he said, “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.” This is the same thing that they had always heard and been instructed in. It is, therefore, certainly pointing to the commandment of love. That was given by Christ in John 13 –

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34, 35

By the time of John’s writing, this commandment was certainly known to all. Thus, John now calls it an “old commandment.” This is the same thought that Paul speaks of in several ways, including in Ephesians 5:1, 2 –

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ² And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

It is this commandment that John now says, “which you have had from the beginning.” From the beginning of the New Covenant, Christ had set forth this commandment, and it then extended forth to all who heard the word. John is repeating that word to ensure it continued to be remembered by those who do believe, and to be passed on to those who will believe. As John notes, “The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.”

The repetition of the thought in these final words is a way of emphasizing what has been conveyed. In essence, “Everything that I am relaying to you is something which has already been put forth. You have heard it from the beginning, and nothing has changed since you heard it.”

Life application: John is saying that he is adding nothing to what was handed down to him from the Lord. Thus, he was not adding in some arbitrary standards of his own.

Jesus told his disciples that the mark of a Christian, and the way which they will be known as true disciples, is by their genuine love for one another. This is a commandment, and it signifies a love which is demonstrable and visible. Whether we like the fellow Christian we are dealing with or not, we are to love him in a way which identifies him as brother in the Lord.

John could pen these words with conviction as he was present with the Lord when he heard Him speak this new commandment. It was his duty as an apostle to pass these words on to his hearers and it is our continued duty – even to this day – to receive them and apply them to our own lives, lest we be found false disciples.

Lord Jesus, you have commanded us to have love for our fellow believers. But you know that can be very hard. They are so…  they do such… they act like… But maybe we are that way to them! And so, Lord, change us if needed. Mold us into the loving vessels You have commanded us to be. Change us as individuals so that we will be pleasing disciples in Your eyes. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

Friday, 20 March 2020

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6

So far, John has conveyed the thought of “to know Him.” He then has spoken concerning being “in Him.” Now he takes that thought and intensifies it by speaking of one who “abides in Him.” Bengel notes of this “knowledge, fellowship, constancy.” Understanding this, John says, “He who says he abides in Him.”

The word “abides” speaks of exactly this, constancy. If a person has a house, that is where he abides. If he is traveling, he will simply rent a room and then move on. Therefore, when a person “abides” in Christ, John says he “ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

A person can know of Jesus and not accept Jesus. Or, a person can claim to know Jesus and yet not keep His commandments. But if a person knows Jesus, has called on Jesus, and is in Christ, then John’s logic is that he should desire to then emulate Christ Jesus. It is contradictory to being in Christ and not striving to be like Christ.

Therefore, the manner in which Christ walked is to be the manner in which the person who abides in Christ should walk. As seen throughout the epistles, the term “walk” signifies a person’s continuous conduct in life. As Christ’s walk was one of righteousness, holiness, pleasing the Father in all He did, and so on, then this is how the believer is also to conduct his affairs in life.

There is the obvious truth that we are still in fallen, frail bodies, and our walk is bound to get tripped up, but it should be our life’s desire and practice to walk according to that which was set before us in Christ.

Life application: Jesus “walked” in a state of perfection, fully keeping the laws of the Old Covenant that we could never keep. After doing this, He gave His life up on the cross for us. It is therefore by faith in what Jesus did that we stand justified before God. Paul explains this clearly in Romans 3 and throughout the book of Galatians. In Galatians 2:16, he says –

“… knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

Our faith in Jesus’ accomplishment (to God be the glory) is what puts us in a right standing with God. Once we stand justified, we should walk in a manner befitting His work. We are to keep His commandments and live for Him, not for the world and all it holds. Those who say they abide in Christ should live as if they really believe it and thus bring credit, not disgrace, to His name. May we pay heed to the words of the apostle today and walk just as Jesus walked – to the glory of God the Father.

O Heavenly Father – You sent Jesus to fulfill the impossible standards of the law so that we could be justified by faith in Him, and to stand in a right relationship with You. What a marvelous story Your word tells; what a wonderful Gift has been offered to us, if we will but receive it. Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, 19 March 2020

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:5

John made a statement in verse 2:3, the antithesis of which was stated in 2:4, he now returns to the idea of 2:3 and builds upon it. This is the same thing which he had done in 1:8 through 1:10. Laid out, this can be more clearly seen –

2:3. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

2:4. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

2:5. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

As can be seen, John reverses the order of verse 2:3 as well – “we know him/keep His commandments” becomes “keep His word/we know that we are in Him.”

The word “But” is given to contrast the previous verse. In this contrast, he says, “But whoever keeps His word.” The “word” is given to parallel “commandments,” and yet its meaning is fuller. The “word” speaks of the entire body of God’s revelation, whereas “commandments” speaks of those things which immediately apply in any given context.

In other words, there are commandments in the Law of Moses which no longer apply. And so, to keep His word is to do so in the way intended for the dispensation in which we currently live – that of the grace of God in Christ. In keeping His word, John says, “truly the love of God is perfected in him.”

Notice the difference between 2:4 and 2:5 in these words. In 2:4, it says if someone doesn’t keep His commandments, he is a liar. However, here it now says that for the one who keeps His word, the love of God is perfected in Him. In not keeping his commandments, there is a product which rises out of self – “he is a liar.” But in keeping His word, there is a product which is derived from God – “the love of God is perfected in Him.”

One can see that the evil which springs up in man is of personal origin, but the good which is found in man stems from God. It goes along well with Paul’s words of Romans 3, and which is cited from the psalms –

“They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:12

Apart from God, and His word, we cannot rightly seek after God. But with God’s intervention, we can seek after God in a right manner, and God can produce in us that which is pleasing to Him. This then forms “the love of God” which is perfected in us.

It is debated what “the love of God” means. Is it God’s love towards us, is it our love towards God, or is it the state of love which is found in God and of which we participate in once we are found in Christ? The answer is probably “all of these.” We learn to love God rightly when we know Christ and call on Him. God can fully demonstrate His love towards us only in Christ. And the state of love, which God is, is extended to us because we are found in Christ.

Understanding this, John then says, “By this we know that we are in Him.” The words “in Him” must be speaking of Christ Jesus. He is the one who allows us to be partakers in the goodness of God, and apart from Him, this is impossible. In keeping the word of God, as revealed through Jesus Christ, God’s love is perfected in us, and we can know that we are in Him.

The union of God and Christ Jesus in John’s words demonstrates that not only is Jesus God, but without the revelation of this aspect of God – meaning Christ Jesus – that nothing of what John is conveying to us could even be possible. This will continue to be revealed in the next verse.

Life application: This is the first of many times that the word “love” is used in this epistle. John will deal with the subject of love on many levels as he progresses. Here it is tied in with the perfection of God’s love in us through keeping His commandments.

As noted above, although the “love of God” may mean from God to us, it is also probably as much indicating the love we show for Him. Our love is imperfect at best, but the Greek word used here for “is perfected” is teleioó. This word conveys the meaning of completeness in love rather than absolute perfection.

So, by keeping the word of the Lord – by obeying His commandments as set forth for us – we are demonstrating an action that loves God for who He is and what He expects of us. When we do these things and act in this manner, we know that we are in Him.

If someone calls on Jesus, he becomes a saved believer. However, when he doesn’t follow what God has given us as proper direction in life, there is always that nagging sense that maybe he isn’t in the Lord – both in his own mind and in the minds of others as they see his conduct. Such thoughts shouldn’t exist, but they do because we are prone to not keeping His commandments.

This is the case with even the strongest Christians with the deepest of faith. How much more so is this the case when people carelessly fail to follow the Bible. The case for “ignorance is bliss” can be made at this point.

If we don’t know everything the Lord expects, then we won’t feel bad when we transgress His wishes for us. But this approach lacks commitment, fails to regard the Person and work of Jesus, and puts us in the sad position of facing the Lord’s judgment seat with nothing to offer Him in exchange for the salvation He has provided us. This will lead to loss. It is a sad exchange for a life led in the bliss of ignorance.

Lord Jesus, forgive us for not pursuing You and the knowledge of Your word more. Give us a strong desire and a great hunger to know You more with each passing day. Grant us the wisdom to set aside time each day to read Your word, study what You desire for us, and then apply those things to our lives. Forgive us for past failings and set us on a new and straight course as we continue our walk in You. Amen.

Wednesday, 18 March 2020

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4

John just spoke of knowing Christ. We can make this claim if we keep His commandments. Now, he makes an antithetical statement which begins with, “He who says, ‘I know Him.’” Here is a person who says He knows Christ. But if what he just said is true, such a claim would be contingent on this person obeying God’s commandments. However, this person is now said by John to be one who “does not keep his commandments.”

The two thoughts are mutually incompatible. But that brings us back to what “His commandments” means from the previous verse. The main idea of what is contained here is found in the gospel of John. As noted in the previous verse, it is found in John 6:29 –

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’”

One must, before all else, believe in Jesus Christ. It is He who was sent by God. Without this work, it is impossible to please God. Only in accepting the gospel can one be put into the right relationship with God which will then allow Him to look with favor on the obeying of any other commandments of God.

One can love, but without being in Christ, the love is not God-centered. One can obey the words of the apostles, but without receiving Christ first, that is a meaningless waste of time. The parameters have been set. Faith in Christ must precede anything else for God to be pleased with obedience to any of His commandments. This thought is similar to what was stated in 1 John 1:6 –

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

After saying this, John noted that by walking in the light, one can have fellowship with other believers, and “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Without that, the sin remains, and only enmity between God and man is found. Therefore, for a person to say that he knows God, but who does not first come to Christ, John says he “is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

The Greek is emphatic, “in him the truth is not.” There can be no truth in a person who claims to know God but who does not believe in Jesus Christ. His statement cannot be reconciled with the reality of the matter. He remains in Adam, he belongs to the devil, and he does not know God.

Life application: As stated in the previous verse, John’s words are not speaking of the Law of Moses. They refer to faith in Christ which is then followed through with learning about Christ and what faith in Him expects, and then in applying that knowledge by applying it to one’s life.

It must be understood that one cannot do what God expects as a believer unless that person is instructed in what to do. Thus, salvation through faith in Christ logically precedes obedience to the commandments for a right walk with God in Christ. If a person believes, and is saved and sealed, but then is never given instruction in the word, it is impossible for that person to be fully obedient to the other commandments.

Everything must find its proper place in our walk with God, but the first thing that must occur is belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be sure to speak out that life-saving message as you go forth into the world full of lost souls.

Lord God, please help us to understand Your word and to think its precepts through clearly so that our lives and our doctrine will be sound. May we never fail to obey that which is ordained by You and may our lives as Christians be evident to those around us so that You will be glorified through our actions and their conversion. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.