Love One Another
1st John 2:7-14
Jeff Hughes
I. Introduction
a. By way of introduction, let’s briefly look at the five verses we studied last time.
b. First, we looked at the topic of obedience, using verse 3 as our text. We found that obeying the Lord’s commands was critical to knowing Him, which flew in the face of the Gnostic teachers John was trying to combat.
c. Next, we looked at disobedience, using verse 4. We saw here that this verse serves to emphasize the previous verse, drawing out the truth of verse 3, with a strong contrast.
d. Third, we examined what keeping meant in verse 5. We learned that by the words John uses, we as Christians are to guard God’s Word in our heart. By this God’s love will flow out of our lives into the lives of others.
e. For our last topic, we looked at verse 6, and abiding in Him. We saw that abiding entailed patience, it means to remain in. If we are to abide in Him, we are to walk as He walked, meaning we are to strive to emulate Christ.
f. Tonight, we’re going to focus on the topic of Loving One Another, our text will come out of 1 John 2:7-14
II. Illustration:
a. What is love?
i. It is silence--when your words would hurt.
ii. It is patience--when your neighbor’s curt.
iii. It is deafness--when a scandal flows.
iv. It is thoughtfulness--for other’s woes.
v. It is promptness--when stern duty calls.
vi. It is courage--when misfortune falls
III. Study
a. Text - 7 Brethren, F2 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. 8 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. 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
b. The Commandment
i. The Old Commandment v. 7
1. 7 Brethren, F2 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.
2. Isn’t it interesting here to note that John does not state the commandment? It is as if he assumes that the readers know what it is. It would seem that this commandment was something very basic, something they knew well.
3. It also appears that the old commandment is something that they had heard for a long time, from the beginning. So, what beginning is John talking about? The beginning of the universe, like John 1:1? I don’t think so. I think John is referring to the beginning God’s covenant with Abraham.
4. What would you think the commandment is?
5. In Leviticus chapter 19, we read two verses: verse 18: 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. And verse 34: The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
6. I think this is what John had in mind. This was the commandment that the Moses carried to the children of Israel. This set them apart from the nations around them, and opened a way of salvation to those around them. They could move into the land of Israel, and be accepted. At that point they could become Jews, and find favor in God’s sight.
ii. The New Commandment v. 8-11
1. 8 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. 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
2. Now, this is a bit confusing. He starts talking about a new commandment without telling what the old commandment was!?! It’s the same commandment.
3. We know what the old commandment was, we just studied that.
4. So how can the same commandment be old and new at the same time?
5. I believe John meant this. It was not a new commandment to love one another. We saw that in the Old Testament. The Israelites were commanded to love their neighbors as themselves.
6. Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment in the upper room, after Judas had left, after he had served them, on the night before His crucifixion. John 13:33b-35 : so now I say to you. 34 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."
7. I think this is what John had fresh in mind. This was the commandment that the disciples carried to the early church. We see it manifested in the book of Acts, as the church met daily, from house to house, and they held all goods in common. This was what distinguished the church – their love.
8. Let’s go back a little here and look at verse 34 again. Notice Jesus tells to love one another as I have loved you.
9. That’s a pretty tall order, isn’t it? Think about the love of Christ for a minute. By His love He forgave the worst of sinners, He died for each one of our sins, not just a select few, we saw that earlier in 1st John, and His love is endless, throughout eternity, we see that in Revelation.
10. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
11. We see here that not only is this love a commandment of how believers behave toward one another, but that it is also a litmus test of whether a person is a true believer or not. We saw in the previous chapter that you could tell a believer his keeping of God’s commandments. Notice here how this new commandment of Christ is emphasized as a true test.
12. Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 14, that if he had all these gifts, but not love, he was a sounding gong or cymbal.
13. Now, we all say we love one another, and we love our enemies, but do we love the people in the Body as much as Christ loved us?
14. I think if each one of us searches our heart, we would find that we fall short in this area. I know I do. Oftentimes, the people that hurt us the most are the ones that we share fellowship with. There are lots of fights between the sheep. We all know a story of someone that has been hurt by the church and has left the fellowship. It is one thing to smile, and shake their hand, and even give ‘em a little hug, but do we love them as Christ loved us? Ouch!
iii. Conclusion
1. I want you to note here that, the word love that appears in this passage is the Greek word Agapao. This word is often transliterated by us as agape. Defined, it means to love dearly, to cherish, and to have a deep, abiding affection. It is a compound word, which comes from the Greek word agan, which means much, and phileo, to love.
2. Now, why is this important? Well, in doing my research, I find that this word agapao, did not appear in Greek literature before the first century. Essentially, the Greek language did not have a word to describe the love that was evident in the first century church! Isn’t that amazing!?!?
c. Spiritual Maturity – verses 12 -14
i. In this passage, John addresses the church concerning spiritual maturity. He defines two distinct groups to address, children and adults in the faith.
ii. The Children v. 12
1. 12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
2. Here we see John addressing those new in the faith. The word little children is the Greek word teknia, which emphasizes a child’s relationship and total dependence on their parents. We all start out in this state of the Christian life, and when we are in this state, it is enough to be amazed at how Jesus’ sacrifice covers our sins.
iii. The Adults v.13 – 14
1. 13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
2. 13a - John is addressing the most mature in this passage. He is emphasizing that their deep walk comes not from intellectual knowledge (but is certainly a part of it), but he is emphasizing the length and depth of their relationship with Christ. The Lord has had a longer time to perfect them.
3. 13b – The young men are the “journeyman” Christians, for lack of a better term. They are not as mature as the fathers, but are not as naïve as the children. They have fought spiritual battles, and come out victorious. They know what it is to be a rank-and-file soldier in the Army of the Lord.
4. 13c – John here goes back to address the little children again, but uses a different Greek word this time. The word here is paidia, emphasizing immaturity and the need for instruction. He is telling them that they indeed have experienced the love of the Father, but the need more instruction and experience to mature in the faith.
5. 14a – John repeats himself here to further emphasize that those who are spiritually mature have experience in the faith, and that their relationship is both deep and trustworthy.
6. 14b – John again repeats himself for emphasis, that the “Journeyman” Christian has fought battles with the forces of darkness and know victory. But, here, John tells us why, it is because of the instruction they received as little children concerning the Word of God. This word they have placed in their hearts, so that they might not sin, this Word enables them to overcome the world.
IV. Conclusion
a. No more convincing evidence of the absence of parental affection exists than that compiled by Rene Spitz. In a South American orphanage, Spitz observed and recorded what happened to 97 children who were deprived of emotional and physical contact with others. Because of a lack of funds, there was not enough staff to adequately care for these children, ages 3 months to 3 years old. Nurses changed diapers and fed and bathed the children. But there was little time to hold, cuddle, and talk to them as a mother would. After three months many of them showed signs of abnormality. Besides a loss of appetite and being unable to sleep well, many of the children lay with a vacant expression in their eyes. After five months, serious deterioration set in. They lay whimpering, with troubled and twisted faces. Often, when a doctor or nurse would pick up an infant, it would scream in terror. Twenty seven, almost one third, of the children died the first year, but not from lack of food or health care. They died of a lack of touch and emotional nurture. Because of this, seven more died the second year. Only twenty one of the 97 survived, most suffering serious psychological damage. – Charles Sell
b. After reading this, John’s characterization of new Christians as little children took on a new meaning. How many have we killed in the body through our lack of love, and how many will go through their Christian walk as a cripple because of the lack of love shown them?
c. It is my personal fervent prayer that God would change my heart toward those in the body that get under my skin. I pray that He will bring up this story every time I am angry and vengeful toward another Christian. Would to God that each one of us would take this to heart.
