Lesson for June 5, 2024

The Book of I John

I John 2: 7-11

Verse 7

^“Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.”

One of the major themes of I John is virtue-love – love for God and love for others. The commandment to practice virtue-love is not new. Virtue-love was an Old Testament command, renewed by Christ in the Gospels. According to John, those he was writing to should have been familiar with this command. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:30-31)

Verse 8

^“On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.”

The Greek word for new is “kainos,” meaning afresh. In other words, John is saying that he was refreshing their memories regarding the command to love God and love others. The character of Jesus Christ includes virtue-love, which He exhibited throughout His life on earth. (which is true in Him). And in you means believers are to follow Christ’s example of love, which abides in them.

This commandment to love one another can be obeyed only if a person is in Christ (in union with Him at salvation) and walking in the Light (in fellowship with God and filled with the Holy Spirit). The darkness in this verse refers to spiritual darkness from lack of proper understanding and application of God’s Word. The spiritual darkness was passing away from those believers John was writing to, because of the accurate Bible doctrine they were being taught. The true Light is Jesus Christ and He shines the light of truth into those who are positive toward God and His Word.

Verse 9

^“The one who says that he is in the Light and yet hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.”

John is reminding his audience that they have learned this doctrine and should be applying it as a means of demonstrating their faith. The Greek word for hates is “miseo,” and means a malicious or unjustifiable feeling toward another. Therefore, if a believer has a malicious or unjustifiable feeling for another person, they have committed a personal sin and are in spiritual darkness. Sin removes a believer from the Light into the darkness by being out of fellowship with God. Hopefully, this condition will be temporary, and they will Rebound and return to fellowship with God.

Verse 10

^“The one who loves his brother and sister remains in the Light, and there is nothing in him to cause stumbling.”

John tells us that one test to see if we are abiding in the Light is whether we are exhibiting virtue-love toward others. Loves is the Greek word “agapao,” and is a reference to God’s impersonal (unconditional) love. God’s love is based on His integrity and virtue. Remains is the Greek word “meno,” and means to dwell or to continue in. As a maturing believer remains in fellowship with God (the Light), they will exhibit impersonal love for everyone. The Greek word for stumbling is “skandalon” and means cause to fall. If the believer is in fellowship and executing his spiritual life (which love for others demonstrates), they will not think or act in a manner that would cause others to stumble spiritually.

Virtue-love is constant, non-emotional, and unconditional. Virtue-love is not based on the “lovability” of its object. Virtue-love is based on God’s integrity (complete, honest, pure, virtuous love based on truth) and God’s virtue (strength of character). 

Virtue-love expresses the deep, constant love, and interest of a perfect God towards imperfect, and therefore unworthy objects (unbelieving mankind). Upon faith in Christ, this love and interest has the potential of producing in these now perfect and worthy (positional sanctification) objects (believers), a love towards God. In turn, God’s love is able to produce in the life of believers, virtue-love towards others. Virtue-love is a synonym for divine agape love. Virtue-love is love based on the virtue of the one doing the loving. This virtue-love desires to see others come to know the source of this love. (I John 4:18-21)

Under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, virtue-love can be reproduced in the life of a believer. This unconditional love, whether exercised toward believers or unbelievers, is not emotional, it is a matter of the right mental attitude. It does not depend on the compatibility of the object. This love seeks the welfare of others, regardless of who they are, or how they act. (Romans 13:8-10, 15:1-3; Galatians 6:10; Colossians 3:12-13)

Verse 11

^“But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

The Greek word for know is “eido,” and means to understand, to perceive, or to be aware. Blinded is the Greek word “tuphloo,” and means to dull the intellect or understanding. His eyes in this verse refers to his spiritual eyes. (Ephesians 4:17-23)

John warned that believers who exhibit hate toward another person have stepped into Satan’s world system and out of God’s power system. Out of fellowship believers are unable to know where they are going spiritually because they have lost the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. A spiritually blinded believer plays into Satan’s hand and can be led into a system of Human Viewpoint Thinking that will destroy their spiritual life.