1 John 2:7-11 (NKJV) 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. 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.
V7 “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.” The “beginning” is the beginning of Jesus’s ministry. The readers know this, but John is reminding us. There is another opinion. Warren W. Wiersbe writes: “But in 1Jn 2:7, the subject is the beginning of the Christian life. The commandment to love one another is not an appendix to our Christian experience, as though God had an afterthought. No! It is in our hearts from the very beginning of our faith in Jesus Christ.”
V8 “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.” This repetition is for emphasis. The new commandment is already lived by Jesus, and not only Him but in believers as well. It is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Darkness is the devil’s way and beliefs of life. Lightness is the Kingdom of the Day–the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. See 2 Corinthians 4:6, 2 Timothy 1:10, and John 8:12.
V9 “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.” In the light refers to the New Birth affected by the Holy Spirit in anyone who believes in Jesus. How can anyone claim to be a Christian and not have the character traits that the Lord Jesus wants for us? We have Holy Spirit who helps us (Galatians 5:22-23). Words and actions must align. If they do not, then there is no new birth; they are still in darkness.
V10 “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” Love is a character trait of God (1 John 4:16). The Greek word for “love” is (G0025) ἀγαπάω agapaō, which is the love of choice, not necessarily passion or feelings. This type of love’s actions are found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. This love is so wonderful that we can love our enemies. We don’t have to like them; we treat them kindly, even if they do not treat us similarly. If we love our fellow Christian then our words and life align. The stumbling to fall or at least lose balance is a Christian life out of balance in some way. This might describe ourselves stumbling in our faith (sin causes that) or causing another to stumble. If we live God’s way of life, neither interpretation will happen. We will be secure and our brother or sister will not have an occasion to stumble. How do we protect ourselves from stumbling in the faith? We prevent stumbling by: 1) obeying God’s laws–Psalm 119:165, 2) knowledge, understanding, and wisdom from God (we pray for these)–Proverbs 3:23, 3) light to our soul from God’s truths–John 11:9, and 4) diligence in our Christian living–2 Peter 1:10. Things that make us stumble: 1) satan’s agents (false teachers, pastors, etc.)–Psalm 140:4, 2) a wicked lifestyle–Proverbs 4:19, 3) addictions–Isaiah 28:7, 4) refusing to thank God–Jeremiah 13:16, 5) idols–Jeremiah 18:15, 6) pride–Jeremiah 50:32, 7) evil lifestyle–Hosea 14:9, 8) fear (a fear that results in our hiding the fact that we are Christians)–Matthew 26:31, 9) persecution and troubles–Mark 4:17, and 10) foolish, ungodly speech–James 3:2.
V11 “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.” On the other hand, the one who has a rather continuous life of hate is not even a christian, they are still in darkness, live in darkness, and stumble continuously because there is no light (the Holy Spirit) in them.
We learn:
- There is a Christian life to live
- There are rules for the Christian to follow
- Our lives will be tested to let ourselves and others know if we are true Christians