1 John 2:7-9 What John is writing about knowing and obeying God is really nothing new. It goes back to the beginning of our Christian roots.

1 John 2:7 Of course, God's commandments can be summarized by a single command: to love one another. John 15:10, 12; 1 John 3:22-23; 2 John 6; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10

John 13:34 What was at one time a "new commandment" is now "old" to them. They had received it at the earliest time in their Christian lives.

1 John 2:7 There is no new responsibility ("commandment") There is no new content ("word" = "message", "communication")

1 John 2:7b False teachers like to add new ideas to old teaching AND... they like to add new meanings to old teachings, i.e. they reinterpret teaching to make it more agreeable.

1 John 2:7b So, they may add different instruction and/or they may re-define what has been taught. For example, loving one another may mean something devoid of biblical content.

1 John 2:8 In another sense, the commandment can be looked upon as a new one. John 13:34 It belongs to the new age that is in the process of dawning.

1 John 2:8 The Kingdom coming is like a woman giving birth. 1 Thess. 5:3 It doesn't come without some pain and struggle.

1 John 2:8 This world really is getting old......and has been for some time.

1 John 2:8 Genuine, biblical love has its character rooted in the real New Age.

1 John 2:8 "passing away" This world and its system is at odds with God and with the Kingdom that is coming. This world is temporary and dying.

1 John 2:8 This world is temporary and dying......as is its moral system that is a failure that lacks morality.

1 John 2:8 "true light" When we love as Christ love, the realities of the new age to come become apparent and stand in stark contrast to the world and its system.

1 John 2:8 "Christian love is truth manifested both in the Teacher who modeled it and in (we) who obey it as we 'walk just as He walked'" Hodges (emphasis mine)

1 John 2:8 Real love won't have anything to do with the deceit of the darkness around it. So much of "love" today is not. So much of "love" today, even among Christians, looks nothing like the reality of Christ's love.

1 John 2:8 Genuine, biblical love doesn't always "feel" good. Doing what is in another person's best interests, doing what is right, often does not.

1 John 2:8 Often, when we love as God would have us to love, we will be accused of being unloving.

1 John 2:8 Emotion does not necessarily determine what love is. But, that is often exactly what people use to determine whether or not they think something or someone is loving.

1 John 2:8 It is often true that what feels good to us is exactly the opposite of real love.

1 John 2:8 When we love properly, we give others a taste of the reality to come.

1 John 2:8 When we love one another properly, we allow people to know Christ's love and what His followers should live like. John 13:35 Remember: when we don't...

1 John 2:9 "hates his brother" Not "a brother" The reality is that Christians can, and do, hate their brothers, at times. Throughout this book, John's concern is the treatment of other Christians.

1 John 2:9 And, in this most recent section, John is talking about Christians who are farther along in their walk.

1 John 2:9 A believer who fails to love his brother in Christ is living in the darkness of this age that is passing away.

1 John 2:9 Why waste your time living for a world that is dying, without answers?

1 John 2:10 Why live like a (spiritual) baby? They should have known better......and so should we!

1 John 2:10 When we abide in Christ, we don't create an inner "trap" that might cause us to fall. Sin enslaves. Walking in the light is freedom.

1 John 2:9 Consider how serious this condition is...

1 John 2:9 When we hate other believers, it displays a dangerous and costly spiritual condition within us.

1 John 2:9 Losing touch with the "true light" of God's nature, which is both love and light, we can be used of Satan. Many churches have experienced this.

1 John 2:9 Also, we don't see what it is doing to us. We don't realize the discipline that may be in front of us and the future that is compromised. 1 Cor. 3:16; Heb. 12:3-11; Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Tim. 1:19-20