Scripture: 1 John 2:1-17
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
Reasons for Writing
12 I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
14 I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
On Not Loving the World
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Observation:
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.” (1 John 2:4-5)
Application:
It is important for us as believers, to submit to the Lordship of Christ, trusting in his word and walking in his light. If we continue to live our lives as we did before becoming a Christian, then we would have to question if we were really believers in the first place. One of the marks of being a Christian is living a transformed life, a life that is reflective of Jesus Christ. It is important for us to obey his word and live our lives in accordance with his Word. We have everything we need to do just that. We have his written word, and we have the Holy Spirit who reminds of his word. We just need to obey his word, incorporating it in our lives and as we do that we will live transformed lives and God’s truth will be in us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us to walk in the light of your word daily. Help us to follow your commands because you are God and there is no other. When our own will does not align with your word, help us to conform to your ways, because your ways are so far above our ways and your thoughts are so far above our thoughts. Help us to live the transformed lives that you desire of us as your children and help others to see you in us by our lives lived in your truth. Amen.