Bible Study on 1John 2, verses 7 to 11, He that loves his brother lives in the light

 

1John 2:7 ¶  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8  Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Here starts that reference to Jesus “new commandment” of John 13:34,35 which is not so much new in that God the Father had already given this very sentiment under the Law given to Moses as between the people of Israel.

Leviticus 19:18  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

See how neighbor in Leviticus refers to thy people?

I have pointed out previously how the word charity in the New Testament refers to the Christian’s love for their fellow Christians and how important it is.

Colossians 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

2Peter 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

1Corinthians 13:1 ¶  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

    4 ¶  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

    8 ¶  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Such an idea would cause us to forgo self-righteousness and arrogance within the church. The difference between confidence and arrogance is that when we are confident we can handle disagreement and still recognize our unity of purpose and faith while if we are arrogant we can brook no conflicting opinions on any matter and will just go down the street to the next church.

When we love our brothers and sisters in Christ in the proper way, in the Lord, we walk in the Light of Christ but when we hate or despise or hold in low regard our brothers and sisters in Christ or try to manipulate, gaslight, or generally use them for our own agenda we walk in darkness.