Tests 3 and 4: Loving Brothers, Loving the World
Paul Watson
August 16, 2020
I John 2:7-17
As we have established in I John already, John’s first test involves differentiating Christian from the
world by their confession of Christ. The second test involves living out the commandments of
Christ. And here in this second section of I John 2, we see John specify which of Christ’s
commandments he has in mind. John is particularly thinking of the love command in John 13:34.
His message here is that true Christians are distinct in the they act out their love for each other, and
the hold onto no love for the world and the things of the world.
Loving Brothers (7-11)
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John says this isn’t a new rule. John says this is the message Christians have heard from the beginning. (John 13:34) (v. 7)
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But this is also a new rule. And it is a new rule, in the new life the Christian gains, and the new era of time set off by the coming of Christ. (v. 8).
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Further, John says that Christ’s light, which is in part his example of love, is shown THROUGH US. (v. 8)
The Test: Have You Let Go Of Hate? If not, you are not in the light. (v. 9)
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The Reversal: Remain in the Light! (v. 10)
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What living in darkness gets us: Blindness (v. 11)
II. Loving the World (12-17)
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Poetic Interlude: Our Purpose (v. 12-14)
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The Test: Do You Love the Temporal or the Spiritual? (v. 15)
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Reiteration: The World Passes Away but God’s People Remain Forever! (v. 16, 17)
When we love our fellow Christian and fellow man we show the character of Christ to the world.
When we abide in him, we come out of the world and into his body. So as we abide with him here,
we will abide with him in eternity.