Love and Light - 1 John 2:7-11

John moves from his call to love God to a challenge to love one another. Loving one another is an essential Christian characteristic, nothing displays the character of God and of Jesus, as he lived and ministered among mankind, more than love. Love must characterize believers as they engage one another and even those outside the church. John compares and contrasts four characteristics: love, light, hate and darkness. Hate has no place among believers, no believer should ever be characterized by hate. Hate leaves a person in darkness, in darkness relationally - cut off from God and others, but it also causes confusion and blindness. Love shines a light and illuminates truth. As believers, we must actively love one another. Genuine love does not lead to decisions or actions that are contrary to the revealed will of God or his truth. We must love one another. 1 John has often been described as a letter written to offer assurance to believers. Believers can know that they have indeed been delivered from their sins and stand justified before God, only through Jesus, and a right understanding and belief about him and in him alone. John also makes statements about not living in darkness or continuing in the practice of sin 1 John 1:6-8; 3:9-10; 5:18. These statements can seem confusing and this is one of the elements of the epistles of John that can be hard to fully understand. How can we be sure of our salvation, of our relationship with Jesus, if the measure is not sinning anymore? We can confidently know that we are believers, resting in the finished work of Jesus. John’s epistles are unique, in that, John is clearly addressing antagonists against Jesus, the gospel and these believers (the audience may be the churches of Asia Minor that he addresses in Revelation). No matter the audience, there is clearly antagonism from outside the church, from some who have left the church, but are still causing chaos and confusion for those remaining in the church. Remember, belief in Jesus alone saves; the evidence of salvation flows from this belief.