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The Daily (NASB) Reading: 1 John 2:7-11

Who are the Beloved? (v.7)

We should keep in mind that this address is the conclusion of the previous verse. (v.6) Therefore, they are not merely “little children” but are now the beloved children as the love of God is being perfected (that is) accomplished among them. The goal here is to reach this assurance by first coming to God as “little children” in all humility. Therefore, this is a transitional title. This command applies to the beloved children because they are among (the brothers). Now there seems to be a textual variant here between the manuscript traditions. I haven’t done my homework surrounding how this may have traced itself out, but I am willing to offer my opinion as to why it is pointless to argue over which use is more authoritative. Frankly, by either use of Adelphoi or Agapetoi, the point is the same. And I think they are both equally authoritative regarding John’s point. It would be true in both cases that these children would be beloved as well as brethren. While each word conveys a distinct meaning as to the relationship of the little children, they are both relational to the Love and the Light that is set upon this audience through John’s message.

But what is the commandment which is not new but an old one? (v.7)

The command here is what he has been saying from the beginning. It is eternal life through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:15–18 (NKJV)

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Romans 10:15–18 (NKJV)

15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”

2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 (NKJV)

6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

Therefore this commandment is for those who love God and are the called according to his purpose (Rom.8:28). Those who love “this” God are the beloved of God.

Romans 9:9–13 (NKJV)

9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time, I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Therefore the command here is to continue in the things they have learned as they are to grow together among the “little children” because they are all little children in comparison to Christ, the Son of God, as “brothers” in the Beloved. Therefore that is not a new commandment to this audience as a whole.

Ephesians 1:4–7 (NKJV)

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

But why does John seem to “auto-correct” himself here with the statement, “on the other hand,” I am writing to you a new commandment? (v.8)

It is as though he is saying, “I know that I just said that this is not a new commandment, but now I am saying that it is a new commandment. So what I think is going on here is that there was an addition to the “beloved brethren” in the short-range audience. The phrase, “which is true in him and you,” should not be mistaken for the resurrected Christ but is referring to the man “him” who was newly added to “the Light” of this short-range audience. I believe this is true because the next phrase refers to “the true Light” which is (already) shining. The Light that already shines is the message which they heard from the beginning (v.5), but the personal masculine dative pronoun “him” here is referring to the “little light” that needs to shine among them as Christ has been the Light of the beloved brethren from the beginning. So this light must learn to shine as bright as the others because they are all brothers and equally loved by God. Therefore the new commandment is to love (this addition) with the same light and love that they had from the beginning. If the pronoun was referring to Christ himself, it would carry the direct article, but it is dative here. So the point is this, that the Light and Love is true “in him and you” by John’s Apostolic affirmation. Therefore what remains in the following verses is given for us as the test to know if this Apostolic affirmation belongs to us and is true in us, too.

So what is the test? (v.9)

The test is by what manner of love that we love the brethren. If the true God is not the motivation of our love, it is not the love demonstrated by the cross of Christ by which we love. John describes this in greater detail in verses 15-17, so I am not going to get too far into that here, but it is good for contextual reference to help us understand what he means by “hates his brother.” If we walk in the Light but have our love prioritized for the things of this world, it demonstrates a hatred toward the things of God.

Luke 14:25–35 (NKJV)

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. 34 “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Our love for the things of God must be so great that the present world perceives it as a hatred for the world.

Mark 3:31–35 (NKJV)

31 Then His brothers and His mother came and standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” 33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother or My brothers?” 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore, this is John’s way of calling out the hypocrisy of someone who loves the world and the things of the world. But why is he saying this one “is in darkness until now?” What we say with our external nature is not always what we are in the secret place of the heart. So he is saying that anyone who continues in darkness, regardless of walking in the Light that is shining in the beloved brethren, is a hypocrite. But John is not telling this one to flee the Light but to continue in the Light. He is only calling them to understand their spiritual state. The “until now” is not here as though some epiphany dawned on this hypocrite but is rather saying that he has been in darkness “to even this point” regardless of being among the sons of light. In other words, this example has been a hypocrite the whole time while using Christian language to advance in whatever worldly causes being named among the brethren may have benefited him.

But what is the application for the one who fails this test? (v.10)

Is he to run and hide?

John 3:19–21 (NKJV)

19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

No, of course not! He is to continue to abide in the Light and learn to love as Christ loved with the fullness of grace. This is what it is to walk as Christ walked. He is to continue in the things he has learned, even if they were exercised through hypocritical motivations! There is no cause for stumbling in him because we are saved by grace from the beginning of this message to the end of this message, from the start of our conversion to the finishing of our faith. This is what makes grace such a SCANDAL to the morally religious and self-righteous. Literally, in Greek, it says, “there is no scandal in him.” Again, the “him” refers to the hypocrite that abides in this love for the brethren.

Hebrews 6:1–12 (NKJV)

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God has said that He has removed the stumbling block in that man who abides with the love that He has for the church! But He has only removed it from those who possess this divine love. The world may look on this love and be confounded, but the confusion of the brethren is taken away by Christ! The light and the truth abide in the one who abides in God! Therefore the hypocrite who loves will not continue to abide in hypocrisy.

Romans 6:1–2 (NKJV)

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

So what happens to those who run and hide in the darkness? (v.11)

These will not continue in the Light because they love the darkness. And those that love the darkness hate the Light. They cannot perceive the graceful love of God bestowed upon the brethren. Therefore they continue in the image of the Accuser of the brethren and of the likeness of his hatred of God, who accuses them before God day and night. There is no slumber to their works of hypocrisy and self-image.

Psalm 36:title–12 (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the Servant of the Lord. 1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil. 5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast. 7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. 8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. 9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. 10 Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the workers of iniquity have fallen; They have been cast down and are not able to rise.

Therefore since the darkness has blinded his eyes, how much more should the brethren love the hypocrite and accuser with Christ’s goodwill and hospitality? If the hypocrite doesn’t know where he is going, how much more does he need a guide?

Matthew 15:12–14 (NKJV)

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

But when do we “Let them go?” And when do we “receive them?”

As I have also been reading Henry Scougal’s book “The Life of God in the Soul of Man,” I believe he offers some good answers to these questions. Concerning the excellence of humility, he says, “The last branch of religion is humility. The human soul is not capable of a higher and more noble endowment. It is silly ignorance that gives rise to pride, but humility arises from fellowship with excellent things. I do not know what thoughts people have of humility. But I see almost every person trying hard to appear to be humble, shunning those expressions and actions as may be considered arrogant and presumptuous so that those who desire praise the most are actually loathed to commend themselves.”

Therefore we “let them go” when they are too proud to see their sin, as the Apostle of love points out later in his epistle (1Jn.2:19). But if they continue to humble themselves by presenting their bodies as a living sacrifice, then we should receive their humility regardless if it is hypocritically motivated.

Matthew 13:30 (NKJV)

30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Scougal continues to comment, “But the humble man is at an advantage when he is despised in that no one can think more meanly of him than he already does of himself. Therefore he is not troubled at any matter but can bear reproaches that would wound another person to their soul.”

Romans 12:1–2 (NKJV)

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:16 (NKJV)

16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Scougal also offers this scenario to help us answer these questions, “When a person sees how infinitely distant the common mind and human nature are from this divine love, he may perhaps be ready to despair and give up, thinking how utterly impossible it is to attain it.” I can say that I was there once. I will surely testify to this state of mind while even in the beginnings of God’s grace in me. Scougal writes, “Happy are they whose souls are awakened to the divine life, and who are renewed in their inward spirits. But alas! I am of quite another constitution and am not able to accomplish such an enormous change. Since nothing but a new nature will suffice, what can I do? I could bestow all my goods as offerings to God or gifts to the poor but yet be unable to be possessed of that love without which such expense would profit me nothing. This gift of God cannot be purchased with money! When I reflect upon my highest and most distinguished attainments, I have reason to suspect that they are all just the product of my fallen nature, the consequences of self-love acting under several guises. As a result, the only advantage that I can draw from the discovery of true religion is to see from a distance the happiness that I am not able to reach. It is like being a man in a shipwreck who sees the land and envies the happiness of all those who are there but thinks it is impossible for him to reach the shore.”

What does such a man need most? This man needs the understanding of justification by grace alone through faith alone. This man is ready to hear that his sin was imputed to Christ and the righteousness of Christ is eternally his. This man needs to be encouraged and to encourage himself on “the powerful aids” of this precious truth and grace of the gospel. There is an open throne of grace to him where he can cast his anchor into the mediation of Jesus Christ, the High Priest, and the Advocate of sinners. Scougal writes, “God has committed the care of our souls to no lesser a person than the eternal Son of His love. Did not the Son of God come down from his Father on high and become a slave in the likeness of sinful flesh that he might recover and propagate the divine life and restore the image of the divine Being in the souls of sinners? All the great works that Christ performed and all the sad afflictions that he endured had this as their purpose and design. It was for this that he labored and toiled, for this that he bled and died.”

Now, if that is true, that this is the reason that Christ bled and died, how can we say that this divine image, according to the divine Being, can be in every man? The life of this “religion in the soul” is for those that he bled and died for! And this to give them his own image!

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 (NKJV)

16 Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Therefore as Scougal continues, “It is impossible that this great heavenly mission should prove to be abortive, that such a mighty undertaking should fail or miscarry. Our High Priest intercedes forever and is able to save ALL that truly come to God through him to the uttermost (Heb.7:25).”

This is who Christ justifies. He only saves those who seek to put to death the old image with him in his death. Christ died for the ungodly!

Romans 4:1–8 (NKJV)

1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

But he also died to bring them to glory by his own godliness. And this is “the life of God in the soul,” as Scougal continues, “Whenever this day dawns and the daystar rises in the heart, the powers of darkness begin to dispel. Ignorance and folly and all the corrupt and selfish affections will flee away as fast before it as the shades of night do before the rising sun. For ‘the path of the justified is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day’ (Pr.4:18), and ‘they go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God’ (Ps.84:7). So ask yourself: Is the one who made your soul unable to rectify and amend them again? Shall we not be able - with God’s grace - to vanquish and expel the violent thoughts that intrude on our sanctification and put to flight the alien temptations that march as armies to lay siege to the ground that their master, the Devil, once occupied?”