GROWING TO PERFECTION
1 JOHN 2:7-14
This letter is a manual for Christian maturity. One test for maturity or Christian perfection is the test of love.
1 Jn. 4:18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
I. New commandment (2:7-8)
John introduced the subject of Christian love in this letter with the word beloved (1 Jn. 2:7, 3:2-21, 4:1-7-11). Jesus took an old commandment (Lev. 19:18) and made it new.
Jn. 13:34. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
2 Jn. 5. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
A. Old word heard in the beginning (7; beginning–Lk. 1:2; Jn. 15:27; Heb. 2:3, 5:12; 1 Jn. 1:1, 2:7-13-14-24, 3:8-11; 2 Jn. 5-6; heard the word–Jn. 14:24; Eph. 1:13; 2 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 4:2)
Jn. 15:27. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Heb. 2:3. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];
The commandment of love is both old and new.
Mk. 12:31. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
B. True message written for the present (8; true–Jn. 1:9, 6:32, 15:1, 17:3, 21:24; 1 Jn. 2:8-27, 5:20)
1 Jn. 5:20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1. True in Him (Christ loved–Eph. 5:2; Rev. 1:5)
Eph. 5:2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
2. True in us (Christians love--1 Jn. 4:11; cf. 1 Jn. 2:5-6--walking as He walked)
1 Jn. 4:11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
John personalized the truths that he wrote in this letter (cf. 2:1–“we” have an advocate). John, once the “son of thunder” (Mk. 3:17; Lk. 9:54), became the “apostle of love.”
1 Cor. 13:2. 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.
Gal. 5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
a. Darkness (1 Jn. 1:5, 2:8-9-11) passes (1 Cor. 7:31; 1 Jn. 2:17)
b. Light (1 Jn. 1:5-7, 2:8-9-10) shines (Jn. 1:5, 5:35; Phil. 2:15; 2 Pet. 1:19)
Phil. 2:15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
II. Near-sighted confession (2:9-11)
1 Jn. 1:6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1 Jn. 4:20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
John showed the difference in those who loved versus those who hated. John did not allow any neutrality between love and hatred.
• Love brother–1 Jn. 3:10-14; brother–1 Jn. 2:7-9-10-11, 3:10-12-13-14-15-16-17, 4:20-21, 5:16
• Hate brother–1 Jn. 4:20; hate–Eph. 5:29; 1 Jn. 2:9-11, 3:13-15, 4:20
1 Jn. 3:14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.
A. Stumbling-block (10; those who love fellow believers are living in the light, single-vision)
1. Transparence in the light (abide–1 Jn. 4:16)
1 Jn. 4:16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
2. Dissonance in the life (Mt. 16:23; Rom. 14:13)
Lk. 17:2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Rom. 14:13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.
B. Sight blinded (11; those who hate fellow believers are walking in darkness, double-minded)
1 Jn. 3:15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1. Discernment (walk in darkness–Jn. 8:12, 12:35)
Jn. 12:35. Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
2. Direction (watch where goes–Jn. 8:14, 12:35, 14:5)
3. Deception (eyes–Jn. 12:40; 2 Cor. 4:4)
Jn. 12:40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
David Smith wrote, “It is a fact that hatred of one’s brother clouds the soul and shuts out the light.”
III. Natural categories (2:12-14)
Believers ought to grow in the Lord from new birth to spiritual adulthood.
2 Pet. 3:18a. But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
John used the term write six times in three verses. Believers grow by the Word.
• John wrote a Gospel
• John wrote an Epistle
• John wrote a Prophecy
1 Pet. 2:2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
A. Newborn (12a, 14a)
Jn. 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
John used two different Greek terms for children.
• Little child (1 Jn. 2:1-12-28, 3:7-18, 4:4, 5:21)
• Young child (Mt. 18:3; 1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Jn. 2:13-18)
Mt. 18:3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
1. Forgiveness through Jesus (Lk. 7:48; Rom. 4:7; 1 Jn. 1:9)
2. Father in heaven (Mt. 6:9)
B. Adolescent (13b, 14c; Acts 2:17)
1 Tim. 4:12. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1. Defeat the devil (1 Jn. 4:4, 5:4-5; Rev. 12:11)
1 Jn. 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Rev. 12:11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Here, John called the devil the evil one (Mt. 6:13, 13:19; Eph. 6:16; 1 Jn. 5:18). John used many other names to describe the devil in his writings.
• Diabolos (Jn. 8:44; 1 Jn. 3:8-10)
• Satan (Jn. 13:27)
• Accuser (Rev. 12:10)
• Ruler of this world (Jn. 12:31, 14:30, 16:11)
Eph. 6:10-11. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
2. Memorize the Bible (Jn. 8:31)
Jn. 8:31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;
Ps. 119:11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
C. Mature (13a, 14b; father–1 Th. 2:11)
Tragically, some believers never mature (1 Cor. 3:1). Mature believers feed on the Word and develop others in the Lord (2 Tim. 2:2).
Heb. 5:14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Twice, John placed spiritual fathers in the category of knowing Jesus, just like spiritual children.
1. Known Jesus (1 Jn. 1:1)
2. Knows Jesus (Eph. 3:19; Phil. 3:10)
Phil. 3:10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;