Is it New or Old? Day 4
“Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.” - 1 John 2:7-8
Is it new or old? That’s the question. John is writing to remind them about what they already know. He is telling them that what he is explaining isn’t new. Yet the next verse he says it is new. So which is it? It’s both. You see, John is explaining that there is nothing new that he is speaking but rather it feels new because it is fulfilled. The apostles writing’s in the New Testament are filled with reminders that what they speak is the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Testament and the prophets. John is saying, that none of this is new though it feels new.
Darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. What is the true light? A better question would be, WHO is the true light? The answer is simply Jesus. Remember He is life itself made manifest! John is telling them that there is nothing new, the only thing new is Christ himself made manifest in fulfillment of all of scripture. Darkness has to flee at the mention and presence of Christ. When we walk and abide in Christ, we walk as Christ walks. This has been John’s theme since the beginning of this letter. If you love God, your life will reflect it.
John reemphasizes this point by stating “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him, there is no cause for stumbling.” Once again, what you claim should be reflected in your actions. You can’t claim to be a Christian if you show no fruit. Likewise, if you claim to be a Christian, fruit will be seen. Your actions reflect your truest self.
In verse 14 John writes “I write to you fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” God has called us from the beginning of time to walk in communion with Him. Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden, face to face, until sin entered and fractured that closeness. God desires to be in communion with his people. That is what God has desired from the beginning.
We are to walk with the Lord. To abide in him and he abide in us. What does it look like for the Lord to abide in us? Verse 14 gives us a glimpse into what it looks like. His word abides inside of our hearts. When faced with temptation and the enemy, we can overcome because “it is written.” Be one who walks in communion with God the Father. Let his word abide inside you. As John has been saying this whole time. If you love God, abide in him. If you love God, let your life reflect it.
