1 John Episode 4 - Love Is the Evidence of Walking in the Light

In Episode 4, we explore 1 John 2:7–11 and discover that one of the clearest signs of walking in the light is the way we love others. John reminds us that Christ's command to love is both timeless and transformational, shaping our relationships in our families, churches, workplaces and communities. Join us as we consider how forgiveness, humility and Christlike love reflect the life of Jesus and become a powerful witness in today's world.

Transcript

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Welcome to episode four of our journey through the first epistle of John. One of the things I've grown to appreciate over many years of following Jesus is just how practical John's writing is. He doesn't spend a lot of time discussing ideas that remain in the classroom. Instead, he continually asks one very important question What does a genuine relationship with Jesus actually look like in everyday life? So far, John has reminded us that God is light and that we are called to walk in his light. We've also seen that when we fail, Jesus is our advocate before the Father, and that knowing God isn't simply about possessing biblical knowledge, it is about living in a growing relationship with Him. Now John moves to another evidence of authentic faith. This time he focuses on something that affects every one of us every single day. Our relationships, how we relate to the people around us reveals far more about our spiritual lives than we often realize. I think this passage is incredibly relevant today because we live in a world that has become increasingly divided. People seem quicker to criticize than encourage. Social media has made it easy to attack people we've never even met. Families become divided, churches experience conflict, friendships break down, workplaces become toxic, communities become polarized. Sometimes it almost seems as though anger has become the normal language of our culture. Into that environment, John speaks words that are just as challenging today as they were nearly two thousand years ago. He reminds us that the clearest evidence that we are walking in God's light is the way we love other people. John begins by saying he isn't writing a new commandment, then almost immediately he says that he is writing a new commandment. At first glance that sounds confusing. So what does he mean? The Greek word for commandment is entole. It refers to an instruction, a charge, or an authoritative command. The command itself wasn't new. God's people had been instructed to love one another throughout the Old Testament. For example, in Leviticus we read that God's people were to love your neighbor as yourself. So in one sense, this command had existed for centuries. But John also says it is new. How can it be both old and new? The answer is found in Jesus. Jesus didn't invent the command to love, he transformed it. On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, A new command I give you, love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. That changed everything. The standard was no longer simply loving people as we love ourselves. The new standard became loving people as Christ has loved us. That is a much higher standard. Jesus loved sacrificially, he loved patiently, he loved people who misunderstood him, he loved people who disappointed him, he even loved those who nailed him to the cross. John says this new command has become visible because people have now seen it lived perfectly in Jesus. One of the difficulties we have today is that we often define love almost entirely as an emotion. If I feel loved, then I love. If I don't feel loved, then somehow I can't love. The New Testament paints a very different picture. The Greek word John uses is agape. This is one of the richest words in the New Testament. It describes love that deliberately seeks another person's good. It isn't based upon feelings, it isn't based upon whether someone deserves it, it isn't based upon whether they agree with us, it is a choice to act for another person's well-being. Of course, emotions are important, but biblical love goes much deeper. It is an expression of God's own character. It is as it is the kind of love that continues even when relationships become difficult. John then makes one of the strongest statements in his letter. He says that someone can claim to be walking in the light while at the very same time living with hatred towards another believer. John says those two things cannot coexist. That's confronting, because it means Christianity is never simply about correct beliefs, it must also transform our relationships. Notice that John isn't saying believers will never experience conflict. Conflict is part of life. People misunderstand one another, people disappoint us, sometimes they deeply wound us. The issue isn't whether conflict happens, the issue is how we respond to it. Do we pursue reconciliation? Do we forgive? Do we seek understanding? Or do we hold on to resentment? John says love keeps us walking in the light. Hatred and unresolved anger moves us back into darkness. When we hear the word hate, we often imagine extreme hostility, but I think John is speaking much more broadly. Hatred can sometimes look very respectable. It can appear as bitterness, unforgiveness, constant criticism, holding grudges, refusing to speak to someone, wanting another person to fail, quiet resentment that remains hidden for years. I've discovered over many years of pastoral ministry that relationships rarely break down overnight. Usually it begins with small unresolved hurts. A misunderstanding isn't addressed, an offense isn't forgiven, a disappointment is quietly buried. Over time, those things grow. Eventually they begin affecting every interaction. Before long, the relationship is characterized by distance instead of trust. John is warning us not to let that happen. One of the questions I often ask myself is this how do I know how I'm really doing spiritually? It's easy to answer that question by thinking about Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, or ministry. Those things are all important, but John points somewhere even closer to home. He points to our relationships. How do I treat my spouse? How patient am I with my family? How do I respond when someone criticizes me? Do I gossip? Do I speak kindly? Do I assume the worst about people? Or do I extend grace? I think these are the kinds of questions John wants us to ask, because love isn't primarily demonstrated in extraordinary moments, is demonstrated in ordinary, everyday life. The way we speak, the way we listen, the way we forgive, the way we respond when someone lets us down. I've often found that the greatest opportunities for spiritual growth don't happen in church services. They happen on a Monday morning, at home, at work, while driving in traffic, when someone disappoints us. Those ordinary moments reveal whether Christ is truly shaping our hearts. John reminds us that the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. What a wonderful picture. Every time we choose forgiveness over revenge, every time we choose patience over anger, every time we choose kindness over criticism, every time we choose reconciliation over division, the light of Christ shines into a dark world. People notice, not because we're perfect, but because they begin seeing something of Jesus in us. I've become increasingly convinced that one of the greatest testimonies Christians can offer today isn't simply having all the right answers. It's demonstrating Christ like love. Our world has become increasingly argumentative. People are often quick to judge and slow to listen. Sadly, that attitude sometimes finds its way into the church as well. I've noticed over the years that believers can become divided over theology, worship styles, church structures, politics, or secondary doctrines. While truth certainly matters, we must never allow disagreement to destroy the love that Christ commands us to have for one another. We can hold deep convictions and still speak with humility. We can disagree without becoming disagreeable, we can defend truth without losing compassion. I think that reflects the heart of Jesus. As I look back over many decades of following Christ, I've become convinced that relationships are one of God's greatest classrooms. The Lord has used difficult people to teach me patience. He's used misunderstandings to teach me humility. He's used forgiveness to soften my own heart. I've certainly not always responded perfectly. There have been times I've had to apologize, times I've had to ask forgiveness, times I've had to let go of hurt, but I've discovered that every time I choose to forgive rather than hold on to resentment, I experience a greater sense of freedom. Unforgiveness doesn't only imprison the other person in our minds, it quietly impris as well. Love, on the other hand, brings freedom. It keeps our hearts soft, it keeps us close to Jesus, and it allows his light to continue shining through us. John leaves us with a very practical challenge. If we want to know whether we're walking in God's light, one of the best places to look is our relationships. Are we becoming more patient, more forgiving, more gracious, more willing to listen, more willing to restore? None of us has arrived. We're all growing, but if Christ is truly living within us, his love should increasingly become visible through us. Perhaps today there's someone you need to forgive, someone you need to encourage, someone you need to speak kindly to, or perhaps someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness. That may be one of the most practical ways you can walk in the light today. Until next time, may the love of Christ fill your heart, shape your relationships, and shine brightly through your life.