7 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. 8 At 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. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 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.
John said he was not writing a new command but an old one. One that is familiar to them. One “which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.” “In him,” must refer to “Christ” while “in you” must refer to the readers. The statement, “The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining” is then a poetic expression. It expresses that in Christ, they are His witness. That is, by how they love their brothers. Thus, in verses 9-11, he contrasted loving one’s brother as walking in the light. But hating a brother as walking in darkness.
John then identified those he wrote the letter for according to three groups - little children, fathers, and young men. Whatever age they are, they must obey the command as their sins have been forgiven by the Lord. They have known the Lord from the beginning. They had overcome the evil one. And they are strong as God’s word abides in them.
Likewise, as Christians, we must be walking in the light and not in darkness. We are to obey the new command and love our brothers whether they are children, young adult, or older men that are in our midst. We should not hate anyone because God has also forgiven us after we come to know Him. The question then is, “Do we love God and love one another just as He loves us?” If we do not love, we are still living in darkness and not walking in the light!
Prayer: Lord, I want to walk in the light. I want to love You and to love my neighbor as myself just as Jesus loves me. I will not love myself more than you or anyone else. So, help me Lord, I pray!
