Christ Community Church

May 31
Love Your Brothers, Hating Them Proves That You Are Walking In Darkness
1 John 2:7-11; Psalm 118; Acts 10

1 John 2:7-11 says, "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. 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. 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. 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.

Matthew Henry says, "The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going."

We are to love Christ by obeying Him. And that means loving God Himself with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, but also loving our neighbor as yourself! Loving our brothers and sisters in Christ is absolutely vital, and also demonstrates that we are in the truth and that we truly are saved and love Christ. If we say we love God and hate our brother for whom Christ died, then we lie and do not practice the truth. May God give us grace to love long and love genuinely from the heart, even those brothers and sisters who have hurt us in some way. May God give us grace to forgive them, and to love them from the heart. The darkness of hating our brothers proves that we have been blinded, and we must be aggressive in repentance and faith in Christ and to turn away from a bitter and hard heart that will lead us away from Christ. Thank you Jesus for loving us while we were yet sinners, while we were enemies, and for dying on the cross for us and saving us! You are awesome!