Podcast: 1 John: The Rule of Love

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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.
-1 John 2:9-11

Welcome to the Christian Pilgrimage Podcast; I’m your host, Paul Lytle. Today, we’re going to be discussing “The Rule of Love.”

Does it surprise you when people in a particular family look alike? Now, certainly, it’s a little strange when they all look TOO much alike, but we would expect a family resemblance within a family. We would expect siblings to look somewhat like each other, and somewhat like their parents. In my case, there’s not much doubt that I’m my father’s son. You see us together, and you will see the resemblance.

And as often as I see, in the Bible, that the Church is described as a family, I sort of wonder why I don’t see more family resemblance there. Obviously, I’m not talking about physical appearance here. We’re not physically related that closely. But the Bible is clear about how we are supposed to act, and most people who say they are Christians don’t act that way.

And this brings up the dreaded topic of works when it comes to salvation, which has only been argued for a couple of thousand years.

We can describe this debate as happening between two basic camps. These camps have a distinct view of works in relation to the Christian. The first is that Jesus’ Blood forgives us to a point, but we really need to earn our way into Heaven by our actions. So if there are people who claim to be Christian and yet aren’t acting very well, they probably need to look out, because they may not earn their salvation. The other camp will say that faith alone saves us, and works don’t really mean anything. We would like all Christians to be good people are leaders in their community and love everyone, but it’s not always going to happen. It’s the faith that matters, not really anything else.

Verses like this seem, at first glance, to support the first theology. It seems like John is telling us that we need to love everyone if we claim to be Christian. But there are clearly other verses in the Bible that tells us that faith alone saves us.

I don’t think we’re going to end this debate today, but we can try to help. Let me see if I can explain it briefly, and this explanation brings me back to what I was saying about family. We are part of a family, and so there is a family resemblance. Let’s look at the text.

John has previously set up this extended analogy of light and darkness representing where we are in this life. We all start in the darkness, in sin and death. But because of Jesus, because of His death, because of the gift of faith, we are able to move into the light.

The only thing required to go into the light is faith. Don’t lose the context here. If you lose the context, you’re going to miss the point. John states over and over again in this letter that we are saved by Jesus’ finished work on the Cross. Jesus did it all for us. We don’t deserve it, certainly. We have all sinned, which is rebellion against God. We have all sought our own selfish desires, which is an offense to Him. We deserve death for these crimes, but Jesus died on the Cross to bear our punishment for us. He has made a way for us to walk in the light.

In repentance and faith we walk there with Him. It’s not that we have earned it, or even can keep it by being good. Jesus did that part of it for us. It is by faith.

But there is more going on there than just praying a prayer and then going on our way. When we are saved, God takes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh. Jesus clothes us in His righteousness and gives us Holy Spirit as a guide. He changes us. As the Reformers used to say, it is faith alone that saves us, but faith that saves is never alone.

So when we look at passages like this, where it tells us how people of the light act, we’re not looking at a list of requirements to get to Heaven. Again, Jesus already took care of those. We are looking at how children of the light act. We have a saving faith, and that faith brought some friends.

We do what we do because we are what we are. Sinners sin. Why? Because they are sinners. Children of God, bought by the Blood of the Lamb, love. Why? Because they are children of God.

This is important to get. True Christians act in certain ways. Why? Because of the family resemblance. All Christians have the Holy Spirit. All Christians are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. We act differently because we are different. We have been changed.

So John is not here saying, “Love your brother or you won’t get into Heaven.” He is saying, “Loving your brother is evidence of Jesus’ work in your heart. It’s a way to KNOW that you are going to Heaven.”

In other words, if you took a poll amongst true Christians (and pay attention to the word “true” there), you will find a real concern and love for the people around them. Why? Because we are Christians. That’s who we are.

The Holy Spirit’s guidance is like a light for us. Those people in the darkness cannot help but to sin. They’re in the darkness; they don’t know where they are going. But in the light, things are more clear.

It is important to remember that we are not saying that Christians do not sin. John makes it clear that we do. Even in the light, you sometimes trip over a rock. He’s not saying that you won’t make it to Heaven if you don’t unconditionally love every person you see. That’s not it. He’s talking about a change in you.

He’s writing these things so that we will know that we are in the faith. And this is how you know. Look at your life. Do you love people or hate them? Do you want to help those people in church who are having a rough time? Do you want your friends and family to know about Christ so they can be saved? Are you looking out for your spouse’s good above your own? Do you pray for those people around you?

If you answered no to any of these questions, the solution is not to try harder. No, the solution is to make sure you are in the light. Repent of these sins and believe in Him. When you fail to love the next time, repent. Jesus will be your advocate with the Father if you are in Him. The Spirit will continue to work in you. Faith brings about the change, not force of will.

And here’s why we have people in the churches who do not love – because they are probably not Christians. Being Christian is not about going to church every week, but about being transformed by the power of God until salvation. If you have not experienced Jesus in that way, then look at your life and figure out if you have experienced him at all. That’s why John is telling us these things – so we will know.

So many times I have heard these passages preached as goals for the Christian. No, they are descriptions of a Christian. They talk about who we are in Christ. Let’s pray.