The Beloved Disciple wrote in 1 John chapter 2:
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Jesus was and is the atoning sacrifice for the whole world no matter what doctrine, tribe, creed, race, or nationality. We must honor that reality and quit looking at others with eyes of disdain or hatred. We must see them through eyes of Love. Jesus shed His Blood for even the most vile of men and there are no exceptions. Even though He performed such an act of Love, most people don’t really know Him for they do not keep His commandments.
There are those who proclaim to know Him yet they do not walk in Love and John calls them liars and the Truth is not in them. You will not hear that Truth spoken often in the Church pulpit. John continues by explaining the Truth of keeping His Word causes Love to be perfected in us and thus we are truly living IN HIM.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and as Love is perfected in us, we will walk in that same manner. Isn’t that our goal? If not, the Truth is not fully formed in you and this is precisely why you must press in until that Truth permeates every aspect of your being. John continues:
7 Beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
The commandment John speaks of is both old and new, depending on your level of darkness in understanding. It is one and the same commandment- Love. As the true light shines and opens your understanding, you will see the necessity of walking in the commandment of Love. Further, you will understand why this commandment has been rejected by the masses for they are led by their own soulish desires and walk in the illusion of scarcity which has become their “reality”.
The CREATOR of Heaven and earth has all the resources mankind needs yet men look to their own devices in an attempt to satisfy their souls thus they look at the “old” commandment and unable to perceive the Truth. Those who seek the Truth move toward the light and their eyes are enlightened. John provides us a specific example to assess our walk by:
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Each of us must critically review our current state. Do you truly Love everyone or do you hate some? Are you walking in the same manner of Jesus or do you have contempt for some? Even your greatest enemy can be converted in just seconds. Consider Paul who was Saul. As we walk in Divine unconditional Love, the true light will shine through us toward others and that light will convey the new commandment John spoke of in the above passage.