Christians are given a "new commandment" that is really an "old commandment" -- a commandment to "love one another". This study of 1 John 2:7-11 explains how an "old commandment" is really quite "new".

2. Brethren, 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.

3. 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.

4. 1. God has commanded us to love (2:7-11)
2. We are born of God & His Spirit lives in us
(3:10-24)
3. God first revealed His love to us (4:7-21)

5. A. That is “an old commandment”
7
Brethren, 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…
Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5;
Mk. 12:28-34

6. “from the
beginning”
7
Brethren, 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.
1 John 2:24 Therefore let that abide in you
which you heard from the beginning. If what
you heard from the beginning abides in you,
you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

7. καινός (kainos) new as to form or quality,
of a different nature
nέος (neos) new in time, recent

8. B. That is “the
Word”
God did not give us a sermon;
He gave us His Spirit
Romans 5:5 …the love of God has
been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us.

9. B. That is “the
Word”
God did not give us a sermon;
He gave us His Spirit
1 Thessalonians 4:9 …concerning brotherly
love you have no need that I should write to
you, for you yourselves are taught by God to
love one another;

10. New in Emphasis – Jesus gave love a new
meaning for He loved…
• not only friends, but also enemies.
• not only good people, but also bad people.
• not only the righteous, but also the sinner.
• not only the acceptable, but also the rejected.
• not only the clean, but the dirty.

11. New in Source – Jesus gave us His Spirit so
that we can love as He loves…
John 13:34–35 A new commandment I give to
you, that you love one another; as I have loved
you, that you also love one another. 35
By this
all will know that you are My disciples, if you
have love for one another.”

12. C. That is “true in Him and in you”
8
Again, a new commandment I write to you,
which thing is true in Him and in you,
1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among
us in this: that we may have boldness in the
day of judgment; because as He is, so are we
in this world.

13. A. The Truth:
…which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness
is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
Darkness
is
passing
True light
is
already shining

14. Darkness = walking in hatred
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke
to them again, saying, “I am
the light of the world. He
who follows Me shall not
walk in darkness, but have
the light of life.”

15. Darkness = walking in hatred
John 12:35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little
while longer the light is with you. Walk while
you have the light, lest darkness overtake you;
he who walks in darkness does not know where
he is going.

16. Darkness = walking in hatred
II Corinthians 4:6 For it is
the God who commanded
light to shine out of dark-
ness, who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of
the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus
Christ.

17. B. Those in Darkness: (9)
1) “Says he is in the light”
2) “But hates his brother”
3) “Is in darkness until now”

18. 1 John 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and
hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a
murderer, and you know that no murderer has
eternal life abiding in him.

19. John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that
the light has come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.

20. Matthew 6:23 But if your eye is bad, your
whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore
the light that is in you is darkness, how great is
that darkness!

22. C. Those is the Light (10)
10
He who loves his brother abides in the light,
and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
1) “Abides in the Light”
2) “Loves his brother”
3) “Is no cause for stumbling in him”

23. Consequences of HateConsequences of Hate
Evidences a life without God (2:9-11; 4:19-21)
Blinds & remains in darkness (2:9-11)
Lives without direction & purpose (2:9-11)
Marks one as a child of Satan (3:10)
Bars one from eternal life (3:15)
Proves one does not love God (4:19-21)