1 John 2:7-11 (NLT2)
7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining. 9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.
Jesus told His disciples that people would know they were His disciples by the love they had for each other. John wrote that “love one another” is both an old and a new commandment. He commended his people for obeying it. He pointed out that they were honoring the commandment by living in it the same way Jesus did.
Their ever-increasing love was expanding a shining light that was driving the darkness back. He also pointed out the unfortunate reality that anyone who hates a fellow believer is actually still living in darkness regardless of their claims. He said that anyone who loves another believer is living in the light and doesn’t cause others to stumble. But a person who hates walks in darkness and can’t tell which way he is going because the darkness blinds him.
Do you love Christians? Do you hate any? If do hate any, you are living in darkness. You may not realize it, but you should yield yourself to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to reveal to you what you need to know. When He does, let Him lead you to repentance, and the light will come on.