3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
In this passage, John tells us that there is only way of knowing God and that is by obeying his commandments. To gain eternal life we must know God and this can only be done through Jesus. But then, as now, some Christians have misunderstood this. In John’s gospel, two specific commandments are given: believe in God and love one another as Jesus has loved us. Jesus’ earthly life revealed to us that God is love. Verse 3 combines these commandments.
In John’s gospel abiding or living in Jesus is a key concept. Those who abide will get what they ask for. But all of this is difficult to define or even understand. We each have our own ideas on what it means to abide (and these ideas may hurt others) and, as for getting what they ask for, many evil people get this. How can we judge who is truly abiding in God and who isn’t since we can’t see into their hearts and we are blinded by our own prejudices? Indeed, Jesus tells us not to judge. John is also very critical here of those who think they are abiding and suggests that at least some who think they are abiding are lying to themselves and others. Anyone who truly abides in Jesus must live the life he did. They must walk in the light which means to love while hatred is a sign that one walks in darkness.
The Church has faced this problem throughout its existence, especially because of changing modes of behavior. The author of this letter has a very different view on what it means to abide than do his opponents. We face many questions today that are often difficult to judge (euthanasia, divorce and remarriage, homosexuality, abortion, etc). The author’s response is an old command and yet an eternally new one: we must love each other. It has been part of Christian history since Jesus told us to behave this way. To obey his command means we must love each other as Jesus did. We must not spread anger or division or generate hatred. If we behave this way we are walking in darkness.
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