Truth and Love

In today’s society, we tend to glorify sin. Sin amuses us, we joke about it, and often times even encourage it. To an outsider looking in, it would probably seem like sin is what gives us joy.

It permeates our tv, our movies, our schools, and every part of our culture. As such sin has also infiltrated our churches.

We tend to turn a blind eye to it, and sometimes even wink at it. We flirt with sin and make a game of it. We somehow think that we are in control.

As much as we laugh and joke at sin, the reality is that there is no joy in it. No good can come of it. In the end, sin can only bring misery and death. It is the wage of sin.

John certainly found no joy in sin. Instead, he found joy in the fact that some of the congregation was walking in the truth.

What a depraved world we live in, when we mock those who walk in the truth, and praise those who live in sin!

Our joy should be found in the truth!

John personalizes the “truth”. To John the truth is not just some concept, it is personable.

The truth actually refers to Christ. So the recognition is that some are truly walking in Christ.

Walking in the Truth begins with faith in Jesus Christ

This, in fact, is as the father commanded (v.4b). This is the precise command that John cited in:

1 John 3:23

1 John 3:23 NKJV

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

This seems to be meant as an encouragement to those who are walking in the truth, and should serve as an example to all Christians.

Encouragement is a good way to keep each other from becoming hardened through sin.

Encouraging one another helps to keep us from becoming hardened

Hebrews 3:13

Hebrews 3:13 NKJV

but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

We should strongly encourage those who are doing right, walking in the truth. We should encourage them to continue in the truth, thus helping ourselves to walk in the truth also.

v.5:

Now comes a specific request, a pleading and urging.

The request is that the church persist in their mutual love for one another. By making this request he is not seeking to lay on members of the church any new obligation; he is calling on them to obey the command they both received ‘at the beginning’.

We need only to follow the same commandment that we’ve had since the beginning.

1 John 1:1-3

1 John 1:1–3 NKJV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

He stresses that this is not a new command, and he has made this point before.

1 John 2:7-11

1 John 2:7–11 NKJV

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. 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. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 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.

1 John 3:11

1 John 3:11 NKJV

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

The command to love one another is a command which persists throughout Scripture.

If we want the church to be righteous, we need to love and encourage those who practice righteousness.

v.6:

True love is characterized by following in the footsteps of Christ, as He characterizes love.

In fact, Scripture has much to say about what love is. Many of love’s attributes are spelled out in 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

True love is defined in God’s Word

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NKJV

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

As I’ve noted many times, Biblical love is different from what the world defines love to be. Biblical love is far more than a mere emotion. Love requires action.

Also, love is not simply doing something nice for someone, or enabling them to continue in sin. True love does what is best for another, even if it is not well received by them.

For a believer to truly act in love, sometimes requires thought and judgment. We should know what action to take in order to bolster someone’s relationship with Christ.

To walk in love requires knowledge and discernment

Philippians 1:9-11

Philippians 1:9–11 NKJV

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

True love always points to Christ. To love is the command from the beginning, and it should characterize our daily walk.

To practice love is good for you, good for others, and pleases God. Let’s resolve to live a life of love.

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