1 John 2:6-10
 
1 John 2:6 (KJB)
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
 
Abideth - Stand fast or firm
Ought - Owe or indebted
 
If a person claims to be born again, then they must continually walk the life of a Christian which is patterned after the Lord Jesus Christ. The outward evidence of a true believer is manifested in their walk. The word “ought” carries with it the idea of being indebted to someone. The Christian is indebted to the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation and as a result, we are to walk according to the way that Christ walked. There are many people who claim to be Christians but their lifestyle either confirms or betrays their profession of faith.
 
1 John 2:7 (KJB)
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
 
John may have been accused of somehow creating new commandments to walk in which would have been similar to what the leaders of Israel did. They embellished the commandments of God with their own commandments. John is assuring them that he is not creating a new commandment but is just reiterating what he learned from the Lord Jesus Christ while He was here on earth. John is just giving them the Christian standards that each true Christian would understand from the time they first became Christians. The true test of their Christianity would be their adherence to the will of God and their desire to be obedient unto the Lord.
 
1 John 2:8 (KJB)
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
 
Now John seems to be contradicting himself yet he is not. The new commandment falls into line with the fact that true salvation comes from grace and not from the law. This salvation through grace is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, so in comparison to the things of the past, it is something new. Now that these Christians are indwelled with the Holy Spirit and have been given love as a fruit of the Spirit, they would act differently than under the letter of the law. The darkness mentioned which was passing away may have an allusion to the types and figures and ceremonies under the Mosaic law and now that they have been saved and enlightened, those things which were only shadows are now being brought to light, as they begin to understand that all those ceremonies pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ, the veil has been removed. It could also be referring to the fact that the darkness of unbelief is passing away and those who are saved have the true light shining in them, which is Christ.
 
1 John 2:9 (KJB)
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
 
Here is another test of a true believer. If someone claims to be saved and harbors hatred in themselves toward any other brother, then it is proof they are not saved. Here the darkness would definitely refer to being unsaved as they are still in the kingdom of darkness. A true believer no longer looks at other Christians as flesh and blood but they look at them as redeemed Saints. (2 Cor 5:16 KJV) Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. So if hatred still exists in us, then it is a revelation that we are still unsaved. This verse is not speaking of a Christian having a momentary bout with hatred, this is someone who lives in that mode. It would mean they have not been changed. If a person continually hates, than the light has not displaced the darkness.
 
1 John 2:10 (KJB)
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
 
Stumbling - Cause of offense, snare, or scandal
 
Here John is speaking of a true Christian because you notice he does not use the phrase “He that saith” but uses a direct term of salvation, “He that loveth.” A person who loves the brethren is going to be proactive in their salvation, because as we previously saw that true love is not just words but is action. The true believer does not offend or given an offense to other believers because the roots of hatred and malice and other sins have been dealt with by the cross of Christ. The true believer continues to abide in Christ and His teachings. This may and will cause an offense to the unbeliever because the gospel is an offense to the unbeliever. This verse deals strictly with the fact that a true Christian who is proactive in their love for the brethren gives no stumbling effect to other Christians, instead they give off the fragrance of Christ in their life.

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