Love Within the Community

April 11, 2010

Background Scripture: 1 John 2:7 – 17
Lesson Passage: 1 John 2:7 – 17

The one defining characteristic of Christian disciples is love among its members. This is not a conclusive statement based on observation but it is indeed from the teachings of Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who said, By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another. Note that Jesus said that ALL men shall know because of this—not just other Christians would know but ALL men shall know. This behavior and general attitude then must be universal across the community of Christian disciples. Jesus’ statement defines the relationship among his disciples. In other words, disciples are those who commit to being followers of Christ and not just accepters of his sacrifice and grace. Disciples are indeed the community of the faithful. Our lesson today takes a passage from the first epistle or letter of John to Christian believers. This letter was sent during a time of false teaching among Christian groups. The type of false teaching that was prevalent then is known today as Gnosticism. Gnosticism is based on the false principle of evil only existing in the flesh. The teachings suggested that the spirit is entirely good and flesh or matter is entirely evil. Salvation, according to the teaching was a matter of the escape of the spirit from the body through attaining knowledge. Of course, this line of thought leads to all manner of evil. This line of thinking gives liberal license to sin because sin is only viewed as a condition of the flesh and it is not viewed as a spiritual issue of the heart. Love, on the other hand, as a characteristic of the Christian community, embodies all that is necessary to help Christians avoid sinful actions. Love is first extended wholeheartedly to God and then love is extended to one’s neighbor. It is the love within the community that causes believers to live out the perfect law of God. Jesus taught that all of the commandments are summed up in the two laws of love—the first towards God and the second towards one’s neighbor. John reminds the recipients of his letter that this is really not a new commandment but an old one. He also reminds them that this is the assurance of who they profess to be in Christ. John goes on to write that being a Christian means having love for Christians. A true believer cannot hate his brother and abide in the light or fellowship with Jesus Christ. It is love that causes us to abide in fellowship with Christ and thus with one another. Finally, John sums up the Christian’s responsibility to judge things correctly. The love of God in Christians causes us to have a different view of worldly things. What is in the world is of the world and not of God. Christians are to love the things of God and not those of the world for this world and all that pertains to it will pass away but only that and those who are of God will remain forever.


Robert C. Hudson
March 31, 2010