The command to love others is an old and a new commandment.
- It is old because it was commanded in Deuteronomy to Love God and love others so it has been around us for a long time
- It is new because Jesus is demanding a new level of love for others. (willing to lay down our lives for another)
Doctrine (Teachings of the Bible) are always old, experimental Christianity (How we live this out in front of others) is always new.
The darkness is already fading Vs 8
1 John 2: 17 Desires of the world and cravings are disappearing. But he who does the will of God will last forever.
Desires = characterized by the flesh or the body. its passions and appetites. worldly and merely temporal
Mark 3: 23 – 26 a house divided among itself will not stand
What makes us a carnal people? divisions in the body of Christ. See 1 Corinthians 3: 3 – 4
God takes divisions in the body of Christ seriously
- Warn them once then twice then have nothing to do with them. Titus 3: 10
- Mark those who cause division among you have nothing to do with them. Romans 16: 17
John warns against causing others to stumble in Vs 10, 11. he is quoting Jesus here
Judging others blinds us and causes us to stumble. See Matthew 7: 3 – 5
Key Point: division kills
David prayed Unite my heart so I would fear your name (Psalm 86: 11)