This is to be the same commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave commandment to us.1
Most translations say "the commandment of Him," as this word autou translators have used for many different words, "he, she, it, they, them, same." While this commandment is of Him I believe there is another point John is making here. In this scripture we see two commands that are inseparable from one another, thus they are the same, the command to believe and the command to love one another. The first determines who we are the latter called the new commandment, gives testimony that we are His disciples. And the two together form one conditional commandment, we can call it the commandment of Him, seen in the words of Christ and the writings of John. This is the same commandment, of Him, "that we believe... and love one another..."
“You will love the Lord God of you... this is the great and foremost commandment, second, moreover the same like it, you will love the neighbor of you as yourself."3
Here the word same is autē "them, same" and the word for like it is homou "together." So we can say "same together" is to love God and to love your neighbor. These are inseparable, as they are the same thing because God is Love and desires for us to love Him and one another. This oneness is the definition of fellowship and by such the world will know Him through us. This great and foremost commandment, and the one like it is not of the ten commandments. The ten commandments point to them, as the old points to Christ, for example if I love my neighbor I will not sleep with his wife, covet his things, steal from him, nor murder him. Cain could have mastered sin crouched at his door by loving his brother. In this we do not do away with the ten commandments but establish them and that Jesus is the Christ, that which Moses wrote of, the Lord of the Sabbath, the Word of God, the Truth, the Way, thus can we not say the commandment is Christ, or Christ is the Word or commandment from the Father?
"And this is the same commandment, that we believe... and love one another..."
Paul writes nothing else counts but this. We see the dual condition which makes it the same commandment; believe and love. A conditional statement is only true if both are true, thus if I say I obey Jesus then I must believe in Him and love my brother. This logical conditioning we see often in the new testament writings, Paul was a scholar and teacher of the law before he met Christ. Paul was a brilliant and learned man, and after his conversion we read of him in Athens debating with Greek Stoic philosophers. Stoicism was a school of Hellenistic philosophy that flourished throughout the Roman and Greek world until the 3rd century AD. Stoic philosophers studied this type of logic thousands of year before it became popular again in computer science, a field I have studied. Following these writings can be challenging even for me, but add revelation of truth by the Spirit, and you have something God can use.
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”3
We see the importance of love in the condition of the commandment that is the same, as agape Love is a telling sign to the world. Jesus did not say the world will know we are His disciples by how we follow his commands, nor how much faith we have, but how we love one another. Serving, tithing, and giving are good things but the greater sacrifice God desires is that we love one another. Also, it is a telling sign that the Church is obedient and pure, "Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart."4 So we see the importance of faith, but what is of the same importance? reaching the lost, spreading the gospel? "Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."5 Paul writes nothing else counts except "faith working through love."
"whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."4
The condition to believe is of importance, and if it is true faith without love is nothing, then it is true that love without faith doesn't please God. So we ask this question, does my eternal destiny depend upon whether I have broken or been obedient to the ten commandments? or asked another way, when the lost die and stand before God will they be judged by the Law? will God judge them by the ten commandments? Does he present the facts; did you steal, lie, lust in your heart, or hate your brother? Some say so, that even under a new covenant today the Law exposes sin, or defines sin as sin, producing condemnation which leads men to Christ. We need to understand believing because it is more than just head knowledge or obedience to laws or some emotional response. Those who believe will stand before the Just Judge in righteousness received by faith, thus "whoever does not believe is condemned already." Therefore men will be judged by whether they "believe" or not.
“If you abide in the word of mine then disciples of me you are and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free"5
Jesus said this to the Jews who had believed him, thus abiding in truth proves we are His disciples. Jesus also said, "all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”3 Believing is abiding and abiding is fellowship and fellowship includes loving one another. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."5 Obedience is the fruit of abiding in the truth, how can one be obedient if he doesn't know the truth? Obedience to traditions and authority of men do not necessarily produce freedom, as men can use such authority to manipulate people. Knowing the truth comes in abiding in the truth, thus freedom comes in abiding in the vine, remaining, being steadfast...
"As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love."6
“You will love the Lord God of you... this is the great and foremost commandment, second, moreover the same like it, you will love the neighbor of you as yourself."3
Here the word same is autē "them, same" and the word for like it is homou "together." So we can say "same together" is to love God and to love your neighbor. These are inseparable, as they are the same thing because God is Love and desires for us to love Him and one another. This oneness is the definition of fellowship and by such the world will know Him through us. This great and foremost commandment, and the one like it is not of the ten commandments. The ten commandments point to them, as the old points to Christ, for example if I love my neighbor I will not sleep with his wife, covet his things, steal from him, nor murder him. Cain could have mastered sin crouched at his door by loving his brother. In this we do not do away with the ten commandments but establish them and that Jesus is the Christ, that which Moses wrote of, the Lord of the Sabbath, the Word of God, the Truth, the Way, thus can we not say the commandment is Christ, or Christ is the Word or commandment from the Father?
Paul writes nothing else counts but this. We see the dual condition which makes it the same commandment; believe and love. A conditional statement is only true if both are true, thus if I say I obey Jesus then I must believe in Him and love my brother. This logical conditioning we see often in the new testament writings, Paul was a scholar and teacher of the law before he met Christ. Paul was a brilliant and learned man, and after his conversion we read of him in Athens debating with Greek Stoic philosophers. Stoicism was a school of Hellenistic philosophy that flourished throughout the Roman and Greek world until the 3rd century AD. Stoic philosophers studied this type of logic thousands of year before it became popular again in computer science, a field I have studied. Following these writings can be challenging even for me, but add revelation of truth by the Spirit, and you have something God can use.
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”3
We see the importance of love in the condition of the commandment that is the same, as agape Love is a telling sign to the world. Jesus did not say the world will know we are His disciples by how we follow his commands, nor how much faith we have, but how we love one another. Serving, tithing, and giving are good things but the greater sacrifice God desires is that we love one another. Also, it is a telling sign that the Church is obedient and pure, "Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart."4 So we see the importance of faith, but what is of the same importance? reaching the lost, spreading the gospel? "Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."5 Paul writes nothing else counts except "faith working through love."
"whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."4
The condition to believe is of importance, and if it is true faith without love is nothing, then it is true that love without faith doesn't please God. So we ask this question, does my eternal destiny depend upon whether I have broken or been obedient to the ten commandments? or asked another way, when the lost die and stand before God will they be judged by the Law? will God judge them by the ten commandments? Does he present the facts; did you steal, lie, lust in your heart, or hate your brother? Some say so, that even under a new covenant today the Law exposes sin, or defines sin as sin, producing condemnation which leads men to Christ. We need to understand believing because it is more than just head knowledge or obedience to laws or some emotional response. Those who believe will stand before the Just Judge in righteousness received by faith, thus "whoever does not believe is condemned already." Therefore men will be judged by whether they "believe" or not.
“If you abide in the word of mine then disciples of me you are and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free"5
Jesus said this to the Jews who had believed him, thus abiding in truth proves we are His disciples. Jesus also said, "all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”3 Believing is abiding and abiding is fellowship and fellowship includes loving one another. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."5 Obedience is the fruit of abiding in the truth, how can one be obedient if he doesn't know the truth? Obedience to traditions and authority of men do not necessarily produce freedom, as men can use such authority to manipulate people. Knowing the truth comes in abiding in the truth, thus freedom comes in abiding in the vine, remaining, being steadfast...
"As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love."6
We see again this type of logical reasoning, it covers all the bases so to say. Abide in My love and obey My words; my words are from the Father; obey my commandment and obey My Father's commandment; I command you to love one another. "Remain in My love," is the same as remain in truth, thus abiding in truth is equivalent to abiding in the love of God, by such we are being perfected. "And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it." What and who did they hear from in the beginning? And what is the commandant that we should walk in? We are to abide in Him and this is the same commandment, of Him, that we believe... and love one another..."
"The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."7
To fulfill the commandment I must love my brother. Why is this understanding important? because we are warned of ravenous wolves, hireling shepherds, and antichrists. "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." Those who do not confess Christ do not believe and such is obvious but what about those who call him Lord, who do many mighty works in His name but whom Christ said of, he doesn't know? How does the sheep spot a hireling shepherd? Jesus said he cares not for the sheep and runs when the wolf comes. So we see why it is important to understand it is the same commandment to believe and to love one another. Someone can say they love Jesus, but when we abide truth, we abide in love and know the genuine agape love of God and we love as He loves us.
"The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."7
To fulfill the commandment I must love my brother. Why is this understanding important? because we are warned of ravenous wolves, hireling shepherds, and antichrists. "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." Those who do not confess Christ do not believe and such is obvious but what about those who call him Lord, who do many mighty works in His name but whom Christ said of, he doesn't know? How does the sheep spot a hireling shepherd? Jesus said he cares not for the sheep and runs when the wolf comes. So we see why it is important to understand it is the same commandment to believe and to love one another. Someone can say they love Jesus, but when we abide truth, we abide in love and know the genuine agape love of God and we love as He loves us.
"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments."6
Do you see the inseparable conditions in these scriptures? And we see the logical reasoning I spoke of. If I believe and I am loved by Him then I will love my brother, "whoever has been born of him." Believing and loving is obedience. By faith we please God, and faith with love is everything, the same. "Everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him" such states what Jesus said, what I do to the least of these His brethren I do unto Him. Therefore if I do not love my brother I do not love Jesus. If I cause his little children to stumble, do I love "whoever is born of God?" certainly I should question whether I love the Father. John asks if I have the worlds goods and do nothing to meet my brother's need, how does the love of God abide in me? We see this contradiction in the American church, it says I do not have to love my brother because I love Jesus by spreading the gospel. Such contradicts this truth and it is dangerous thinking as it would be very easy for ravenous wolves to manipulate God's people with such thinking. In a way ministers who live off the tithing contribute greatly to an entitlement mindset and contribute to distrust, and hypocrisy saying they are entitled to live off the brothers but the brother is not entitled in his time of need. So John asks and so do I, how does the love of God abide in their hearts?
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."14
Do we understand what it means that He was the Word in the beginning? God said let there be Light and there was Light. Jesus, the Word, He came to give the words from the Father to men. Jesus the Light, the light of the Father he came to shine among men. Jesus the Truth, the truth from the Father he came to give truth to men. Jesus the Life, he came from the living Father to give Life to men. Jesus the Way, he came from the Father, to give a way to the Father. Jesus came in the fullness of the Father full of grace and truth. "the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."3 We see loving one another is being in fellowship with Him who was in the beginning with the Father, in such unity Jesus said the world will know the Son is from the Father.
"And this is love, that we walk according to the same commandment; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it."6
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us" 2 Who was from the beginning? The Word of God, the Word of Life. The disciples literally walked and touched that which was from the beginning. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men."3 That which was from the beginning the Word of Life they ate.
“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”4
They saw him physically but even then He said they must seek Him not as earthly food, but food that endures unto Life, which He would give them. It is an amazing thing, believing in Jesus. and we have more insight into this. We do not see him but all who hear His words, who look upon him, who come to Him, who call upon His name, all those who feed on the bread of life and living water will have eternal life. Life is manifested to all who hear, see and look upon, and touch, "concerning the word of life." One must come to Him and believe in Him. "And this is to be the same commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave commandment to us."1 What great love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God!
"And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another."4
A dear lady, one that is pure, the bride of Christ Paul calls her, "and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:"2 To the dear lady, "And this is love, that we walk according to the same commandment; this the commandment exists as heard from the beginning, so that in it we walk."5 The commandment existed from the beginning, we know Cain could have mastered sin by obedience to this commandment, to love his brother, the commandment to love was surely in the beginning. The commandment came forth from the mouth of God, and Abraham who Paul writes the gospel was preached to, was counted righteous by faith. The Word of God, the Truth, the Light, was in the beginning with God. Moses wrote about Him, and the prophets foresaw into this mystery. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among men, He who was from the beginning they looked upon, heard him, and touched him, he came in the fullness of the Farther, full of grace and truth. "And this is love, that we walk according to the same Commandment; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in the same"6
Different
Do you see the inseparable conditions in these scriptures? And we see the logical reasoning I spoke of. If I believe and I am loved by Him then I will love my brother, "whoever has been born of him." Believing and loving is obedience. By faith we please God, and faith with love is everything, the same. "Everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him" such states what Jesus said, what I do to the least of these His brethren I do unto Him. Therefore if I do not love my brother I do not love Jesus. If I cause his little children to stumble, do I love "whoever is born of God?" certainly I should question whether I love the Father. John asks if I have the worlds goods and do nothing to meet my brother's need, how does the love of God abide in me? We see this contradiction in the American church, it says I do not have to love my brother because I love Jesus by spreading the gospel. Such contradicts this truth and it is dangerous thinking as it would be very easy for ravenous wolves to manipulate God's people with such thinking. In a way ministers who live off the tithing contribute greatly to an entitlement mindset and contribute to distrust, and hypocrisy saying they are entitled to live off the brothers but the brother is not entitled in his time of need. So John asks and so do I, how does the love of God abide in their hearts?
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."14
Do we understand what it means that He was the Word in the beginning? God said let there be Light and there was Light. Jesus, the Word, He came to give the words from the Father to men. Jesus the Light, the light of the Father he came to shine among men. Jesus the Truth, the truth from the Father he came to give truth to men. Jesus the Life, he came from the living Father to give Life to men. Jesus the Way, he came from the Father, to give a way to the Father. Jesus came in the fullness of the Father full of grace and truth. "the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."3 We see loving one another is being in fellowship with Him who was in the beginning with the Father, in such unity Jesus said the world will know the Son is from the Father.
"And this is love, that we walk according to the same commandment; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it."6
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us" 2 Who was from the beginning? The Word of God, the Word of Life. The disciples literally walked and touched that which was from the beginning. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men."3 That which was from the beginning the Word of Life they ate.
“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”4
They saw him physically but even then He said they must seek Him not as earthly food, but food that endures unto Life, which He would give them. It is an amazing thing, believing in Jesus. and we have more insight into this. We do not see him but all who hear His words, who look upon him, who come to Him, who call upon His name, all those who feed on the bread of life and living water will have eternal life. Life is manifested to all who hear, see and look upon, and touch, "concerning the word of life." One must come to Him and believe in Him. "And this is to be the same commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave commandment to us."1 What great love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God!
A dear lady, one that is pure, the bride of Christ Paul calls her, "and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:"2 To the dear lady, "And this is love, that we walk according to the same commandment; this the commandment exists as heard from the beginning, so that in it we walk."5 The commandment existed from the beginning, we know Cain could have mastered sin by obedience to this commandment, to love his brother, the commandment to love was surely in the beginning. The commandment came forth from the mouth of God, and Abraham who Paul writes the gospel was preached to, was counted righteous by faith. The Word of God, the Truth, the Light, was in the beginning with God. Moses wrote about Him, and the prophets foresaw into this mystery. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among men, He who was from the beginning they looked upon, heard him, and touched him, he came in the fullness of the Farther, full of grace and truth. "And this is love, that we walk according to the same Commandment; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in the same"6
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