“Walking in the Light: Keeping His Commandments”

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope

July 25, 2009
Larry R Evans

Introductory Reflections

According to one report, Buddhism was recently named the best religion in the world. The award was given on July 15, 2009 by the Geneva-based International Coalition for the Advancement of Religious and Spirituality (ICARUS). The Director of this coalition said, “we could find literally not one single instance of a war fought in the name of Buddhism, in contrast to every other religion that seems to keep a gun in the closet just in case God makes a mistake. We were hard pressed to even find a Buddhist that had ever been in an army. These people practice what they preach to an extent we simply could not document with any other spiritual tradition." A Catholic priest made this comment: "As much as I love the Catholic Church, it has always bothered me to no end that we preach love in our scripture yet then claim to know God's will when it comes to killing other humans. For that reason, I did have to cast my vote for the Buddhists." (http://blog.beliefnet.com/onecity/meritdemerit-badge/) What about it? What kind of witness are we giving? Are we at peace with our family, friends and neighbors? It isn’t necessary to pick up a gun to show hostility. It can happen driving down the freeway. This week’s lesson is all about embedding both love and obedience within our discipleship – neither is complete without the other.

Reflective Quiz

1. If we have a relationship with Jesus the commandments aren’t as important. [1Jn.2:3-5] False

The last book of the Bible begins with these words:

Rev 1:1-3

1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw-that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (NIV)

We sometimes think of Revelation as the book of prophecies and strange beasts when in essence it is really a revelation of Jesus and His ultimate triumph to reunite with His people. This same book includes the following insight:

Rev 12:16-17

17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring-those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (NIV)

A relationship with Jesus is synonymous with obedience. John, the same one who wrote Revelation, stated the case even stronger:

1 John 2:3-6

3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (NIV)

2. We may infer from John’s encouragement to “know” that the Judgment will be a test of how much knowledge we have about Jesus. [1Jn.2:3-5; 5:13; 4:8] False

John uses the Greek word for “to know” (ginskō) twenty-five times in 1 John. John also uses another Greek word for knowledge (oida) fifteen times in 1 John. At times these words can be used interchangeably but in 1Jn. 2:29 they are used next to each other.

1 John 2:29

If you know (oida) that he is righteous, you know (ginōskō)that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. (NIV)

Ekkehardt Mueller observes, “While both terms may refer to knowledge as a fact, in 1 John, only ginōskō is employed to point to the intimate relationship that humans may have with God when they know Him. . . . In verse 3 (1Jn.2:3) the twofold use of the verb “to know” (ginōskō) seems to refer to both knowledge as a fact and knowledge as relation. The perfect tense indicates that people have come to know God, and they still know Him in a personal experiential way and must grow in this spiritual knowledge. They have a close relationship with Him. The test of such a relationship is keeping the commandments.” (Ekkehardt Mueller in The Letters of John, p.38)

We must not minimize the factual knowledge about God. There is certainly an important role in learning more about God through a study of His Word but a factual knowledge is not enough. Note what Matthew said in Matt. 7:21-23.

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (NIV)

The heresy of John’s day is not unlike those in our day. Gnosticism, the heresy addressed in John’s letter, taught that if you had the “special knowledge” you could do as you pleased and still be saved. Sounds a bit familiar, doesn’t it.

3. Love=Obedience and Obedience=Love. [1Jn.3:21-24; Jn.14:15,21; 1Jn.4:12] False

So this leaves us with a question, does love equal obedience? Is “love” a substitute for “obedience”? What about turning it around and asking, Can “obedience” be a substitute for “love”? It can be, I suppose, but is that acceptable?

Separating love from obedience, or visa-versa, is a false dichotomy. Jesus combined them when He said in John 14:15, "If you love me, you will obey what I command. (NIV)

It is not enough for Jesus to be our Saviour. He must also be our Lord. Thomas recognized this important combination.

John 20:24-28

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"

But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" (NIV)

4. “Love” is called the “new” commandment because it wasn’t named as being essential in the Ten Commandments. [Jn.13:33-38; 1Jn. 2:3-8; Lev. 19:18; Micah 6:8] False

Perspective is so important. When we give directions to someone’s home the starting point is very important otherwise the directions will make no sense and can actually lead you to the wrong home! So it is with understanding God’s commandments. In each of the cases where the full Ten Commandments are given (Ex.20 and Deut. 5) God’s love for His people is emphasized first: “And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.’” Ex 20:1-2 (NIV). So “love” is not something introduced in the New Testament. So why call it “new”? No doubt in 1Jn.2:3-8, John is using a listening device to get his listeners attention. In the Gospel of John, chapter 13, Jesus washes His disciples feet and in doing so He demonstrates a true servant attitude but the story isn’t completed with that insightful example. On the heels of that service John shows how one of the very disciples whom Jesus served turned on Him and betrayed resulting in His death! But John isn’t through yet. He next tells of a “new commandment” given by Jesus – the One who illustrated the epitome of servant hood and the One who was so cruelly betrayed one of closest “allies”. What is this commandment?

John 13:34-35

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (NIV)

The same scenario is found in John’s letter. He first exposes those who say they love Jesus but do not obey Him as being “liars.” (1Jn.2:4) But now note what follows:

1 John 2:5-6

5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (NIV)

This is then followed by: 1 John 2:7-8

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. (NIV)

So what is the “new command”? When we step back and see the larger perspective that John seems to have – the new is really old but it is new because they saw “true love” revealed in the way Jesus related to others – even those who mistreated him. God’s people were treated this way in the Old Testament times too. While man made of the Ten Commandments a heavy burden, they were given from a love perspective to keep them out of bondage! Walking as Jesus did, John’s counsel, was a radical statement. It strikes self-serving right between the eyes. Perspective is so important! It makes all the difference in a deepening and enduring relationship.

5. Being your brother’s keeper and hating your brother mean the same thing.” [Gen. 4:9; 1Jn. 2:9-11] True

The answer may surprise those who do not attend my class in person. Those who do have heard this story many times. The story of Cain and Able is all about Cain becoming obsessed with the acceptance of Able’s gift and the rejection of Cain’s. Cain becomes so intensely upset that God spoke to him before he murdered his brother encouraging him not to let his feelings eat away his vitality. He then poses an important question for Cain and one we must consider especially in light of this week’s lesson, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” Rather than change and do what was right Cain sought out his own brother and murdered him. Then we find God coming to Cain again,

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Gen 4:9 (NIV)

Once again perspective is important! It was Cain who interjected “Am I my brother’s keeper?” It is a flat denial of what he had just done. In fact he was asking as a “keeper” and not as a brother. Keeper’s have a controlling function. Prisons and animals have keepers but that has never been God’s intention. We are to be “brothers”, servants of all.

John is reaching out to his community of believers with an earnest plea:

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)

What a God! What a message! What a challenge!!

Reflective Conclusion

It is so easy to separate love from obedience and to emphasize one without the other. John brings both together in the single best example—Jesus! No wonder we are encouraged to reflect daily upon the cross of Christ.

It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life. By thus contemplating His teachings and sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by Him for the redemption of the race, we may strengthen our faith, quicken our love, and become more deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained our Saviour. If we would be saved at last we must all learn the lesson of penitence and faith at the foot of the cross. . . . Everything noble and generous in man will respond to the contemplation of Christ upon the cross. (Ellen White in Maranatha, Mar 77.4)