© 25 Colin Melbourne
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.
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.
1 Jn. 2:7-8 KJV
No New… A New
This passage confused me when a young believer in 1988, the Holy Ghost thrilling me with wonderful truths whilst digesting the Gospel of John, and the First Epistle of John.
Tip: If you don’t understand a part of scripture, don’t make a fuss: Instead, park it in the corner, and concentrate on fulfilling what Father is revealing to your spirit.
First Things First
In our dispensation that will always be the fact of your eternal redemption, from first to last.
If believers don’t have a solid comprehension of their personal redemption in Christ Jesus, they will be tossed around by every whisper of fear and false-teaching they come across.
So get your redemption ingrained in your soul by staying in John’s Gospel and First Epistle for the first six months of your New Life in Christ.
Why does the Holy Ghost write;
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.
Then immediately seems to contradict it in the following verse;
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.
There are no contradictions in God’s words anywhere, so the wise dig for the deeper meaning.
The old commandment ye had from the beginning must refer to the Mosaic law.
The new commandment is Christ’s Royal Law of love. James 2:8 KJV;
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
You Once Were Darkness
The phrase, “because the darkness is past” is the hint we need to unravel this apparent contradiction. Eph. 5:8-13 KJV;
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
The purpose of the Mosaic law was to point Hebrews to the Almighty in Christ. Gal. 3:23-26 KJV;
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Directing believers to love and trust in the words, and Word of God, with the intent that they would then come to know God and live in His Life and love on Earth.
But this simple truth was shrouded in spiritual darkness at that time because of the Adamic curse the first couple brought upon mankind.
There is none righteous, no, not one
No Hebrew, no Gentile, ever fulfilled the requirements of the Law, not one (Until Christ).
King David and the Prophets could only dream of having the access to Father that is available today through the Name and Precious Blood of Christ.
They lived in various degrees of satanic darkness, where the truth was veiled from them by sin.
Everything Changed at Pentecost
Now that The LORD Jesus Christ has redeemed creation by His sacrificial death and resurrection, and Poured out His Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the way is open wide for the worst sinner to be forgiven, and justified, to know the light of life intimately By Simple Heart Faith.
Notice that both Covenants hinge on faith in God’s Living Word, and written words: Trust. 2 Cor. 3:13-16 KJV;
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Grace and mercy were available under the first Covenant, otherwise nobody would have ever been able to have any knowledge of God.
Some, like Abraham, Job, Jacob, and the Prophets were given grace to have a limited knowledge of God, but it was minimal compared to the infinite Grace of God shown in Christ under our current dispensation: Where even repentant sinners can now see Christ glorified on every page of the Holy Bible. Halleluia!
The Holy Ghost pouring wisdom, knowledge, and life into anyone who will come and drink of the water of life, and Walk in The Glorious Light that The LORD Jesus Christ has made available to Whosoever will Repent and Believe on Him.
Summary:
There’s no contradiction in this passage.
Both commandments were given to encourage sinners to turn to God, to trust in His Word, and so receive; mercy, peace, righteousness, and divine life.
The facility of doing this was made universally available through Christ, but the object of the commandment is the same: To encourage people to love our Creator and walk in His love towards all creatures… even our neighbours!
Same, same… but Different!
Now you see it… Praise The LORD!
If you have not yet been Born of God, and cleansed by His Precious Blood, this article will be a mystery to you, but take heart, you can respond to the Good News of Christ today, and begin to walk in His light.
What Good News?
The good news that even while we were yet sinners, God came in Christ, and died for our sins, bore your guilt and mine, was judged with the divine judgment we deserve, and went to Hell in our place.
Why?
Because God had said the one who sins must die and be banished forever from His Presence.
So what?
So by taking our place, and bearing the punishment we each deserve, Our Creator can legally acquit us from every accusation, providing we repent from unbelief and believe on Christ The LORD.
The good news that Christ rose from His tomb on the third day, just as He promised, and Holy Scripture foretold He would.
Why?
To prove that He is Almighty God in The Flesh, that He had no sin of His own, therefore all our sin and unrighteousness has been dealt with once and for all.
So what?
So turn from religion, repent of your sin, and trust that The LORD Jesus Christ has paid for your guilt before Father God.
The good news that The Holy One thought you were precious enough for Him to lay down His sinless life to bring you back into God’s ever-loving arms forever.
Why?
Because He created you, you are His idea, God loves you with perfect love. He designed you for His love. Love wants the very best for you; God’s peace, God’s Love, God’s righteousness and God’s eternal life.
So what?
So turn to God and thank Him that He thinks you are worth the life of His Only Begotten Son, and Receive Christ as your LORD and Saviour with all your heart.
The good news that Christ not only bore our guilt and sin, but also our diseases and infirmities.
Why?
So that as you put your faith in Him into action, you can be healed and delivered from infirmity.
So what?
So accept those Gospel facts by faith, and receive your healing and deliverance from Christ, just as people did in Bible days.
© 25 Colin Melbourne
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The Sin That Sends You To Hell