THE STRONGEST EMOTIONS ON EARTH ARE THOSE OF LOVE AND HATE, AND THEY ARE STRANGELY MIXED UP, CONFUSED

1. John has a great outline- God is light, God is Righteous, God is Love, simple yet divine truth
2. If you want joy you will find it by walking in that light, that righteousness, & that love
3. But John sternly cries - if you claim to know Him, be in the Light, and do not have your love and hate placed in the right direction, you are a liar, blind, & in darkness-

I.- THE COMMAND OF LOVE! I John 2:7,8

John the Beloved- now the ancient- given over to redundancy - or do you mind repetition?

A.- WHAT IS THIS ABOUT AN OLD COMMANDMENT, AND A NEW COMMANDMENT - WHICH IS IT? 7,8

1. Old in history- ringing down from the most ancient of all teaching-tabernacle, temple, synagogue
2. Old in John's life- for he was about 90, and it was around 60 years ago he heard the Savior
3. Yet new, for this is ever-unfolding in the Christian's life in experience, practice, & enjoyment

B.- WHAT IS THIS GREAT COMMANDMENT THAT IS SO OLD, YET IS EVER NEW? - SOME OF THE HISTORY OF IT

1. Deut 6:5- from 3500 years ago- right after the 10 Commandments came the command to love God!
2. Matt 22:36 questioned & v. 37 answered - to love God-heart/body; soul/soul; mind/spirit -trilogy!
3. But v. 39 follows- neighbor - new? - not really- cf. Lev. 19:18, 34 & see the old/new command

C.- BUT JESUS GAVE A VERY NEW AND SPECIAL COMMANDMENT TO JOHN AND THE OTHER APOSTLES - John 13:34

1. In the touching moment of the Last Supper in the Upper Room- quarrelsome children rebuked!
2. Jesus gave new meaning to love- the Agape -impossible to define- but self sacrificing
3. This special love was for the household of faith-Gal 6:10- Have you experienced it? Give, receive

God's light reveals the path of the Christian through this great love - do you walk there?

II. THE LOVE FOR THE BROTHER I John 2:9,10,11

John is writing very sweetly, but forcefully- you see he had some smart-alecks - mocking God's love

A.- HE THAT SAITH HE IS IN THE LIGHT - V. 9 - AS JAMES- SOME SAY THEY HAVE FAITH, I WORK AT IT!

1. The hypothetical example given by John was no doubt well known - some kept on saying-in light
2. The pious Clap-trap one scholar calls it- the Gnostics, saying-in v.4 & others- but FALSE
3. The verb tense here- makes him habitually hating his brother Johns says he is still in dark!

B.- HE THAT LOVETH HIS BROTHER (Doesn't say it, he does it) V. (10) - ABIDES IN THE LIGHT!

1. You cannot love your brother without abiding in the light; can't hate him without darkness!
2. The stumbling here- is not that you cause others to stumble- but You won't- John 11:10
3. The light of God keeps you from stumbling! This same light makes you love, & commands it!

C.- HE THAT HATHETH HIS BROTHER v. 11 IS IN DARKNESS, & IS TOO BLIND TO EVEN SEE THE LIGHT

1. Do not be fooled by pious platitudes-what people say!- Watch their feet, shows which way they're going
2. This one here is in the dark walking in dark- knows nothing enlightening, permanently blinded
3. You might say 4:20 - but what you do shows what you ARE this is a divine principle- -

You see- some people are confused between love of the World - and love for people

III. THE LOVE FOR THE WORLD - I John 2:15-17

There is a time for love, and a time for hate, and the two must be measured -Luke 14:26-relative

A.- THE WORLD - "LOVE NOT THE WORLD, NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD" - v. 15a

1. The World-(Kosmos) means the ordered system of the world- ordered & organized by Satan-
2. Do not love things; love people, not things! God knows we need certain things- seek first God
3. Love & Lust- very close!  Lust wants things- & never satisfied; love cares for the person!

B.- WHAT IS IN THE WORLD THAT WE SHOULD WANT? THAT WE SHOULD BE TEMPTED TO LOVE, OR LUST FOR IT?

1. Lust of the flesh- The craving appetite for carnality-greatly exploited, never satisfied- death
2. Lust of the eye- Passionate cravings for all that is seen- soul never satisfied either- rot
3. Pride of Life- Biological Vain Glory The spirit of man having something in which to boast!

C.- THE WORLD PASSES AWAY, AND THE LUST PASSES AWAY; BUT THOSE WHO LOVE GOD ABIDE FOREVER v.17

1. A fragment from Philo-"it is impossible for love for the world to coexist with a love for God"
2. The World is being caused to pass away- look around!  The craving lust also passes,- moments
3. But to do God's will is to become associated with that which is eternal- can you do it?

The will of God is for you to be saved- II Pet 3:9b- He has waited -but how much longer?

CONCLUSION - THE CONCLUSION TO ALL THINGS IS COMING FAST - WILL IT BE LOVE, OR HATE FOR YOU?

1. If you place your love on transient things you will miss the greatest love of all- Jesus!
2. If you will accept His love, confess Him as the Lover of your Soul- He will save you!
3. If you want to enjoy your life- then walk in that love- no flirting with the World-