⁸. . . the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. ⁹The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. ¹⁰The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Addressing another lofty theme, John moves from love to light. If one claims not only to love Christ but also to walk in the light, the authenticity of this claim will be seen in how he treats “his brother.” In John’s writing, the term “brother” is not precisely defined, but since his propensity is to call his readers “children,” then “brother” would naturally seem to apply the familial sense of the term to all Christians. Indeed, we are all part of God’s family. So, John refers here to the genuineness of our love in relationship to how we treat other Christians. And we all know how difficult that can be at times!

Writing in black and white terms, John characteristically addresses the absolutes rather than the shades of in-between. If one is walking in the light, then love is genuine. If one hates, his proclamation of love is a lie. In everyday life, we live in the shades where we would not describe our conflicts with such sharp distinctions. In practicality, these absolutes become the Christian’s goal. The regenerated heart of genuine faith desires to love purely and stay as far away from hate as possible. We are not satisfied with living in the shade!

Loving other Christians in our everyday interactions with them is equated with abiding in the Light. The more a believer lives this way, the more he goes through life with purpose and spiritual success (that is, with less stumbling or failure). Conversely, allowing negative attitudes toward others—attitudes that move toward hate rather than love—makes people stumble through life in spiritual blindness, without purpose. Such people may go through the motions of associating with the Christian community but do not experience the genuine Christian faith, for the evidence shows they are living in darkness, as though they had no faith at all!

John is more philosophical in his presentation of the truth than James, who writes more practically. Both approaches are needed. Here, though, God is encouraging us through John’s propensity for the simple yet profound concepts of faith, love, and light, which lift our eyes and hearts to a higher plane—which ultimately affects our practical life on this planet with its various relationships.

PRAYER: Lord, help me keep life set on believing, loving, and walking in the light.