i. 5 - ii. 28. GOD IS LIGHT.
a. i. 5 - ii. 11. What Walking in the Light involves: the Condition and Conduct of the Believer.
Fellowship with God and with the Brethren (i. 5-7).
Consciousness and confession of sin [committed before forgiveness] (i. 8-10).
Obedience to God by Imitation of Christ (ii. 1-6).
Love of the Brethren (ii.7-11).
7. "Beloved." While enforcing the commandment to love, St. John gives expression to love by this endearing epithet.
"From the beginning." He probably means from the commencement of the Christian faith of the readers. "The new commandment" of love is ever new, because it has new sanctions daily with our increasing knowledge of Christ. It was new when the disciples saw Him on the cross and heard Him pray, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." It was new when they saw Him after His resurrection, and again after the cloud received Him out of their sight. It had an especial newness when the Paraclete on the day of Pentecost came into their hearts, flooding them with love. As we have an ever-increasing ability to apprehend with fresh power the beauty of Christ's character, so the command to love Him and all who bear His image will be new. "While life advances and our spiritual life unfolds the Gospel must be always new." Hence there is no irksomeness, no theadbareness in real, hearty Christian service. To stationary Christians this commandment is always old, but to advancing believers, who have through the inner revelation of Christ by the Holy Spirit, more and more perfect vision of Him, love is more and more abundantly shed abroad in their hearts.
