A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Today, on A Daily Walk from Pastor John Randall.

John Randall: A question you're often asked as a child, maybe you remember it: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Maybe you're still asking that question. If you were to ask me that question now, I would say I want to be like Jesus. I want him to increase in my life and myself to decrease. That should be the desire of a believer. I want to look more like Jesus and less like myself.

Guest (Male): Hey, welcome to A Daily Walk. Pastor John Randall is in a study of 1st John. We're in chapter two today. Maybe you've had someone say to you, "You are the spitting image of your mom or dad." Well, that's because we tend to resemble those we're closest to. And that should be the case in our relationship with Jesus. The more we walk with him and abide in him, the more we'll look like him. Today, we'll observe the changes that God brings to a human life and our call to imitate Christ.

John Randall: 1st John is toward, well, the back of your Bible. It's in the New Testament. 1st John is right before 2nd John, so you'll find it there. 1st John chapter two, the message entitled "The Command that Never Changes."

Beginning in verse six: "He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

The apostle John wrote this letter for several reasons, and he mentions them throughout the epistle. First of all, he wanted the believers to experience the joy of the Lord. But he also wrote this letter to warn them against the deception that had crept into the church. A group that were known as the Gnostics had stealthily mingled among the family of faith, causing confusion and contradictions regarding the work and the ministry of Christ.

John also proposed several tests that determine whether a person is actually a genuine believer. There are certain signs of a Christian that must be evident. He pointed out that it's more than just what a person says, but it's about how they live. John points to the evidence in the text before us.

A person who is a true believer, how do you know? First of all, make a note of it: they imitate Christ. There is a call to imitate Christ. Look at verse six. "He who," again, "says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked." The word "abide" means to dwell. Therefore, the person who says or claims to have a relationship with Jesus will seek to walk or live like him.

In the Gospels, you discover that there is a distinction made between the multitudes and the disciples. There were those who were along for the ride, those who came for the free food, or wanted to see some miracle. But then there were those who were actually followers of Jesus and wanted to be like Jesus.

On several occasions during his ministry, Jesus encouraged his disciples to follow his example. Everything that he did served as a model for them to emulate. The essence of being a disciple was to become like the one who was discipling you, to learn from them.

Jesus gave an example to his disciples of a denial of self. He taught his disciples, he made it clear that if they were to be like him, there were certain requirements, certain things that they must consider. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said this: "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."

The point is that if we are to imitate Jesus, there is going to be a denial of the self-life, leading to a death of the old life, who we used to be. And what follows is a determination and a commitment to go wherever Jesus leads. I want to be like him. And therefore, to do that, there's going to be the denial of myself so that the life of Christ can be seen in me.

Jesus also gave his disciples an example in the area of service and serving one another. Prior to his crucifixion, Jesus gathered with his disciples for a final meal in the upper room there in Jerusalem. And it was there that he took the lowest position in a household and he began to wash the disciples' feet.

And when he had finished washing their feet, he taught them a lesson saying in John 13: "You call me teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you an example that you should do as I've done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

Jesus left an example in serving others, being willing to take the lowest position, and to put other people's needs before your own. If we imitate the example of our Lord, this will be one of the character traits that define our lives as Christians. We will seek to be servants. Jesus said the greatest in the kingdom is the servant of all.

Imitating, abiding in Jesus will be evident in how we deny ourselves and how we serve others. There's another example: it will also be seen in the way that we forgive others. I remember reading somewhere that you are never more like Jesus than when you are forgiving.

And Jesus told his disciples in Matthew chapter six, in that Sermon on the Mount, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Do you remember when Jesus hung upon the cross and the statements that he made from there? One of them was, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

By walking closely with Jesus, the disciples learned through observation, and the traits of Jesus truly became part of who they were. They followed his example. You remember when the disciples stood before the crowd that had crucified Jesus, there in the book of Acts.

The accusers of Jesus recognized something about his disciples, and they even mentioned it. In Acts 4:13, it says: "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and they perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled." But notice what it says: "And they realized that they had been with Jesus."

The characteristics of Jesus were seen in the life of the disciples. It was evident. There's something unique about them; they're different. What is it? One thing: they've been with Jesus. The apostle Paul, while writing about the importance of imitating Jesus, said to the Corinthians in 1st Corinthians 11:1, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."

He's saying, "Do what I'm doing because I'm seeking to do exactly what Jesus was doing. Follow my example as I follow his example." Would to God that we as Christians could be able to say that. That we could say to our kids, "Watch what I'm doing because I'm doing my best to follow the example of Jesus." To our wives, "Honey, watch what I'm doing and follow my example, because I want to be like Jesus." This should be a desire of believers, to imitate the Lord.

A question you're often asked as a child, maybe you remember it: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" You remember that question? Maybe you're still asking that question. If you were to ask me that question now, I would say I want to be like Jesus. I want him to increase in my life and myself to decrease. That should be the desire of a believer. I want to look more like Jesus and less like myself.

Charles Swindoll had a wonderful quote along these lines. He said, "If you're looking for a hero to follow, take your eyes off the sports star, the powerful politician, the high-rolling entrepreneur, even the megachurch preacher, and turn your focus to Jesus. He is the greatest example that there is."

A true believer strives to emulate Jesus. They come to know Jesus by spending time in his word, learning his ways. They want the Holy Spirit to be the influencer in their life. Many people are looking for influencers; I want the Holy Spirit to be my main influencer.

The second thing that John highlights, not only is there this following of the example of Jesus, but also there is a commandment to love like Jesus. Look at what John says. "Brethren, I write to you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining."

I'm not telling you something new; it's actually old. But it's kind of new. What do you mean? The apostle John refers to his readers as brethren. Some of your translations read "beloved." It was a sincere and special expression of endearment. He loved these people.

And amidst all of the characteristics observable in the life of the child of God, love should be paramount. Later in his epistle, John will tell us in chapter four that God is love. That is, in his very nature, in his character, he is love. It's not just what he does; it's who he is. He is love.

Once when questioned by the religious leaders, a lawyer asked Jesus, "What is the greatest commandment of all?" Jesus replied by alluding to two Old Testament passages, putting them together: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Here was Jesus' response in Matthew 22 to that question:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all of the law and the prophets."

Jesus said the greatest commandment, and you'll notice that he sums up the Decalogue, that is the Ten Commandments, into two. The first part of the law, the first tablet, dealt with our relationship to God. And so Jesus says, "Love God." The second tablet of the law deals with our relationship to our fellow man.

And therefore he says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." And then he says on those two commandments, you could sum up the entire Old Testament. If you would just love God and love people like you love yourself, this world would be a much different place. Two commandments, summed up in one word: love.

And this commandment to love others, again, wasn't a new concept, but rather something that was from the very beginning. You remember prior to his death, resurrection, and ascension, in John 13, Jesus said these words to his disciples: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. And by this," Jesus said, "all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another."

Love for God, love for believers, love for non-believers, that causes the world to notice and recognize that we are truly followers of Jesus. That's how people know. They will know that we are his disciples by our love for one another. This, by the way, you'll notice Jesus didn't say, "Hey, a new suggestion I want to mention to you. Think about it, pray about it." Actually, it was a command. "A new commandment I give you." I want to obey the commands of the Lord.

In John chapter 15, Jesus said it again in verse 12: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." When the apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, having planted the church in that area, they had turned away from idols, and they had turned to the living God. He was confident concerning this congregation of their understanding of the importance of love for one another.

And that is why he said in 1st Thessalonians 4:9, "Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another." This characteristic of love was so important that when Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he gave them the clearest, the most powerful definition of love in 1st Corinthians 13.

Remember, this was a church that had every gift in operation, but they were carnal, they were divided, they were in sin. And so Paul writes to them and in the 13th chapter, he tells them that without love, their Christianity is worthless. It says: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become like sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, I understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but if I have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."

You can do all of these things. You can be gifted, you can be talented, you can have faith, and you could give, all of these things that he mentions here. But without the love of Jesus that is demonstrated and seen, it really doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. It says it profits you nothing and you are nothing without it.

The apostle Peter, who had also been on the receiving end of the gracious, merciful love of God in his life, wrote to the churches that were scattered abroad in 1st Peter 1:22. He said this: "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart."

Scripture teaches that a true believer, an authentic, sincere Christian seeks to emulate the example of Jesus and obey the commandment of Jesus by love. Why is that? Listen, Paul tells us in Galatians chapter two. He says this in verse 20:

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." If Jesus is now living his life through me and he is known for love and has commanded me to walk in that same love, then an authentic, sincere Christian will strive to obey the greatest commandment, which is to love.

The law of love referenced in the Mosaic law instructed us to love our neighbor; however, Jesus taught us to even go beyond that. It brings us to our third point, and that is this: there is a contrast made between light and darkness. Listen very carefully in verse eight. "Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

He who says he is in light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness, walks in darkness, doesn't know where he is going, because darkness has blinded his eyes."

Here again is a contrast between the difference of light and darkness. Light represents God's kingdom. Darkness signifies the devil's kingdom. Light symbolizes truth; darkness represents lies. Darkness will pass away, the true light is already shining, and it will dispel darkness ultimately.

There is an inconsistency that John points out here. The person who claims to be in light, meaning again, claims to be a Christian, but at the same time hates his brother, hates his sister, is actually in darkness. Folks, there is no emotion more blinding than hatred.

And we have ways of justifying hatred. Justification for unforgiveness, bitterness, we have reasons. But according to verse 11, it says darkness has actually blinded the eyes of the person who walks in hatred, and they really don't know where they're going. They're just lost. The god of this age has blinded their eyes and he has used hatred.

John highlights here the spiritual delusion of individuals who harbor hatred while professing to follow Jesus. And this delusion is inconsistent and a characteristic of darkness and not light. And why is that? Here is the reason. I'm going to give you the scriptural basis, and I hope that it will become clear to you.

When you come to Jesus, when you become a Christian, several things take place in your life and the Bible describes them. First of all, in Colossians 1:13, here's what happens when a person becomes a Christian. It says this: "He," that is Jesus, "has delivered us," literally rescued us, "from the power of darkness and then conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of his love."

So when you get saved, you're taken out of darkness, that kingdom that you were a captive in, taken out of that, brought into a new kingdom of the Son of his love and light. We emerge from darkness by the grace of God into this kingdom of light and love. And then according to Romans 5:5, what happens when I come from darkness to light? Listen to this:

Romans five, it says the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. So I'm taken out of darkness, all the emptiness and all the misery of that life of sin, forgiven, taken out of that, coming into the kingdom of light and love of the Son, and he pours into my life his love through the work of the Holy Spirit.

I am filled with, I don't even know what. "Why do you love people?" I don't know, something has happened to me. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence in the believer's life. And as the Spirit of God begins to do his work, folks, it produces a spiritual fruit. And what is that fruit? Galatians chapter five, verse 20. You know it. The fruit of the Spirit is what? Love.

That was great. Love. I felt it right here. It's love. The bottom line is if we are really, truly in light, there will be God's love. If we love others, we're not going to stumble walking around; we're going to know where we are because we're walking in light as he is in the light. On the other hand, if we're filled with hate, bitterness, unforgiveness, there are signs of darkness.

Guest (Male): Pastor John Randall on A Daily Walk. We've been in 1st John chapter two listening into a message called "The Command that Never Changes." Hear it again at adailywalk.org or look for A Daily Walk wherever you get your podcasts and at oneplace.com.

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In these difficult days, it is so important that we be praying for one another. So please send in your prayer requests today. We'd love to hear from you. Our email address is adailywalk@gmail.com. That's adailywalk@gmail.com. Well, that's all the time we have for today, but we'll continue through the Bible with John Randall next time. This has been A Daily Walk, where you'll never have to walk alone.