Walking in the Light of Love
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning that to walk in the Light of Christ is to walk in Love.
Text: 1John 2:7-11
Date: 10/18/2026, the Evening service.
Series: "Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship" Part 47
Description:
As John continues to provide his readers with tests of how to discern true Christianity, he moves from the general test of keeping His commandments, to a more specific test of keeping the commandment to love our brothers and sisters. Using his characteristically straight-forward and even harsh language, he provides both positive and negative statements concerning this fundamental Christian social behavior. He will once again use the metaphors of "light" and "darkness" to speak of those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, as compared to those who have not. Ultimately he will establish a powerful principle for all Christians to understand-- to walk in the light of Christ is to walk in love!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, 1John 2:7-11.
A. Context, 1John 2:4.
B. Walking in Light; walking in Love.
1. The Commandment of love, vs. 7-8.
a. An old commandment, vs. 7, Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:37-40.
b. A new commandment, vs. 8.
i. Some good suggestions, Matt. 5:44.
ii. A whole new perspective, 1John 2:5; John 13:34-35; 2Cor. 5:14.
iii. A powerful principle.
iv. The metaphor of Light and darkness.
1) The Light that is Christ, John 8:12, 9:5; Matt. 5:14.
2) A New Age of Light, 1John 1:5.
2. Love in the realms of Light and dark, vs. 9-11.
a. The hypocrisy of hate, vs. 9.
i. Looking at the words.
1) Identifying "brothers".
2) Defining "hate".
ii. A broad view of the test, 1John 2:4,6.
b. The evidence of light, vs. 10.
i. Looking at the words.
1) A deep love.
2) A place of residence.
3) Something offensive, Matt. 26:31.
ii. Putting the words together.
c. The evidence of darkness, vs. 11.
i. The art of repetition.
ii. The blindness of darkness, Prov. 4:19; John 9:39, 12:35.
III. Application, John 13:35.
IV. Conclusion
