Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Eastern.
In Lesson 32, we are going to study 1 John 2:9.
Let’s read our verse.
1 John 2:9 If anyone claims to be in the light but hates a fellow believer, is still in the darkness.
Let’s start by focusing on the first part of the verse: If anyone claims to be in the light…
Claims (3004. legó) means to say, to bring a message to closure, or to lay an argument to rest. (HELPS Word-Studies)
Light (5457. phós) means the radiance of God or divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ. (HELPS Word-Studies)
This is speaking about a person that is claiming, or laying an argument to rest, that they are living in the light, or living in the radiance of God and have eternal life through Christ.
They are claiming to be in fellowship with God and walking in the light.
Walking in the light means to live in a way that aligns with God’s truth and righteousness and is living in accordance to God’s commandments.
In Lesson 31 we studied that Jesus commands us to love others as He loved us, to love others by being willing to lay down our lives for others, and to love our brothers and sisters in Christ by walking in the light.
In 1 John 1:7, we read that when we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (See Lesson 16.)
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Now, let’s focus on the next part of the verse: but hates a fellow believer…
Hates (846. autos) means to detest, to esteem less, dislike intensely, or feel extreme hostility toward. (Dictionary.com)
A fellow believer (80. adelphos) means a member of the same religious community, especially a fellow Christian.
This is speaking about a person that claims to be walking in the light with Christ, but detests, dislikes intensely or has extreme hostility towards a fellow Christian.
In Titus 3:3, we read that before were are living in the light with Christ, there was hatred in our lives.
Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Let’s focus on the final part of the verse: is still in the darkness.
Is still in the darkness (2193. heós) (4653. skotia) means still in spiritual obscurity or blocking the light of God.
If someone claims to live in the light, yet they hate, or detest another believer, they are still in spiritual obscurity.
They are blocked from the light of God.
It’s impossible to be in the light of God and have hatred toward another believer.
Everything Jesus stands for is the opposite of hatred.
In John 13:34, we read that Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
In John 13:35, we read that people will know that you are a disciples of Christ, if you love one another.
John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.
In Ephesians 4:18, we read that a person can be alienated from the life of God because of hardness in their heart. This hardness comes from hatred towards others. Because of this, they are living in the dark.
Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
According to 1 John 2:9, if you hate a brother or sister in Christ, you have never come into the light. You are still in the darkness.
Take a minute and ask God to search your heart and reveal to you if you have any hatred towards another believer.
If God reveals that you do have hate in your heart, ask Him to forgive you of your sin.
Then, forgive the believer or believers that you hate. Ask God to give you His perspective towards them and to fill your heart with His love.
Let’s read some verses about forgiving others.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
In conclusion, if you have hatred towards another believer, you are not in the light, you are still in the darkness. Ask God to search your heart. If you do have hate in your heart, ask God to forgive you. Then, forgive the believer or believers for anything they have done to you. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit and to give you the strength to love others as Christ has loved you. Then, walk in the light with Jesus and in fellowship with other believers.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:9 If anyone claims to be in the light but hates a fellow believer, is still in the darkness.
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Thank you and God bless you,
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Thibault Mokuenko on Unsplash. Bretignolles-sur-Mer, France. Berean Study Bible Version.)
Lesson 32 - 1 John 2:9 If anyone claims to be in the light but hates a fellow believer, is still in the darkness.