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Walking in the Light: Loving the Brothers - 1 John 2:7-11 — 9/25/2026 10:00 AM
Today's speaker is Dr. Kevin Jones, Dean of the School of Education and Social Work at Cedarville University. Dr. Jones declares that our love for others is an absolute necessity in our Christian walk. His text is 1 John 2:7-11.
Notes
This morning, Dr. Kevin Jones, Dean of the School of Education and Social Work at Cedarville University, preached on 1 John 2, reminding us to love not only in word but also in deed.
Love Is Not a New Command
John cares deeply for his readers and wants them to know that love is not a new command; it is the mark of an old faith. Christianity isn’t just about following a set of rules; it’s about becoming a new person in Christ, and that happens through love. Love for Jesus changes how we treat people.
When John said that “the darkness is passing away,” he was saying he remembered what life was like before and after Jesus stepped on the scene. Every time he watched Jesus perform a miracle, he saw the darkness fade away and the light begin to shine.
Your Love for People Reveals Whether You Are Walking in the Light
John says that whoever hates his brother is walking in the darkness, no matter how much he claims to be in the light. Saying you love people isn’t enough; you must demonstrate it through your actions.
Cain hated Abel so much that he murdered him. Don’t hate people because they offer the Lord a better sacrifice than you. Joseph’s brothers threw him into a pit. Don’t hate people because the Lord has given them good gifts and not gifted you in the same way. Jeremiah’s audience hated him because he prophesied God’s words to them. Don’t hate people because they proclaim the Lord’s good truth to you.
Who are you avoiding? Who are you secretly jealous of? Who have you decided never to forgive? How do you treat people who cannot benefit you? How do you show love one to another? Your lip service means nothing; show them you love them!
Love Moves You Towards People Rather Than Away From Them
Jesus constantly moved towards people rather than away from them. He demonstrated His love for us by moving from heaven to earth, where He would dwell with us and eventually die for us. He did this not when we were perfect but when we were still running from Him. Will you love a community that is dead in their sins? Will you move close to the brokenhearted?
John says that whoever loves his brother abides in the light. Love means choosing forgiveness over bitterness, encouragement over tearing down, generosity over selfishness, reconciliation over avoidance, and humility over pride. It means seeing every person as an image-bearer.
Hatred Makes You Stumble in the Darkness
When you choose hatred, you are destroying yourself as well as hurting the other person. Nothing in life is clear when we harbor hate and refuse to love others. You cannot claim to walk in God’s light while deliberately refusing to love those made in God’s image.
If you are a child of God, His love is already in you. Let’s show that love to everyone around us!