1 Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1Jn 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 1Jn 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 1Jn 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 1Jn 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 1Jn 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
This passage is very plain and easy to understand. We cannot be right with God if we don’t obey His commandments. Love leads to obedience. Obedience perfects, or completes our love, our love for God and love for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Our claim to have the truth and the light is a false claim if it hasn’t produced love for our fellow believers. God’s Word is very plain on this subject: the reality of our claim of salvation can be measured by the love for God and the love for one another that it produces. Let’s be careful that we maintain our love for God and our love for His children. Check your attitudes. Check your words. Check your actions. It is vital that we know we are walking in the light at this dark hour.