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Verse Takeaways
1
Love: The Litmus Test
Commentators unanimously agree that your love for fellow believers is the ultimate test of your claim to be "in the light," or a Christian. A profession of faith without genuine love for others is, according to John, a self-deception. As Charles Spurgeon puts it, hatred is "proof positive" that God's grace is not present, leaving one in spiritual darkness regardless of their claims.
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Book Overview
1 John
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Commentaries
9
Albert Barnes
On 1 John 2:9
18th Century
Theologian
He that saith he is in the light. This means that he has true religion, or is a Christian. See 1 John 1:7.
And hate…
AT Robertson
On 1 John 2:9
And hateth his brother (κα τον αδελφον αυτου μισων). Sharp contrast between the love just described and hate. The only way to walk…
Charles Ellicott
On 1 John 2:9–11
19th Century
Bishop
Here (1 John 2:9–11) is the chief way in which the old commandment, the new commandment, the word from the beginning, the walk in light…
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Charles Spurgeon
On 1 John 2:8–10
19th Century
Preacher
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.…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On 1 John 2:9
This verse brings us to the third false claim that the author denies. Whereas obedience to the new command leads to love among the Christian commun…
John Gill
On 1 John 2:9
17th Century
Pastor
He that says he is in the light
Is in Christ the light, or has the true knowledge of the light of the Gospel, or is …
Matthew Henry
On 1 John 2:3–11
17th Century
Minister
What knowledge of Christ can that be which does not see that He is most worthy of our entire obedience? A disobedient life shows there is neither r…