Daily Devotions
1 John
"Brethren, I write no new commandment to you..."
Text: 1 John 2:7
THE LURE OF “NEW COMMANDMENTS”
The apostle John with great understanding knew that he had to deal with false teachers who seemed to be able to lure believers with the appeal of “new commandments”. What was this appeal?
1. False teachers know that poorly taught believers are easily drawn to “new teachings”.
2. Somehow the old commandments, though well attested seem to be less appealing after a while.
3. This problem certainly affected ancient Israel adversely.
a) Israel was not faithful in the keeping of old teachings given by Moses.
b) They were drawn to new teachings offered in idolatrous worship.
4. Jeremiah the prophet appealed to the nation to “ask for the old paths, where the good way is.” (Jeremiah 6:16)
THE SOLID WISDOM OF THE OLD COMMANDMENTS
John wrote earnestly of the solid strength of “old commandments.”
“Brethren, I write no new commandment to you,
but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.”
1 John 2:7