We see again here that those who are saved, those who abide in Him, ought to walk as Jesus walked. Jesus always pleased His Father. He never denied the truth. He never argued with His Father. He did not try to be like the false teachers. He exposed them for who they were and showed the people how important the truth was. He showed them the blessing they could know in trusting in God.
In verses 7-8 we have words that some believe are in conflict with each other. In verse 7 John was told to write and remind the readers that he was not writing a new commandment to them. What John was telling them was the same truth that was from the beginning. The hope of man was to know and serve the true God. This hope is founded in knowing God’s forgiveness. The seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. Jesus Christ came in His first coming to present Himself as the Messiah and King. He was rejected in both points by most of the Jews. He went to the cross to provide the only means of salvation for mankind. Without His shed blood, there is no hope for man.
In verse 8 John was told to write of a new commandment. It was new in the sense that it was something that had been neglected for so long, and it was not being taught. John spoke of the darkness being now past. The darkness is the old sin nature. It was further expressed in the lives and teachings of the false teachers. They kept people in the dark. They had nothing good to offer. However, the truth was now in their midst. Jesus Christ is the true Light that is come into the world. Prior to Jesus’ coming, the false religion of the Pharisees had dominated the Jewish system. There were still some true believers in God, but they were in a minority and their voice was being overshadowed by the lies of the false teachers. Men like Zacharias were few in number. He was also an older man already. Simeon was another one who believed in God but he too was an older man. They looked for the coming of the Messiah. They believed in Him when He came. However, the majority of the people were not looking for the true Messiah. In Genesis 3:15, God had promised the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. He had further revealed truths of this coming seed throughout the Old Testament. However, the priesthood was greatly corrupted over the years. There were also many false prophets who led the people astray. The people did not have access to the scrolls. They relied on the leaders to tell them the truth. God always had true prophets available to teach the people the truth. However, as we know today as well, it is easier to believe a lie than to believe the truth. The lie makes more sense to lost people and it does not require the impossible from man.
True salvation and its effects are impossible for the natural man. True salvation is a work of God. No man can change his heart in an effective manner. People can change some things through self effort, but no man can change according to God’s demands. God can and does change the repentant sinner into a saint. He does a work in that person’s life that is not humanly possible.
In verse 9 we are reminded that those who are saved must demonstrate that reality. The person who claims to walk in the light and yet hates his brother is not truly in the light. He is in darkness even to that present time. We cannot fool God. Our words must be genuine. God knows who is truly His and who is not. There are people who profess to be saved, but they want nothing to do with others who also claim to be saved.
Those who are truly saved are willing to forgive an errant brother. We will all sin. We will say things we should not say. True Biblical love is expressed in actions. True Biblical love does not accept sin. It seeks to help another brother to deal with sin and to walk in fellowship with the true God.
In verse 10 we see that the person who loves his brother abides in the light. This person is walking in victory and the devil does not have that easy access to attack him. When a Christian tries to harbour sin, he makes an opening for the devil to further attack him. Christians cannot defend themselves against the attacks of the devil. We need God’s help to walk faithfully with Him. When we walk in the light we are walking with God. Thus there is no occasion of stumbling. We have all the protection we need.
In verse 11 we see that the person who hates his brother is in darkness. He is in darkness and he walks in darkness. He cannot even see the danger he is in. He does not know where he is going. The darkness has blinded his eyes. This is not a good thing.
We see in verse 12 that there is no reason for the saved person to be crippled by sin. His sins are forgiven for Jesus’ name’s sake. It is because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ that we can be forgiven. It is not because we deserve it. Since we have been forgiven, there is no reason to hate our fellow brother. We need to walk in love and in the light.
In verse 13-14 John is addressing the various stages of life. Fathers are those who have known Jesus. He is from the beginning. He is the Creator of all things. Fathers need to be saved men and thus they will know this important fact. Not all fathers know this but saved fathers certainly know this. It is important for fathers to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour. It is also important for fathers to know that after they are saved, they are servants of the living God.
Young men have also demonstrated their faith in God by overcoming the wicked one. They are not under bondage to the devil. They will sin, but they are not bound in sin. Even little children know the Father. They can know the true God and they can fellowship with Him.
In verse 14 John repeated the fact of the fathers’ faith. It is important for fathers to know the true God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are coming after them need to see that faith in their fathers. Fathers have a great privilege of being able to help their sons and daughters to know the truth. They also have that responsibility. They will be held accountable for their choices.
Young men need to be strong. They cannot be running to and fro and following every wind of doctrine. They need to be grounded in the truth and they also need to be subject to receiving the truth. The Christian’s strength is found in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.