1 John 2:8

DISCOURSE: 2436
THE TRUE LIGHT

1 John 2:8. The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

OUR blessed Lord is supposed by many to have enlarged the demands of the moral law. That he speaks of giving a new commandment is certain: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another [Note: John 13:34.].” St. John also speaks to the same effect in the words before my text; though, in the words immediately preceding, he had declared, that it was not a new commandment. The reconciling of this difficulty will suggest the true explanation of our text. The command given us to love our neighbour as ourselves, was not a new commandment. It was a part of the moral law [Note: Leviticus 19:18.]; and of the law originally written on the heart of man in Paradise. Yet in some respects it was a new law: both as it respected the Lord Jesus who enacted it, and as it respected us on whom it was enjoined. Let us hear what the Apostle himself says: “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. Again, a new commandment I write unto you: which thing is true in him, and in you.” It was new as it respected the Lord Jesus Christ, who had proposed his own conduct as the model (which, of course, it could not be, till he himself had completed his work on earth), and had enforced it with his own authority as Mediator, which also must be subsequent to his entrance on the mediatorial office. And it was new also as it respected us, because it was never before conceived to extend to the “laying down of our lives for the brethren [Note: 1 John 3:16.],” and because it was enjoined with new motives, such as could never have existed before, even the testifying of our love to Christ, “who has loved us, and given himself for us.” Previous to the coming of our Lord, a veil of obscurity hanged over these things: but now they were made clear, “because the darkness was past, and the true light now shined.”

In considering the change which is here spoken of, I shall notice it,

I. As verified at that day—

The darkness of the Mosaic dispensation was then dispelled—
[That was a dark and shadowy dispensation altogether. God himself was not made known by it as the common Father of all, but as the friend only of one peculiar people, whom he favoured above all others. The way of acceptance with him was very indistinctly seen in the sacrifices which were offered; there being but little spoken to direct the attention of the offerers to that great Sacrifice, from whence alone they derived all their efficacy. Nor were the requirements of the moral law by any means clearly revealed; the very commandments themselves consisting only of prohibitions, and those prohibitions extending, for the most part, only to overt acts. Hence Paul himself, educated as he was by the first master of his day, and pre-eminently conversant as he was with the Mosaic writings, did not, till his eyes were opened by the Spirit of God, understand the spiritual import of the law, or the extent (if the command, “Thou shalt not covet [Note: Romans 7:7; Romans 7:9.].” Besides, there were many enactments for the direction of magistrates in the administration of justice, which, when erroneously construed as rules of duty in private life, seemed to authorize revenge; as, “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”

But our blessed Lord threw the true light on the whole of that economy. He declared plainly, that he was “come to fulfil the law,” and “to give his life a ransom for many.” He directed the people to look to him as “the way, by which alone any one could come to the Father; as the truth,” in whom all the types and shadows of the law were realized; and “as the life,” by whom alone any sinner in the universe could live [Note: John 14:6.]. He explained also the moral law, and freed it from all the glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees, by which it had been obscured; declaring, that it extended to the thoughts and desires of the heart, no less than to the overt act. In particular he made known the great duty of love, as comprehending the whole law in all its branches, and in its utmost extent. Thus in relation both to doctrine and morals it might be truly said, that “the darkness was past, and the true light then shined.”]

The darkness was also dispelled from their minds—
[All by nature are in darkness; and, even though the light shines around them, they are not able to apprehend it; “the eyes of their understanding being altogether darkened.” Of all whilst in a state of unbelief it is expressly said, that “the God of this world hath blinded their eyes [Note: 2 Corinthians 4:4.].” But by the Gospel, accompanied with power from on high, they had been “turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God [Note: Acts 26:18.].” They now acknowledged Jesus as their Saviour; and had obtained “reconciliation with God through the blood of his cross.” They had now an insight into that stupendous mystery, which all “the angels in heaven are desiring to look into,” the redemption of the world by the sacrifice of our incarnate God; and, together with that, had acquired just views of the state in which a redeemed sinner ought to live. In a word, they had been “brought out of darkness into marvellous light [Note: 1 Peter 2:9.].” So that they were able to appreciate the necessity and the excellency of the commandment which was now enjoined.]

But let us contemplate this glorious change,

II.

As fulfilled also amongst ourselves—

Certainly, the true light does shine among you—
[The Lord Jesus “Christ is fully preached among you.” His person, his work, his offices are set before you. You have seen from time to time the types, as completed in their great Antitype; and the prophecies, as fulfilled in him to whom they had respect, even “Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph.” The covenant of grace, which was made with him in our behalf, has been opened to you, and all the great and precious promises that are contained in it unfolded to your view. Salvation, in all its freeness, and in all its fulness, has been offered to you; and all the perfections of God, as pledged for your encouragement, have been brought in review before you. Nor has the nature of evangelical obedience been either partially or sparingly declared. The distinction between the letter and the spirit of the law has been copiously displayed; and all the high requirements of the Gospel been made known; and not declared only, but enforced also by every species of argument that could address itself to your understanding, your conscience, or your will. I say not, that these things have been so fully manifested as they ought to have been, or might have been: because, if my own views had been more enlarged, and my own soul been more deeply impressed with these things, my ministrations would no doubt have been more luminous and beneficial: but this I can say, that I have “not knowingly withheld any thing that could be profitable unto you;” nor, according to the measure of light and grace given unto me, “have I shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God [Note: Acts 20:20; Acts 20:27.].” In this respect therefore I may say, that, if at any time there have been darkness here, that darkness is past: and the true light shines among you, in such a degree, at least, as is sufficient to “guide all your feet into the way of peace.”]

But can it be said that the darkness is passed away from the souls of all?
[Would to God that my text were true in this extent also. Beloved brethren, are not many of you still in the darkness, if not of Judaism itself, yet of the Judaizing teachers, who insisted on combining some obedience of their own with the merits of Christ? Are not the beauty, and glory, and excellency of our holy religion so indistinctly seen by many amongst you, that it produces scarcely any effect upon your hearts and lives? If we look at morals, are not your views of them also very imperfect? Read our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, and see whether your heart go along with it in all that it inculcates respecting patience, forbearance, meekness, forgiveness? Read St. Paul’s description of love in the 13th chapter of his First Epistle to the Corinthians, and see whether that be the standard at which you aim, and by which you estimate your attainments? Have you any idea of your duty to your brethren requiring, that, if it may subserve their spiritual and eternal interests, you should lay down your life for them? I will not ask what speculative notions you may have of these things; for in that respect your views may be correct enough: but what is your practice? it is by that that your character must be tried: and, when tried by that, say whether you are not found altogether wanting. That there is great danger of self-deceit in reference to this matter, is clear from what the Apostle says in the very words following my text: “He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light; and there is none occasion of stumbling in him; 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 [Note: ver. 11–13.].” You perceive that a man may be very confident that he is in the light; and yet be so defective in respect of love, as to be in utter darkness, and going he knows not whither. I pray you, guard against so fatal a delusion as this; and never conceive yourselves to be “children of light,” till your whole spirit and temper, candidly examined, attest that you are “walking as children of the light [Note: Ephesians 5:8.].”]

It may be that you would wish to have two questions solved:

With answering them, I will conclude the subject—

1. How shall I obtain the change spoken of in the text?

[Many directions I might give you; and all proper in their place: but there is one, which, if it do not supersede all others, will at least prove amply sufficient for this occasion. Our blessed Lord says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life [Note: John 8:12.].” Here the direction is from such authority as cannot be withstood, and at the same time so complete, that, if followed, it cannot but succeed. In truth, all other directions, in comparison of this, are like advising persons to light a taper of their own, when they might come forth at once to the noonday sun. By the Lord Jesus Christ the whole darkness, whether from without or from within, shall be dispersed at once. The nature and perfections of God, the spirituality and extent of the law, the use of the whole of the Mosaic ritual, together with the whole work of redemption, will all be made visible as the light itself, to one who obtains just views of Christ. The whole system of morals too will he rendered clear and luminous; and all the sublime motives and encouragements to obedience be reflected with irresistible efficacy upon the soul. This then I say; Go to the Lord Jesus Christ: follow him: contemplate him; believe in him as having in himself all fulness for the supply of those who trust in him: and you shall soon “be guided into all truth,” and experience in the richest abundance the glory and blessedness of his salvation.]

2. How shall I improve that change, supposing it to have been wrought within me?

[This is a question which every child of light should ask: and, as our blessed Lord answered the former, so shall the Apostle Paul answer this. Speaking to persons who were truly enlightened, he says, “Ye are all the children of the light and of the day: we are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober: for they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night: but let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation [Note: 1 Thessalonians 5:5.].” You can easily perceive that a change of views should be followed by a corresponding change of conduct; and, consequently, that henceforth you should “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them [Note: Ephesians 5:11.].” The mercy vouchsafed to you, has not been given for yourselves alone, but for others also; before whom you ought to “shine as lights in a dark place [Note: Philippians 2:15.],” yea so to shine, that all who “behold your light may be constrained to glorify your Father that is in heaven.”]