1 John 2:7-11b – “Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. ⁸On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. ⁹ The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. ¹⁰ The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God, I was arrested in my spirit. The thought of real salvation filled my thoughts.  The question: “How many are truly saved?” Would not leave me. 

As I examined John’s discourse and instructions to the believers, I was challenged.  This may seem almost aside, but 1 John 1:1-4 gives a directive and reveals a need.  John had experienced Jesus, and out of that experience, he preached. Preaching from theory impacts no one. Preaching from experience leads to life.

John gave some identifying characteristics of being saved. 1 John 2:3 – Keep God’s commandments. (Not law keeping but heart living.)  1 John 2:7-11 reveals a neglected truth.  Hate negates the testimony and invalidates the claim of salvation.

In 1 John 3, we realize that obedience (from the heart) is evidence of salvation. 1 John 3:14-18 gives a picture of demonstrated love.  That reveals Jesus in the heart (salvation).

1 John 4:7-8 is impossible to escape from or explain away.  Are we truly saved?  There can be no hate.  Let’s narrow that down a bit.  If we do not have active love, it is either a precursor to hate or it is hate!

In 1 John 4:11-18, we discover that LOVE is the most prolific evidence of salvation.  In verses 19-21, we come face to face with a staggering truth: no love for others, no Jesus in our hearts.  No Jesus, no salvation.   True salvation allows no room for hate.  There is no room for all the levels or stages of hate.

I hear people say, “I don’t hate them, I just want nothing to do with them.” Examine that.   Is that love?  Be honest.  No love, no Jesus.  We know we have passed from death to life by two things.  We keep God’s commandments, and we love one another.  Love is active!  Do we have hate in our hearts? Dislike negates love. No love, no Jesus.

Lord, help me to love everyone! Help me to hate, no one! Remember, Love is not tolerance. Just being tolerant is not evidence of love.