Doug Schorle 02-22-2026 | Something Old; Something New, 1 John 2:7-14

One of the driving philosophies of marketing is the idea, "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door."  The constant push is for something new.  And for existing products, it is marketed as, "New and improved."  In some cases, the new is an improvement.  But history is filled with goods and services hyped as the next best thing, only to fail miserably.

In our passage today, we continue our examination of the Apostle John's first letter to the church in which he provides a defense against false teachers already infiltrating the church during the first century.  Our examination began with the nature of Jesus Christ as fully human and fully divine.  We then continued by the standing of the believer in Christ as evidenced by our obedience to Christ and walking as He walked.  Now we consider the evidence of a true walk with Christ through our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Throughout John's letter, his main concern seems to be with the false teachings of the Gnostics who, among other things, were constantly in search of, and promoting, new knowledge.  But John exhorts his readers that the commandment he brings is not a new commandment, but an old commandment, which they have known from the beginning of their faith experience.  But he also presents the commandment as a new commandment in the person of Christ.  Finally, we consider how we can walk in the command to love one another.

Thank you for listening to today's teaching.  We pray you will be encouraged through the teaching of God's Word and what it means to walk in Christ.