2:81 John 2:8

The commandment is old because it is the word heard from the beginning, and it is new because it is true in Christ and in believers, since the darkness is past and the true light now shines.RH Jul 13, 1905+2 It is true in Christ because He embodies it, and true in believers when they keep His word, keep His commandments, walk even as He walked, and love one another.Ms 68, 1903, par. 35–36+2 To love a brother is to abide in the light with no cause of stumbling, while to claim to be in the light while hating a brother is to be in darkness even until now, walking blinded and not knowing where one goes.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31+2 Knowing God is proved by keeping His commandments, and keeping His word perfects the love of God in the believer and shows abiding in Him.Ms 68, 1903, par. 35–36+2 The passing of darkness and shining of the true light effects a real change into a life in Christ, ending spiritual darkness for souls who have Jesus with them.Ms 79, 1894, par. 20–22+2

The commandment is old because it is the word heard from the beginning, and it is new because it is true in Christ and in believers, because the darkness is past and the true light now shines.RH Jul 13, 1905+4 It is both no new commandment and a new commandment, old as the word from the beginning and new in its truth in Christ and in those who are one with him.RH Jul 13, 1905+3 Its newness is proved in a life that keeps His commandments, does not sin or transgress the law, has the love of God perfected by keeping His word, abides in Him, and walks even as He walked.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+1 That walk is to love the brother and abide in the light with no cause of stumbling, rather than saying one knows Him while disobeying, or claiming to be in the light while hating the brother and walking blind in darkness, with Jesus Christ the righteous as advocate and propitiation for the sins of the whole world for any who sin.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2 One who claims to be in the light loves a brother, while hatred leaves a person in darkness even until now, with selfishness exposed in words and works, whereas the one who loves has the love of God abiding in the heart, peace and rest of soul, and obedience to God's Word that proves a saving knowledge of the Saviour.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2

Its newness is not something strange or novel, but the truth received from Christ to be cherished in its simple form.RH Jul 13, 1905+1 That freshness gives believers something continually new to consider as they seek communion with God and the privilege of being one with Christ, rather than seeking strange new teachings or being led astray by false science.RH Jul 13, 1905+1

The old commandment had from the beginning is now to be vindicated by putting every particle of influence on the Lord's side and not on Satan's side, with vigorous piety increasing and making for itself a place on the earth.Ms 69, 1896, par. 15 The standard of truth is to be elevated in new places and carried into regions beyond, and men are called to consecrate themselves wholly and to place themselves and their means upon the altar for building up the interests of His kingdom in the world.Ms 69, 1896, par. 15 Everything that can be done is to be done to shed forth light into the darkened places of the earth, because there is but little time in which to do a great work, and each must decide to be on the Lord's side in the last battle of the controversy.Ms 69, 1896, par. 15

The commandment is true in Christ because He embodies it, and true in believers as it is fulfilled in them when they keep God's word and keep His commandments.Ms 68, 1903, par. 35–36+2 It is true in them when they walk even as He walked, full of pity, tenderness and compassion, and when they love one another.Ms 68, 1903, par. 35–36+2 This belongs with knowing Him by keeping His commandments, with having the love of God perfected by keeping His word, with abiding in Him, and with having sins forgiven for His name's sake.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2 It is old because it is the word heard from the beginning, and new because the darkness is past and the true light now shines.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2 To love the brother is to abide in the light where there is no occasion of stumbling, while to hate the brother is to remain in darkness and walk blinded by darkness.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2

Its truth is proved in a life that keeps His commandments, walks as He walked, loves the brother and abides in the light with no cause of stumbling.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2 This stands in contrast to saying one knows Him while disobeying and transgressing the law, and to saying one is in the light while hating the brother and walking blind not knowing where he goes.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32+2 For any who sin, Jesus Christ the righteous is advocate and propitiation for the sins of the whole world.Lt 72, 1906, par. 31–32 Apparent obedience to one commandment is worthless when love for the brethren is neglected, for Christ must dwell in the heart where the law of love produces the fruits that lead to eternal life.Ms 72, 1898, par. 17–18

When love of self and making self the main subject ends, contention ends and peace comes, and the love of God is expressed from heart to heart.Ms 156, 1904, par. 10–12 Then the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine into hearts and into the chambers of the mind.Ms 156, 1904, par. 10–12 This is true because Christ lives to make intercession, at times with groanings that cannot be uttered.Ms 156, 1904, par. 10–12 It was proven in Gethsemane, where the cup of bearing the sin of the whole corrupt world trembled in His hand and blood came from the pores of His skin.Ms 156, 1904, par. 10–12 There He battled the powers of darkness feeling the sins of the world laid upon Him, was strengthened by an angel, and submitted to the Father to drink the cup of suffering in behalf of others.Ms 156, 1904, par. 10–12

The darkness is past and the true light is now shining to bring a real change into a life in Christ, ending spiritual darkness for souls who have Jesus with them.Ms 79, 1894, par. 20–22+2 It expresses the hope that people will leave spiritual darkness and receive the true light now shining.Ms 79, 1894, par. 20–22 For converted souls it becomes their own personal testimony that can truly be said for themselves today, that spiritual darkness has ended and the true light now shines in them, especially as interest in the meetings grows.Ms 1, 1895, par. 24+1

The true light shining now exposes false, artificial lights claiming to come from heaven, and it shines in souls opened heavenward.8T 194.3+2 It is the heavenly star of holiness and heavenly brightness that guides the feet of pilgrims and strangers into the city of God.8T 194.3+2 It enters and lights up and brightens the windows of the soul that are opened heavenward.20MR 309.1+1 Its bright beams from heaven must not be allowed to be eclipsed, because counterfeits and false lights take the place of the true and deceive many souls for a time.20MR 309.1+1

The true light is shining amid the world's darkness, and those who receive its light must walk according to its guidance.ST Sep 27, 1883 God has given great spiritual blessings and opportunities to advance in truth, and refusing that light brings darkness in proportion to the light rejected.ST Sep 27, 1883 Walking in that light brings the knowledge that darkness has passed away because the true light has shone, and leads to a bright path even when it is thorny.ST Nov 30, 1882+1

When believers look to Jesus and follow Him they pass from darkness into light instead of walking in darkness.Lt 120, 1898, par. 8 This was seen in John, in whom darkness had passed away and the true light was shining through close experience of Christ.ST Mar 8, 1905+2 By day-by-day attention to Jesus' tenderness, patience and lessons his violent spirit and evil character were changed, he became a doer of Jesus' words, hid self in Christ, and learned to bear Christ's yoke and burden.ST Mar 8, 1905 By studying the life of Christ in the Word he beheld as in a glass the glory of the Lord and was changed into the same image from glory to glory, from character to character, till he was like what he adored.Ms 8a, 1888, par. 9–12 He imitated the life in which he delighted and knew the Saviour by experimental knowledge, seeing Him as few could see Him and seeing the beauty of His character, and because the true light was shining on him he could testify clearly and forcefully to the Saviour's life and death and in his epistles breaks forth against sin, presenting Christ as the One who can cleanse from all iniquity.AA 555.2–556.1+1

The commandment is the command to love fellow believers, and its light is shown by loving one's brother or sister.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31+3 To love a brother is to abide in the light, while to claim to be in the light while hating a brother is to be in darkness even until now.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31+4 Selfishness is exposed in words and works when hatred is cherished under a profession of light, and the following verses give the practical force of the new commandment that is true in Christ and in believers because the darkness is past and the true light shines.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31+4

Whoever loves abides in the light with no occasion of stumbling in him and does not cause stumbling in another.Ms 156, 1904, par. 16+4 Hatred leaves a person in darkness and walking in darkness, blinded by the darkness so that understanding is blinded.Ms 156, 1904, par. 16+3 He stumbles and does not know where he goes, walking blindly because the light he rejects cannot guide him.Ms 156, 1904, par. 16+3

Love for others is evidence of knowing God and having His love abiding in the heart and perfected within.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31+1 The one who loves has peace and rest of soul, and obedience to God's Word that proves a saving knowledge of the Saviour.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31 Christlike love shows believers are filled with light and that darkness has passed, so a person cannot have faith leading to eternal life without this love, for a loveless Christian is impossible because God is love.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31+2

The change from darkness to light is incompatible with continuing in hatred and calls believers to unity and brotherly love.Ms 72, 1898, par. 17–18+2 Apparent obedience to one commandment is worthless when love for the brethren is neglected.Ms 72, 1898, par. 17–18 Christ must dwell in the heart, where the law of love produces the fruits that lead to eternal life.Ms 72, 1898, par. 17–18

Knowing God is proved by keeping His commandments, and to claim to know Him while not keeping them is to lie and be without the truth.Ms 68, 1903, par. 35–36+2 Keeping His word perfects the love of God in the believer and shows abiding in Him, requiring walking even as Christ walked and not sinning by transgressing the law.Ms 68, 1903, par. 35–36+2 The commandment so kept is both old as the word heard from the beginning and new as true in Christ and in believers, because the darkness is past and the true light now shines, belonging with sins forgiven for His name's sake and with loving the brother as abiding in the light without stumbling in contrast to hating the brother as remaining in blinding darkness.Ms 68, 1903, par. 35–36+2

Obedience to the law of God is the condition of salvation, and Christ died because the law could not be abolished.Lt 202, 1907, par. 8–12 The commandments meant leave no doubt, for they are God's commandments, and keeping them demonstrates love.Lt 1, 1895, par. 17–18 Accepting the truth as it is in Christ means honoring God by keeping His commandments instead of crying away with the commandments of God because that law condemns iniquities and crooked practices, just as the Jews who claimed to be in the light cried away with Christ to crucify Him.Lt 202, 1907, par. 8–12+1

True conversion will always manifest itself in the character of the converted one, plainly depicting the characteristics that mark those who become members of the Lord's family.Lt 144, 1907, par. 4–5 Those who live in the shining light, where the true light shines and darkness passes away, must put away their sins and deal faithfully with themselves, rather than continue in darkness and lead others into mistakes.RH Mar 8, 1906 The instruction is to be studied with self-criticism and immediate setting of the heart in order, forbidding exalting self and disparaging others, and calling every soul to confess and forsake sin with diligent repentance, because souls are in peril in the great day of atonement and must be cleansed from sin to be ready for the Lord's appearing.Lt 368, 1904, par. 14–15 It warns believers off the ground where many stand in jealousy, suspicion, imagining evil and creating evil by unbelief, and off placing confidence in human agencies instead of the divine, which brings bitter disappointment.Ms 237, 1902, par. 10

These plain truths about fellowship and love mean very much for those living in the last days and must be read and studied together with Christ's rebuke for leaving first love.Ms 148, 1903, par. 12–18 Presenting beautiful theories is not enough unless the love of Christ is in the heart to give fragrance to words and works, and loss of this love results in loss of all things.Ms 148, 1903, par. 12–18 The chapter continues the message of the preceding chapter and is given to be read and obeyed so that the reader walks in knowledge of the truth, partakes of the divine nature, and walks humbly with God with singleness of purpose in the short time to work.Lt 116, 1910, par. 2–6

The passing of darkness and shining of the true light is God's answer to earnest, persevering prayer in which believers wrestle like Jacob, refuse to let go without blessing, and grasp by trembling yet living active faith the promise that what they desire in prayer they shall have.Lt 20, 1872, par. 2–4+1 Then God breaks the cloud of discouragement and bondage of darkness settling on souls and sends the light of His Spirit, with His presence coming into the midst with angels around.Lt 20, 1872, par. 2–4+1 His blessing and power and healing presence rest upon them, giving spiritual and physical strength that qualifies them for the great work before them, setting feet in a large place, and giving the light of life so they no longer walk in darkness but live illuminated by streams of light and gleamings of glory from the Father in whom is no darkness at all.Lt 20, 1872, par. 2–4+1 He fills hearts and lips with high praise, for offering praise glorifies God.Lt 20, 1872, par. 2–4+1

Here this means a specific leader must pray and search his heart until his moral darkness passes and he can know what God wants him to be.EDFCP 12.3 Christ commands His followers to love and respect their brethren, with selfishness exposed in words and works when one claims to be in the light while hating a brother, while the one who loves abides in the light with no cause of stumbling and has the love of God abiding in the heart with peace and rest of soul and obedience proving saving knowledge.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31 So those who teach yet fail to show tender regard and love and respect for their brethren must cease their labors until converted in spirit, word, and deportment and submitted to God's molding until made clean vessels unto honor fit for the Master's use.Lt 21, 1901, par. 29–31