1 John 2:28-3:15
The Law
What is “The Law”?
The Law of Moses, known in Hebrew as the Torah, and known in Greek as the Pentateuch, comprises the first five books of the Bible and is distinct from the Historical Books, Prophets & Psalms (Luke 24:44, John 1:45). It has three main aspects: Civil Law, Ceremonial Law, and Moral / Spiritual Law.
Civil Law
Civil law was intended to govern the general workings of Israelite society, including relationships between people, as well as what is identified today as Family Law and Criminal Law. For example, Deuteronomy 15:12-18 contains laws concerning bondservants and their freedom, and Deuteronomy 19:1-7 contains the law concerning cities of refuge for those who cause accidental death.
Ceremonial Law
Ceremonial law comprises rules and regulations that governed practices associated with Israelite worship. For example, Exodus 23:14-17 established the law requiring participation in three annual feasts, and Exodus 31:12-17 describes the Sabbath law.
Moral Law
Moral or Spiritual law in the Torah is reflective of God’s perfect moral nature, and is encapsulated by the two greatest commandments: first, to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), and second, to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18).
Old Covenant View of the Law
The Law is described as perfect (Psalm 19:7-10), and was to be obeyed (Deuteronomy 30:11-16) in faith (Habakkuk 2:1-4).
Jesus’ View of the Law
Jesus taught that all Scripture (which at that time comprised the Law, Historical Books, Psalms and Prophets) testified of Him, who is the One who gives eternal life (John 5:39-40). Jesus claimed that the Law is perfect to the smallest detail, and prophetic (Matthew 5:17-18). In addition, He taught that when there is tension between different aspects of the Law, the Moral Law prevails. For example, consider Mark 2:23-27, in which Jesus taught that the Moral law which commands the provision of food for the needy (Leviticus 23:22) supercedes the Ceremonial law which forbids consumption of the showbread by non-priests (Leviticus 24:9) [For more on this tension see The Sabbath was Made for Man].
Purposes of the Law
Civil law was intended primarily for the maintenance of order in society, as it is today (Romans 13:1-5); Ceremonial law was a foreshadow of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17); and the Law as a whole was intended to serve as a tutor to bring people to faith in Christ (Galatians 3:19-24). Remember, those saints like Abraham who lived prior to the first advent of Christ looked forward in faith to His coming (John 8:56)!
Some Consequences of Faithful Jewish Adherence to the Law under the Old Covenant
Faithful obedience to the Law resulted in blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-2) and holiness, i.e., separation from the Gentiles (Deuteronomy 28:9-10).
The New Covenant
How well did Israel follow the Law by faith?
Not well at all! The Israelites characteristically broke the Law, such that by ca. 626 B.C. God declared that the Mosaic covenant itself was broken (Jeremiah 31:31-32)! The primary problem was that the Israelites attempted to keep the Law by works instead of by faith (Romans 9:31-32).
What did Jesus usher in the night of His betrayal?
The New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20).
What is the Import of the New Covenant Relative to the Old Covenant?
The New Covenant supersedes the Old Covenant, which is now obsolete (Hebrews 8:7-13).
Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy : Two Sides of the Same Coin
Orthodoxy means “true doctrine” and orthopraxy means “true actions.” Where there is true doctrine, true actions are likely to follow.
What impact did Christ have on the separation between Jews & Gentiles intrinsic to the Old Covenant?
This is a now revealed mystery of great import, as described by Paul in Ephesians 2:11-18:
“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
According to the Holy Spirit (who spoke through Paul), the Law of commandments in ordinances was abolished, such that both Jews and Gentiles, through faith in Christ, could be reconciled to God and to each other, thus becoming part of one and the same new body, i.e., the Church! That is to say, the barrier of separation between Jews and Gentiles was removed!
Which aspects of the Law were abolished?
The Law of commandments in ordinances is widely understood as primarily the ceremonial law but also some aspects of civil law (in so far as they applied specifically to governance of the nation of Israel, e.g., Deuteronomy 17:16).
Which aspects of the Law were NOT abolished?
Moral or spiritual law, which is reflective of God’s perfect moral nature, was not changed, for God Himself does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). In addition, some civil law was not abolished. For example, Christians are still commanded to submit to governing civil authorities (Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 2:13-17). That said, when God’s moral law and “societal” civil law are in conflict, Christians should submit to God and ignore or resist civil law (e.g., Acts 5:17-29).
In this context, what is a consequence of salvation by grace through faith?
Good works! That is, willful, demonstrable submission to God’s moral and relevant civil law (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Pseudodoxy and Pseudopraxy : Two Sides of the Same Coin
Pseudodoxy means “false doctrine” and pseudopraxy means “false actions” [1]. Where there is false doctrine, there is likely to be false practice. Let’s look at two general examples:
Case 1: “Someone” teaches that adherence to some form of Ceremonial Law is required for salvation
This is the false doctrine of salvation by works, and is the focus of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians!
Case 2: “Someone” teaches that Christ abolished ALL Law (Ceremonial, Civil, and Moral) and that Christians Don’t Need to Obey Christ
This false teaching is known as antinomianism, meaning “opposed to law.” Those who follow it are prone to fall into habitual sin (lawlessness), an indication of which is that they likely were never saved, and a consequence of which is that they won’t likely be saved. This is the focus of 1 John 2:28-3:15! John was addressing the issue of antinomianism that was most likely brought into the first century church by the antichrists about whom he had previously written (see Antichrists, Us and You). John was basically refuting the false doctrine of the false teachers that had recently left their community.
1 John 2:28-3:15
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
For a table which breaks down these verses to facilitate comparison and contrasting of the characteristics of the different people mentioned in this text, click here. Therein, you’ll notice that the Children of God abide in Him (2:28), practice righteousness (2:29, 3:7), purify themselves (3:3), don’t habitually sin (3:6, 3:9), and love one another (3:11). For more on this topic, check out 1 John 2:3-6 Obeying His Commands.
Applications
1) Examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5)! To what extent is the “vector” of your life becoming increasingly like the child of God? Is there something about which you need to confess? Do you need to repent?
2) In humility and love, share 1 John 2:28-3:15 with anyone you know who claims to be a Christian yet seems to have a lifestyle characterized by sin. Ask him or her about your observations, and if true, and he or she is willing to repent, then be prepared to commit to helping him or her overcome and be accountable to Christ!
End Note
[1] Pseudopraxy isn’t in the English dictionary, as far as I know. I might have made it up!
