2 John 1:4-6
4 “I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received a commandment to do from the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you are to walk in it.”
Verse 4: The elder expresses his joy in finding that some of the children of the lady chosen by God are walking in the truth. Walking in the truth means living in accordance with the reality of our new identity in Christ. It is a joyful thing to see believers embracing and living out the truth of the gospel, which brings freedom, joy, and transformation.
Verse 5: The elder reassures the lady that he is not giving her a new command, but rather reminding her of the commandment they have had from the beginning. The commandment to love one another is central. It is not a burdensome obligation, but a natural outflow of the love that God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us. This commandment to love one another is central. It is not a burdensome obligation, but a natural outflow of the love that God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us, demonstrating selflessness, compassion, and forgiveness. This commandment is not about striving to earn God’s love or approval, but rather about reflecting the love that we have already received from him. As we walk in the truth of the gospel, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to love one another with a genuine and sacrificial love.
Verse 6: The elder emphasizes that walking in love is the essence of obedience to God’s commands. Our obedience is not based on a legalistic adherence to a set of rules, but on a heart transformed by God’s love. As we abide in Christ and allow His love to flow through us, we naturally walk in love towards others. This love is not based on our own efforts or abilities, but on the work of the Holy Spirit within us. It is a love that seeks the well-being and flourishing of others, just as Christ has loved us.
