2 John 6-7
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.
The question of what to do with the Old Testament law, now that Christ has come, has been a topic of debate since the church began. John wrote to one woman about the commandments, that to follow them is to love. In this case, it is the commandment to love one another from John 13:34. Love is also commanded in the Shema of Deureronomy 6:4, and Leviticus 19:18. In other words, love is the fulfillment of the commandments. If you love God, you will want to please him. Knowing who he is would be a good start. Deceivers claiming that God only seemed to be flesh but wasn’t, did not love him.
When we love someone, we seek to know them better. Deceivers in John’s day and ours got Jesus wrong because they did not love him as they ought. If we know him, we love him and we love one another, our neighbor, and our enemy. The question remains. What about the law of Moses, like the Sabbath? John Piper was asked which laws to obey. He said, “The ones that are loving.” It is simplistic but gets to the heart. Love the Lord your God and you will know what he wants and who he wants us to love.
Dear Lord, you are love and you command us to love. Teach us to love those who love us and hate us like Jesus did. In his name we pray, Amen.