"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."
1 John 2:10
Part 2
Yesterday:
“He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,”
“And there is none occasion of stumbling in him (a).”
Today:
“And there is none occasion of stumbling in him (b).”
We are looking at two statements from the Cambridge Bible about the “there is none occasion of stumbling in him,” comment. This is not referring to “sinless perfection” for the believer, for that will not happen until we see Christ. But the believer is striving to live following the light.
1. “He has in him nothing likely to ensnare him or cause him to stumble.”1
The believer who is walking, abiding in the light, is the man or woman who is not likely to fall because he/she will not allow the stumbling blocks that could trip them up into their lives. This brother is careful how and where he walks. He is “circumspect,” carefully looking around where he is going.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15).
This believer has a very low tolerance for sin (darkness) and so will not allow it to infiltrate his life. He stays away from the sins that cause areas of weakness and temptation. He refuses to harbor these things in his life. He keeps short sin accounts with God.
2. “He has in him nothing likely to cause others to stumble.”2
But then also this believer is one who is abiding in the light and will not be a stumbling block to others. He is conscious of his testimony for Christ. He will not use his Christian liberty to bring things into his life that may harm other believers. He will not allow himself to be the cause of others failing in their Christian lives. He understands and lives by the principle of deference.
“Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended or is made weak” (Romans 14:19-21).
“Living in the light” means not only watching for our own souls but lovingly watching for our brothers and sisters as well. This is what “family” does.
1. Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
2. Cambridge Bible, ibid.