Extant Words of Gospel

Extant is defined as something that is still in existence though very old.

Some things would be old yet not applicable again, not functional. Consider the evolution of computer, you will see that those built in the 1960s were not applicable for today’s use again. They are out fashioned and used for education and histories.

However, Gospel is not like that, the message though old, yet relevant, still in existence today and it would yet be in existence and relevant tomorrow and as long as the earth shall be in existence provided that the saints have not been called home.

For this article I shall be using the epistle of the first John chapter two verses seven and eight.

“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

“Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” (1 Jn 2:7-8)

It is no gain saying that what has been in existence for two or more millennia shouldn’t be considered new, but it is very old.

In my country, there are agitations from some sections of the country that they wanted to pull out of the unity of the country and stand alone. They said this base on the international law in place that after 100 years a law could be reviewed whether those who have been brought together want to continue like that or not.

If something of hundred years could be considered long enough, then what shall we say about something that has been in existence for millennia? It should be called old.

Apostle John in this epistle was telling all believers then, and now that the Gospel of Christ Jesus being brought to them is not new as they all could attest to.

“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.” (1 Jn 2:7)

In this book we shall see the degree of the “oldness” of the commandment of the Lord for all mankind and its degree is that it is very old. As the author states that it was what they have been hearing from the beginning.

“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.” (1 Jn 2:7)

Beginning here in Greek is “ἀρχή”, Romanized form is archē (pronounced as ar-khay') which means commencement, first, principle. This means that the word that has been presented to them when the Gospel was being preached to them at the inception at the beginning of the messages.

What was being shared with them of the position of Jesus and the gospel as being married to what the Lord has said in the garden of Eden while telling about the forthcoming redemption at the end of the world.

What was shared with them at the inception he called the commandment.

“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.” (1 Jn 2:7)

Commandment is written as this in Greek “ἐντολή”, when it is Romanized it becomes entolē (pronounced as en-tol-ay') which means precept, injunction, an authoritative prescription.

They have been shown the principles of the word of God, what God wants of them as they have heard and seen him demonstrated when he was with them. (1 Jn 1:1)

The old commandment is called the “word which they have heard”.

The word here is “λόγος” in Greek and when it is Romanized it becomes logos (phonetic spelling is log'-os) which implies expression. In this book it is called Divine expression being uttered by those who have preached to them.

They are those who have heard the messages not other people. The message is being directed to us too because we have heard and read the message of the cross.

The message which they have heard was said to be the message of love, the love of God for mankind, the love we are to express among ourselves, our love for our neighbors.

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 Jn 3:11)

This message is though very old, yet it is relevant, yet it is new daily.

“Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” (1 Jn 2:8)

The message expresses dual truth according to the above verse as stated by the apostle.

(i) In Him it is True: In God love is true because he demonstrates it for us all, as he sends his son to lay down his life for us.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Joh 15:13)

(ii) In Them it is Also True: In the believers who are reading the messages the word is also true because they have accepted the love and are expected to be showing it among the brethren.

If the love could be ascertained to be truth as there are no contrary opinion, no “counter motion” as the lawyers would say to what the apostle has raised here, then it means it is yet valuable, in existence for all believers throughout ages.

He has the knowledge that the message is true because of what he expressed in the message to them as contained in the verse and they are:

“Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” (1 Jn 2:8)

(i) Darkness is Passed: It shows that the world has been covered by darkness before as Jesus said he is the light of the world. Before now, because the world has been under the rulership of the evil one, the world is in darkness. However, immediately that the light appears, which is Jesus the darkness cannot cover the world again as it has been happening in the time past.

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (Joh 1:5)

This light though for the world, but it is not all the inhabitants of the world that accepts it and it is for those who accepts it.

“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” (Joh 12:46)

For in the lives of those who accepts Jesus darkness has no room again but in the lives of those who do not accept him darkness still reigns.

This apostle John is saying that in their lives it is true that darkness has no sway again, but it does in the lives of those who have no Christ in them, that is why they are dangerous, (those without Christ and salvation).

(ii) True Light is Revealed: In the lives of those who believed Jesus true light is seen, for they are the candles of the Lord that is being lighted to shine light unto the darkness of the world through their actions.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” (Mat 5:14-15)

(iii) The Light Shines: This true light shine in them because they express as God demands of them their light to others through their actions, through the Love of God that they show.

We are enjoined to become light that would be shining in the world so that the people of the world would be seeing us and be giving glory to our father in heaven.

and the light is revealed because we also express love for one another, not like Cain who hated his brother and killed him, not like Joab who shed innocent blood at the time of peace, not like Athaliah who killed all king’s heirs to stay on seat of power.