A Binary Opposition - 1 John 2:7-11

A binary opposition is defined below.

A binary opposition (also binary system) is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. Binary opposition is the system by which, in language and thought, two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another.

Binary opposition - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We have some examples of this principle in the following verses from the Bible. Old and New, Darkness and Light, Love and Hate. There is no middle ground; you either do one or the other you cannot take the middle ground. 

So it is with your response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

• You are either in darkness or light! 
• You are either still a sinner or you are now a saint!
• You have either believed the gospel or you are an unbeliever!
• You are either still dead in your sins or you have eternal life!
• You either love your brother (this is evidence that you are a Christian) or you still hate!

One of the classic verses in the New Testament in this regard is John 5.24; it reads:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Lets analyse this:

• You hear, deafness has passed. 
• You believe that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
• You no longer fear the judgement or condemnation of God. 
• You have passed from a state of deadness in sin to eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Please note the conditions: You hear (deeper than merely listening) the words of the Lord Jesus and you trust God, the Father (the one who sent Jesus Christ, his Son to be the Saviour of the world) for salvation.

1 John 2. 7-11

7 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.

8 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.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

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