Maintaining Christian Love

II John 1:1-7

II John is written to advise how to handle teachers who come in from outside, purporting to be teaching the word of God. It is especially relevant to the present religious climate, in which we are presented with hundreds of teachers and books. I John laid out specific guidelines for testing and identifying our own lifestyles, as well as the lifestyles and teachings of those we meet. It explains the basis for our conclusions, and for our assurance of salvation.

II John is more personal, dealing with how to apply what we learned in I John to prevent being mislead, or unintentionally leading others astray. It is written as a more mature Christian, an elder, giving advice and encouragement to a woman to help teach her children. It is not immediately clear whether he is talking to a church family, or to a biological family, as it is equally applicable to both.

“The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.” (II John 2:1-2)

Christian love is based on Christ’s love for us. As we saw in I John, we love other Christians partly because we know God loves them, but we also love them because we have his spirit and God is love. That love reaches far beyond any natural antipathy of race or social standing, to every other Christian, based on God’s love for us. His greeting thus focuses on God’s blessings and provision, very similar to Paul’s greetings.

“Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” (II John 1:3)

Clearly, there has been an effort to set an example of following God. It has resulted in the children obeying God’s commands. It is always a great blessing to see those who have gone on to follow the Lord.

“I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.” (II John 1:4)

Unfortunately, it is very easy for Christians who are trying to serve God to get caught up in the activities and begin to neglect the most basic aspects of the Christian life. The message to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7 deals with that very issue. John 14:15 states, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” We demonstrate our love for God by doing what he said. All the law can be summed up in to commands , to love God, and to love our neighbor. Jesus Command to love one another in John 13:34-35 is not really a new command, but a simplified restatement of the original. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” If we are to continue to please God, we must not neglect the most basic aspect, of loving other Christians.

“And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 2jo 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” (II John 1:5-6)

There is a tendency to feel that any difference from our own position is necessarily wrong. As a result we begin to isolate ourselves and attack those who differ on some point. Romans 14 deals with the tendency to break fellowship over minor issues. Romans 14:1 commands, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” We are not to impose our own standards on others, but as Romans 15:1-2 states, yield our standards to those who are weaker. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”

There is an old saying about “divide and conquer.” When we divide over minor issues, or where the scripture is unclear, we open the door for Satan to gain the victory. He can use that conflict to insert false doctrine, even to the point of denying the Lord. It is critical that we not let our love slip over some questionable point.

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (II John 1:7)

Satan has an abundant supply of false teachers trying to distract and turn people away from the truth. Conflict gives false teachers a foothold to force their way in. H