II John 1:7-13
Several years ago, on a business trip to Los Angeles, I was shocked as we went down the freeway. I had no clue what the doctrinal stance of most of the churches I passed was. The names gave no indication of what they believed, and there was no affiliation with a group or of what they believed to assist me. I realize that such statements are often inaccurate, but they at least suggest what they believe. Unfortunately, some deliberately choose names to deceive. Using a name such as Disciples of Christ, Church of God, or Church of Christ does not necessarily mean they are or are not of God. It may just mean they liked the name, or that they thought it would get people to come. Cults may use such names to hide what they really believe.
“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)
Anyone who does not believe that Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh to save mankind is not from God. Because some are able to confuse people with their words, I John 4 gives a series of tests to determine whether what they teach is from God. A failure to find out whether it is really God’s teaching may leave us expending our efforts on things counter to God’s intention, leaving us with no rewards when we stand before him.
“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.” (II John 1:8)
Colossians 2:19 warns, “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” In the messages to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3, John sends the messages to the angels of the seven churches. The word angel can mean either what we normally think of as angels, or a special messenger. In Revelation 2 and 3, it refers to the pastors or leaders of the individual churches. Similar structure is used in Colossians 2:19.
Christ, not the church leader, is to be head of the church. When we begin to set him above others, or his teachings ahead of Christ’s, we are no longer serving the Lord. Most of the tests in I John 4 relate to comparing the life style and teachings to those of the scripture to see whether they are of God.
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (II John 1:9)
As I John 4:6 says, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” The Apostles were very Clear in Acts 5:29. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” To follow their instruction rather than God’s is dangerous to our spiritual life.
“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (II John 1:10-11)
In Romans 16:17, Paul instructs, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Associating with them, encouragement, and financial support all imply we are in agreement with their deceit. We are not to do so. As I John 2:21 says, “…no lie is of the truth.”
There is no substitute for face to face contact. Written messages, videos or phone conversations do not have the same impact as personal contact. John anticipates that contact to deliver most of what he has to say, closing with hid intent for personal meeting.
“Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.” (II John 1:12-13)
Showing posts with label II John. Show all posts
Showing posts with label II John. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
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
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
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