SCRIPTURE: 2 JOHN 1
INTRODUCTION:
Christ’s command is for Christians to love one another. This is the basic ingredient of true Christianity. John emphasized the importance of following Christ with truth and love. Therefore, all who claim to be loyal to God must live with truth and act with love toward one another. He also warned to watch out for deceivers who deny that Jesus Christ is both God and man.
MEMORY VERSE:
“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John v. 6)
WATCH OUT FOR FALSE TEACHERS (vs. 1-11)
The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth – and not I only, but also all who know the truth – because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in the wicked work.
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be complete.
The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.
THOUGHTS:
LOVE CAN BE SHOWN IN MANY WAYS:
- Avoiding prejudice and discrimination
- Accepting people
- Listening to people
- Helping
- Giving
- Serving
- Caring
- Comforting
- Refusing to judge
- Not gossiping
There are many false teachers who promote an understanding of Jesus that is not biblical. They taught that spirit was good and matter was evil. Therefore, Jesus could not have been both God and man. John warned that these teachers are dangerous because they distort the truth and undermine the foundations of Christian faith.
The “rewards” that John was talking about did not refer to salvation but to the rewards of loyal service. All who value the truth and persistently hold on to it will win their full reward.
John instructed the believers not to show hospitality to false teachers because such action would show that they were approving of what the false teachers said and did. John is condemning the support of those who are dedicated to opposing the true teachings of God, not condemning hospitality to unbelievers. A person who supports a false teacher in any way shares in the teacher’s wicked work. Instead, they should realize the dangers they pose and actively refuse to give heresies any foothold.