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2 John 2:6-11 PART 2 (Walking in Truth vs. Faltering In Falsehood)
Posted by firequill | Posted in 2 John | Posted on 26-10-2009
by Kathy Kearney
Verse 6-11:
John reiterates what he wrote in 1 John; about deceivers and their spirit of antichrist. The prevailing heresy of John’s time was Gnosticism which taught that Christ was an illusion a wishful dream, but not a reality. Or that He was a real person, but not God-just a human being like us, with a good spirit, but a wicked flesh. He didn’t die for us, He can’t help us live this life, or have eternal life in the next.
In verse 8, John’s reference to losing what’s been accomplished and not receiving a full reward, is not about salvation, but of the rewards received for the works done in the Spirit. Please check out 1 Corinthians 3:10 -15, II Corinthians 5: 9-10, and Colossians 2:18-19. We cannot lose our salvation, it is a gift and it is eternal, and is never referred to as a reward, which is something we get for achievement. But Satan loves to disarm us so our faith is weak and our growth in the Word is stunted, then we’re ripe for false doctrine. Or we lose simply by neglecting the gift that lies within us. We’ll be saved, but not rewarded. I have a very good friend who came out of Mormonism. He tells me that this “church” seeks new “baby” Christians because they are not yet grounded in the Scriptures and are easy prey.
There is only one thing that can rob us of our rewards: putting self first. When we do not focus on Christ, and knowing Him everyday, we’re fair game for the enemy. We’ll either end up believing an untrue doctrine, or falling into the sins of the flesh. Either one will suit the enemy’s plan for us just fine!
This was the plight of Samson. Judges 13: 5 says of him, “He shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” Such sad words. I don’t want, “she began. ..” written after my name in God’s book of deeds, do you?
Don’t forget, though we have a God who loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives, we have an enemy who hates us and has an evil plan for our lives. Be on guard!!
In verse 9, what does John mean by going to far or as my margin note in the New American Standard says, going on ahead?
John talks in verse eight about falling short, and here he talks about going too far. Hmmm. Well, I think the following phrase sheds the light we need to illuminate this phrase. “. . .does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. . ..”
You can “overshoot” proper doctrine by distorting truth, adding to it, or reading into it a meaning that suits our flesh. Years ago I heard of a woman who believed she could steal because the Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians that all things are ours in Christ. She took the verse out of context and overshot the meaning of it and it resulted in sin.
Paul warns in II Corinthians. 11:2-3 against letting the serpent, who deceived Eve by his craftiness, lead us astray in our minds (it always starts here, that’s why we need to fill it with the Word!) from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. It’s our minds that Satan wants. Pornography for example is in the mind. Fill your mind with God’s Word – that’s the only answer.
You can overshoot the doctrine of Christ into something altogether unlike its true meaning. You see, if we’re lukewarm, Satan can get us involved in sin, if we’re overzealous, He can get us into false doctrine. Either way is accomplished by our failure to be in the Word, and allowing that Word to be in us. We must abide in the teachings of Christ. Not lagging behind or running ahead.
John says if anyone comes not bringing this teaching, don’t invite him in and give him a greeting. I think it means to wish him well. If you do, you participate in his evil deeds. He may look nice, sound good, smell great and be totally into the wrong stuff. So check him out.
Years ago, a man was coming to a church we attended to sing and present a message. Dewey was an elder at the time, and the gentlemen who was asking the board for permission to have this man speak, then added to his request this statement. “This guy says that when he’s teaching he sometimes erupts into speaking in tongues.” This church was recovering from the improper use of this gift and had nearly split. Everyone shifted uneasily in their chairs. Finally Dewey spoke up. “Does he just burst out with it, or can he turn it off and on at will.” “Oh,” assured the man. “He can control its turning on and turning off.” “Well then,” said Dewey, “tell him to turn it off!” Everyone laughed. We sent word to the man to turn it off, he refused and we canceled the engagement.
It wasn’t a matter of false doctrine, but proper usage of what this fellow perceived as a real gift. Being on guard, doesn’t mean being mean and cruel to people who have minor differences with us. We just politely requested that he not come if he couldn’t comply with our request.
Verses 12 – 13:
John has more to say, but will wait until his next visit. Apparently she is looking forward to this as well because he uses the phrase, “that your joy may be made full.”
I don’t know who the chosen sister is. It could be an intimate lady believer in another church who sends this greeting.
It’s a joy to have intimate friends. Most people are fortunate to have just one, I have five. (Takes that many to keep me up and running!) These are friends with whom I share my heart. I never fear censure or dismissal, nor do they fear them from me. I would trust them with my life.
It’s one thing to have sisters in Christ. But it’s another to have a “chosen” sister; one who is more deeply entrenched in your heart. One of my friends often signs her letters to me, “Your forever friend, Ann.” Our friendship is like that of David and Jonathan. She is my “chosen” sister, as are the other four.
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