Warning Against Receiving False Teachers

INTRODUCTION

In our brief survey of 2nd John, we have seen that John stressed the importance of “truth” and

“love”

...

Four times in the first six verses he uses the word “love”

Five times in these same verses he uses the word “truth”

Indeed, our last study observed that in verses 4-6 we have...

a. b. A commendation for walking in truth - 2 Jn 4

2 John 4 ESV

4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.

An exhortation to walk in love - 2 Jn 5-6

2 John 5–6 ESV

5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

3. But what if someone comes our way, teaching doctrine contrary to what we have learned from

Jesus and His apostles...?

a. b. Should our desire to “walk in love” permit us to receive and support those teaching error?

Can we do so, and still be “walking in truth”?

4. In the remaining portion of this short epistle, John (the “apostle of love”) is very explicit about such

things...

a. He tells us to beware of deceivers and antichrists - 2 Jn 7

2 John 7 ESV

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

b. He tells us to look to ourselves lest we lose those things we have worked for - 2 Jn 8

2 John 8 ESV

8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

c. He tells us of the danger of not abiding in the doctrine of Christ - 2 Jn 9

2 John 9 ESV

9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

d. He tells us we cannot support teachers who fail to teach the doctrine of Christ without sharing in

their evil deeds - 2 Jn 10-11

2 John 10–11 ESV

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

In this “Warning Against Receiving False Teachers”, then, John warn us about several things

worthy of our careful consideration. Let’s take a closer look, beginning with a need to...]

BEWARE OF DECEIVERS AND ANTICHRISTS! (7)

JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES HAVE GIVEN US AMPLE WARNING...

In His sermon on the mount - Mt 7:15

Matthew 7:15 ESV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

In His discourse on Mt. Olivet - Mt 24:11, 23-25

Matthew 24:11 ESV

11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

Matthew 24:23–25 ESV

23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

Paul, in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders - Ac 20:29-31

Acts 20:29–31 ESV

29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

Paul, in his first epistle to Timothy - 1 Ti 4:1-3

1 Timothy 4:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Peter, in his second epistle - 2 Pe 2:1-3

2 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

EVEN IN JOHN’S DAY, THEY HAD BEGUN TO ARRIVE...

Deceivers had gone out, denying that Jesus had come in the flesh - 2 Jn 7

2 John 7 ESV

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Many false prophets had gone out into the world - 1 Jn 4:1

1 John 4:1 ESV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Denying that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, they were “antichrists”

- 1 Jn 4:3; 2 Jn 7

1 John 4:3 ESV

3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

2 John 7 ESV

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

The Second Epistle Of John 9

John 9 ESV

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

[With such ample warning, and seeing that they had started to come even in John’s day, we should not

be surprised to see many such deceivers and antichrists today! To guard against being misled by such

deceivers, we do well to consider the next important theme in our text...]

LOOK TO YOURSELVES! (8)

THIS ADMONITION ALSO STRESSED THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES...

1. 2. Several times on one occasion by Jesus - Mk 13:5,9,23,33

Mark 13:5 ESV

5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray.

Mark 13:9 ESV

9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.

Mark 13:23 ESV

23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

Mark 13:33 ESV

33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

By Paul in writing to the Corinthians - 2 Corinthians 13:5 “5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

THE NEED IS THERE, BECAUSE THE DANGER IS REAL...

John was concerned that they not lose the things they worked for - 2 Jn 8

2 John 8 ESV

8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

The writer to the Hebrews was concerned that we not fall short of entering our heavenly

rest - cf. He 3:12-4:1

Hebrews 3:12–4:1 ESV

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. 1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

[With the real danger of falling short of our eternal reward, and with the ever present deceivers who can

make it happen, it is imperative that we fully understand the basis upon which our relationship with the

Father and Son rests. John is clear about this involves as he stresses the need to...]

ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST! (9)

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST: OBJECTIVE OR SUBJECTIVE GENITIVE...?

Is it the doctrine about Christ, or the doctrine taught by Christ?

As pointed out in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, the question is of little importance for

John holds equally to both positions

It is fundamental to the faith to hold to the proper views about Christ - cf. 2 Jn 7

2 John 7 ESV

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

b. It is fundamental to the faith to obey the commandments of Christ - cf. 1 Jn 3:24

1 John 3:24 ESV

24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Thus what John says here applies in either case

THE NEED TO ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST...

Those who do not abide, do not have God - e.g., 1 Jn 1:6; 2:3-5

1 John 1:6 ESV

6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 2:3–5 ESV

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

Those who do abide, have both the Father and the Son - cf. Jn 14:21,23

John 14:21 ESV

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 14:23 ESV

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Note: this verse strongly supports the concept of the Trinity, in which there is only one

God, but three distinct personalities in the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

[As long as we abide in the doctrine of Christ, keeping His commandments, we have no reason to fear

being misled by deceivers, nor losing our reward. That brings us to the theme which may have

prompted the writing of this letter...]

DO NOT RECEIVE FALSE TEACHERS! (10-11)

THE CONTEXT IS LIKELY THAT OF SUPPORTING THEM IN THEIR WORK...

1. It was common for first century missionaries to depend upon the hospitality of the early

Christians - Philemon 1:22 -

Philemon 22 ESV

22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

2. In his third epistle, John commends Gauis for this sort of hospitality - 3 Jn 5-7

3 John 5–7 ESV

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

TO SUPPORT THEM IS TO SHARE IN THEIR EVIL DEEDS...

1. Supporting a teacher made one a fellow worker with him who taught

a. b. That could make one a fellow worker for the truth - cf. 3 Jn 8

3 John 8 ESV

8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

But if his teaching was contrary to the doctrine of Christ, supporting him would be to

share in his evil deeds - cf. 2 Jn 11

2 John 11 ESV

11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Therefore the admonition to the elect lady not to receive or greet such false teachers...

Not we should never seek to study with those in error who may come our way

But not to receive those false teachers who seek only our acquiescence to their doctrine

and our support in helping them spread it!

CONCLUSION

With this “Warning Against Receiving False Teachers”, John purpose in writing is fulfilled

2. He then signs off with a brief farewell...

a. Having so much more to write, but desiring to speak in person - 2 Jn 12

2 John 12 ESV

12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

1) Why? “...that our joy may be full”

2) Despite the convenience of remote communication (e.g., writing letters, talking on the

phone, sending email), nothing surpasses the joy of talking face to face

b. Sending greetings from “the children of your elect sister”

- 2 Jn 13

2 John 13 ESV

13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

1) How one interprets “the elect lady and her children” of verse 1 determines one’s

understanding of verse 13

2) Either members of another church, or relatives of the “elect lady and her children”

2. As we close our perusal of this epistle, I hope that we are left with a strong sense of need...

a. To walk in the truth

b. To walk in love

c. To be very careful about those teachers to whom we give our support

How is our walk today? Remember the words of John...

Are we walking according to the doctrine of Christ concerning truth and love?

“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not

have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the

Son.