Walk in Truth

2 John 7–13 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. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 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. 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. 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. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

Remember in this passage we believe John is speaking to the church not a family

John is giving a warning against false teachings and ways to combat

John started with Love and moved to truth

Deceptive People

2 John 7–9 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. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 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.

John starts with a familiar tone

There is deception within the church

There are individuals working against the gospel

They are promoting false teachings

They are deceiving the world

They are speaking against the coming of Christ

The birth of the Savior of the world

The birth of the Messiah

They were attacking Christianity at its roots

In this moment it appears the church was still accepting

They were still working with these individuals

In fact they were so involved it seemed as if they even entertained their theology

John gives warning that this person is the deceiver

They are the antichrist

they are against Christ even renouncing his coming in the flesh

John says this as a warning

A warning to heed in the church

A warning for the church to be watchful and understanding of the truth

To be aware of the deception that exists outside

John gives one final disclaimer

those who do not abide in the teaching of Christ do not have God

Plain and simply put

they do not have the Lord

instead they flail in their unbelief

Diligent Church

2 John 8–13 ESV

8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 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. 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. 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. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

John gives warning for the church to watch themselves

They need to be checking themselves

They must be aware of the occurrences happening within the body

The church is filled with certain false doctrines

John is warning be diligent

be urgent

do not lose what we have worked for

John is saying that if not stopped these false teachings will over take the church

this would be a massive problem

it would bring error to the truth of the Gospel

The people in the early church must have been a lot like us today

They knew they were to love so they did

They knew they were to care for other so they did

They did not draw boundaries with the false teachers

They struggled with the balance of love and discipline

Over and over we are called to be diligent in maintaining the truth of the Gospel

In reality the best love we can show to a false teacher is done in correction!

That is because we are giving them the correct understanding of Scripture

Love and truth go hand in hand

If you love you will desire to preserve the truth of eternity no matter the cost

Because you care about the person behind the false message

remember they are not our enemies

the devil is our enemy