2 John 7-13 Message

Introduction

Context

Let’s remember what we have spoken about in 2 John so far.

The Elder John, who wrote 1 and 3 John, the Gospel of John, and Revelation, is writing.

He is writing to a specific local church, perhaps one he was an elder for. He calls this church “Elect Lady” because the Church is the chosen bride of Christ.

John praises “some” members of this church for their “walking in truth,” but exhorts the church as a whole, perhaps for contrast, to love one another.

We discussed

The Christian walk is not just about us, but it must be us pouring out for others

how a cold church must be warmed by the love of its members towards one another.

We also talked about how this letter’s body can be spilt into two halves:

4-6 Church, love one another and walk in the truth

7-11 Church, watch out for those who do not love, but lie and deceive

Scripture

2 John 1–13 CSB

The elder: To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not only I, but also all who know the truth—because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. So now I ask you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. This is love: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love. Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; for the one who greets him shares in his evil works. Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister send you greetings.

Let’s note some key words in this passage!

deceivers x2 planos also imposters

antichrist x1 antichristos

remain x2 meno also abide

Teaching x3 didache

Verses 7-8 — The Deceiver’s Gospel

2 John 7–11 CSB

Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.

The Contrast

Once again we see a contrast. John has just finished admonishing this church to “walk in love”, and very quickly he turns to speaking of these deceivers. It is almost like John is saying “Church walk in love, not like these deceivers who walk in hate.”

If loving one another is loving the Son, believing and obeying the Father, walking in the truth of His words, and pointing your brothers and sisters to the commands of the Father, then hating one another is lying about the Father’s Son, disobeying His Word, and deceiving others to do the same.

This is hatred to those being deceived and, even more so, hatred towards God Himself.

The first phrase is somewhat ominous. Many deceivers have gone out into the world.

Again I think John was very intentional in his writing. He did not spend half this letter admonishing the church and pointing out some are being faithful only to spend the rest talking about the lurking deceivers without intention.

That intention being the rallying of the church. He is saying: Church, rally together in love for God and love for one another in the face of these many deceivers out in the world, for there are many but Christ is stronger in you!

The Deceiver’s Non-Confession of Jesus

And so what was the confession of the deceivers? What was their Gospel being taught? John doesn’t say what they were teaching but only what they weren’t:

They do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.

There were men among this church who were claiming Jesus Christ only came in the spirit.

This heresy was brought up in 1 John when John says

1 John 4:1–3 CSB

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.

Q & A on the Lie

I want to answer two questions regarding this non-confession of Jesus Christ:

Is this a lie?

If so, why is this lie so bad?

Is This a Lie?

It Shouldn’t surprise you that there are still some who teach this Gnostic teaching today. Some people try to claim there is no real evidence Jesus Christ ever existed at all! So if people really believe this, or are claiming to, we need to ask, is this true? Did Jesus come in the flesh?

Let’s think about how we can know what happened thousands of years ago. In our postmodern society, many would claim we can’t know anything other than what we personally see! But this isn’t true. You can actually know certain events happened even thousands of years ago because of the eyewitness accounts recorded for us.

The 4 Gospel accounts are eyewitness accounts to Jesus’s life.

Matthew was a disciple of Jesus who wrote down his perspective

Mark was a disciple of Peter who was in Jesus’s inner circle and became a church father.

Luke was not present, but was a 1st century journalist in that he spoke to eyewitnesses of Jesus’s life

John was also a disciple of Christ, one of the inner circle, and, seemingly, one who was closer to Jesus than any of the others.

All these Gospel accounts are credible or trustworthy in that

There are extra biblical writers who affirm events of the Gospels

Josephus

About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, [if indeed one ought to call him a man]. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. [He was the Messiah.] When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. [For he appeared to them alive again on the third day, the divine prophets having foretold these and countless other marvellous things about him.] And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.

Tacitus

Nero fastened the guilt ... on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of ... Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome....

Pliny the Younger

They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food – but food of an ordinary and innocent kind

They were written very soon after they took place

Matthew: 40-55 AD — 10-20 years later

Mark: 55-60 AD — 25-30 years later

Luke: 58-62 AD — 25-30 years later

John: 85-90 AD — 50-60 years later

There are hundreds and hundreds of copies of these gospels displaying the same story

Around 1700 manuscripts copies of the Gospels

Compare to Plato which has 7

So, is it a lie to teach Jesus Christ didn’t come in the flesh? Absolutely!

Read any of the 4 Gospels and you will see Jesus sleeping, eating, growing tired, sweating blood, being tortured, and dying. Then after His resurrection, you see Him eating again and allowing the disciples to physically touch his hands or side.

Anyone who teaches Jesus didn’t exist, or didn’t come physically, is either severely misinformed or a deceiver.

Why is This Lie Bad?

This is no innocent lie. Look at this equation:

Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh therefore Jesus could not have physically died therefore there is no atonement for our sins therefore our sins are on our heads and we are still en route to Hell therefore all the other biblical writers are liars in claiming there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus…

Do you see the issue?

To disregard Jesus’s humanity is to disregard the Gospel.

These men spreading these lies were sinning greatly.

In fact, John ascribes a weighty, harsh name to these men: antichrist.

We know from John’s previous letter that there are many antichrists in the world, but they are all spewing similar, gospel-disregarding lies to the world. We will talk later about how John wants us to respond to these men.

Watch Out!

So we see the lie that is being spread and the repercussion of this lie. What does John say next to this church?

2 John 8 CSB

Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.

A more direct translation of this verse is

Watch yourselves, lest you destroy what we worked for, but get back a full wage.

John is referring to the Gospel that has been fostered in them.

An elder’s job is to disciple his congregants to know the truth and walk in the truth. Over the span of decades, elders will love and prod the sheep in their care and build in them a love and depth of knowledge of the Gospel.

John fears that these deceivers will pull away his sheep to untruths, only to, not just lose, but destroy all that was built up in them.

So, we must take John’s advice and watch ourselves. See to it that lies do not enter your understanding of God. Cling to the truths of Scripture. You should be concerned when someone brings a new teaching which disagrees with the teachings of the Church over the past 2000 years. There is a reason the church still stands: it’s dependent on God’s Word and not man’s opinions.

And what must the church do instead of allow the deceivers to destroy the Gospel in us? Get back a full wage.

He is playing on the idea of them destroying what the Apostles or the elders, worked for. Instead of letting that be destroyed, receive your reward for this work having been done in you.

That reward is life with Christ, knowing Him and being known by Him. Christ is our reward!

Verses 9-11 — The Deceiver’s Fate

2 John 9–11 CSB

Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.

Literal translation:

All who transgress and do not abide in the teachings of Christ do not have God.

This who stays in that teaching, has both Father and Son.

If one comes to you and does not bear this teaching, do not take him to your home and say/lay forth greeting.

For to say/lay forth greeting to him is to participate in his evil work.

To Not Walk in Christ’s Teachings is to Not Have God

These deceivers, or antichrists, thought they could lie about Jesus and still have the Father, but this isn’t true. God is triune, not one person, but three. Therefore, you must have the Son to have the Father and the Spirit. The Son is the only way to God.

This goes further though. It isn’t just those who lie about Jesus who do not have God, but any who do not believe who He is. Christianity is so distinct from every other religion and even cult because of the orthodox view of the trinity. In every other faith and religion and cult, you can get to God without Jesus or with Jesus and someone else. He isn’t necessarily the only way, sometimes He isn’t a way at all.

But in our faith, you must know Jesus. You cannot say “I am waiting on another messiah.” You cannot say “He is a good teacher only!” You cannot say “He never existed!” You cannot say anything like this. It is either Jesus or eternal separation from the Father.

So when you have coworkers or friends or family who seem like good people but reject Jesus Christ or have a false view of Him, you must feel the weight of John’s words here: that person does not have God. No matter how good they seem, they are lost and walking according to the teachings of Satan.

When you share the Gospel, the exclusivity of Christ must be clear. To not make this clear, is to not evangelize.

Do not try to make it palatable by affirming any belief, make the truth clear: Christ is the only way to know God.

John says that those who abide in Christ’s teachings have the Father and the Son. To abide in Jesus’s teachings is to steep your life in them. Read them, study them, do them, share them, etc.

I want to clarify, this does not mean following every moral lesson is what saves you. You cannot save yourself. You can’t do enough good. You need faith, which comes from God.

No one who has the Father and the Son will not abide in Christ’s teachings. they aren’t perfect. They won’t follow them to a tee all the time, but they will abide in them as they are able.

Don’t Welcome a Deceiver in Your Home

2 John 10–11 CSB

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.

Let’s be smart about this, John isn’t discouraging evangelism. Following Jesus’s teachings means trying to reach the strugglers and stragglers by, even, letting them into your home. But welcoming a lost person into your home is different from welcoming a deceiver.

There are people who I would discourage you from being around. People who are crafty in deceiving Christians. They are not trying to have real discussions about Scripture—they have an agenda to disparage the Gospel and deceive you.

It is these men and women you must avoid.

For example:

I requested a Book of Mormon knowing two Mormons would come to my house and try to teach me Joseph Smith’s lies. Is this wrong of me per John’s command? I don’t think so for a few reasons.

I know what I believe

I was aware of their lies and tactics

These were young men who were trained, yes, but ultimately not prepared for pushback.

What is a circumstance you should not welcome someone in your home?

I am having a party, let’s say, celebrating the Fourth of July. This party has both fellow believers and some unbelievers. The purpose of this party is fellowship and fun; underlying, I am happy for evangelism to occur. Should I invite a cult member I may know to this party? By no means. Why?

This ally-oops this cult member to spread deceit to my friends and family

This displays fellowship and union with the deceiver

This, ultimately, shares in his evil works.

This takes wisdom and discernment. You will be able to tell the difference between trying to evangelize and propping up and sharing in a deceitful ministry.

Verses 12-13 — The Church’s Joy

2 John 12–13 CSB

Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister send you greetings.

Finally we arrive at John’s farewell to this church. There are two things we can learn from John’s farewell:

Real Fellowship is Face to Face

John felt this back in the 1st century, how much more true is this today?

I am not saying you can’t have some fellowship over text, calls, FaceTimes, etc. but I am saying true, real, fellowship happens in person.

I am not saying you shouldn’t try to FaceTime fellow believers who are physically far away from you. Beau used to, even, lead bible studies for a church in Jamaica over FaceTime! The ability to have video calls is truly a blessing from God and we should take advantage of it.

What I am saying is you can’t replace your fellowship in church with virtual fellowship. After Covid this was a real discussion because everyone switched to virtual, but some never stopped and some are still very happy to watch church online rather than come in person.

Why is this? Well it’s easier. Don’t have to get dressed and drive. Don’t have to interact with others at all. Don’t have to really listen. But it goes even deeper: you don’t have to be known. You don't have to deal with others holding you accountable. You don’t have to love others. Do you see the issue?

Thus, John’s words here carry even more weight: Though i have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.

Do you see what John is saying? His joy is only made complete when they can talk face to face. John won’t settle for a letter. And there was much he likely needed to tell this church too! Remember, they were cold and unloving people! But he was not content to just write another letter. He knew that true fellowship and communion will happen from face to face interactions.

One more side note on this point: this is also my problem with campus churches, or churches who just watch the stream of the main campus preacher preaching. Let’s not go out of our way to structure our churches around not knowing your pastor and him not knowing you.

The Church is Many but One

2 John 13 CSB

The children of your elect sister send you greetings.

Please do not ever misunderstand the church you are a member in to be THE church. It isn’t. Don’t let your prayers be hyper focused on your local church, and never pray for churches in other countries. Just like we can make our Christian walk extremely self-centered, so can we be self-centered as churches.

Don’t buy the lie every church must compete for members and service projects and blah blah blah. Be involved in your church, yes, but if someone comes to Gentian, sees it isn’t for them and then goes to another church, celebrate! Why? Because they are in a church. Pray for that church and for that individual!

God isn’t only going to recognize certain really great churches, nor is He going to say “Everyone else, you should be more like this church.” What He probably does say, though, is “Every church needs to be more like my Son!”