Abiding In The Doctrine of Christ

Abiding in the Doctrine of Christ

Thursday, June 2, 2016

10:55 AM

2 John 1:8 (KJV)

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

2 John 1:9 (KJV)

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

When you travel highway 79 between Elsberry and Hannibal MO you will occasionally come up to huge hills that you have to drive over. Along these hills the road has been cut out of the rocks sometimes forming huge cliffs both above and below the road. As you pass these places you notice bright yellow signs posted every so often that say, "Warning Falling Rock." These signs are very serious and do not mean that you might get a little gravel shower every once in a while. You can still see the results of some of those huge falling boulders resting close to the sides of the road. I remember on one occasion when Saint Louis radio stations were warning drivers of falling boulders specifically one morning as several had fallen closing the road for several hours. When the warning sign says watch out it means keep your eyes open, look out. PAY ATTENTION. Be on your guard.

Look to yourselves - Be watchful an emphatic and strong warning from the Apostle John to "Watch yourselves." He is saying in a very strong way that this is very serious there is something to watch out for. While it is not boulders and rock that will come crashing down, it is false doctrine and heresies that you have to be watchful of. there is a possibility of losing what you have worked so hard for and losing part of your reward.

This letter from the hand of John the beloved is a warning to stick to the truth. Don't waver at all in your belief of the truth of Christ. It speaks of stability, unmoveableness, consistency in the doctrine of Christ. Not being quickly persuaded away from what you know to be true.

"John believes perseverance is the proof of possession (cf. 1 John 2:19). As Vance Havner said, “Faith that fizzles before the finish was faulty from the first.”"[1]

This speaks of a reward for faithfulness and abiding in the Doctrine of Christ verse 7 seems to indicate what the doctrine of Christ is that John is referring to. I also think it means anything that Jesus said, or was said of him in the Scriptures. "The apostle John might add, “Where truth is adjusted, heresy will reign.” John was writing to confront the heresies of Gnosticism. The term Gnosticism is based on the Greek word for 'knowledge' While it carried many false ideas it's two main common doctrines were:"(1) salvation is by (mystical) knowledge, and (2) the material world is evil or inferior to the spiritual. As a result of their worldview, they attacked the reality of the incarnation. Others said Jesus only appeared to be human or have a physical body. Another form of the heresy led by Cerinthus said the Christ-spirit came on the man Jesus at His baptism but left Him at the cross. John knew that Christology (The Study of CHRIST) is the heart of Christianity. If you are wrong on who Christ is, you will be wrong everywhere. John therefore issued a strong warning to be on the lookout for anyone who challenged the full deity, true and perfect humanity, sinless life, and completed work of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father."[3]

It speaks of going ahead and leaving the doctrine of Christ is a transgression and that person does not have God - in fact we are warned later in the chapter verse 10-11 we are told to shun those non-believers who teach false doctrine. The word "transgress" in this verse is very interesting it is the Greek word "Parabaino" meaning "to go ahead or beyond" The meaning is Those who do not abide but go ahead (or beyond) are guilty of transgression.[3]And abideth not in the teaching of Christ (kai mē menōn en tēi didachēi tou Christou). Not the teaching about Christ, but that of Christ which is the standard of Christian teaching as the walk of Christ is the standard for the Christian's walk (1 John 2:6). See John 7:16; John 18:19. [4]

All deceivers, all false teachers, practice a very similar "spiritual mathematical strategy" (Walker, personal correspondence).

The Mathematics of the Cults

The Mathematics of the Cults

Addition (+)

They add an extra-biblical source of authority by prophet, pen, or professor.

Subtraction (–)

They subtract from the person and work of Jesus Christ the Son of God. They deny His deity and find inadequate His work of redemption.

Division (÷)

They divide our allegiance from God through Christ alone to others.

Multiplication (×)

They multiply requirements for salvation. All advocate some form of works salvation.

These four simple principles will enable us to spot and expose those spiritual movements that, regardless of their profession, do not know or have God.[5]

No matter in what direction one goes forward and does not remain in the doctrine of Christ, "he has not God" although he may shout ever so loudly, "I know him!" (I John. 2:4). This is the great delusion. I John 2:23. God, the real God (I John 5:20), is found only in Christ (John 14:9, 11; 10:30), hence only in the doctrine of Christ (John 1:18). John does not need to add "and has not Christ" because he who forsakes Christ's doctrine certainly also forsakes Christ.[6]

What it means to have the Father and the Son____

In the letters of John, to have God is to know God and have eternal life, and this is possible only by having the Son

But to have both the Father and the Son should perhaps be understood in the light of John 14:23, where Jesus says: 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'

In this case 'having' the Father and the Son would involve not only knowing them but also the indwelling of the believer by the Father and the Son through the Spirit.[7]

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[M] Daniel L. Akin. Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (Kindle Locations 2884-2889). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. [M] IBID[M] Geoffrey W. Bromiley, trans., Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, ed., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged in One Volume, (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2003), s.v. “,” WORDsearch CROSS e-book.[M] Archibald Thomas Robertson, A.M., D.D., LL.D., Litt. D., Word Pictures in the New Testament, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1930), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "2 John 1:9".[M] Daniel L. Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition – Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, Tony Merida, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2014), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 159.[M] R. C. H. Lenski, Lenski New Testament Commentary – The Interpretation of the Epistles of St. Peter, St. John and St. Jude, (Columbus, OH: Wartburg Press, 1945), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 568-569.[M] Colin G. Kruse, The Pillar New Testament Commentary – The Letters of John, (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2000), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 212.