No Tolerance of Sin

Introduction

Good evening and welcome back!

Tonight we are going to be looking at a passage from 2 John, specifically verses 7-11.

2 John is a very short manuscript that consists of only 13 verses, but they are 13 very powerful verses in our Bible.

And like many of John's letters, this one is written to the church to battle the false teaching of the day.

This teaching, as we have studied before was that of Gnosticism.

And just as a refresher, the Gnostics believed in some type of mystic power and superiority of human knowledge.

Although this was written 2000 years ago, the same premise remains today.

The measuring stick of whether a religion is true or not always boils down to what it says about Christ.

If it denies any part of Christ's deity or person, it is false.

Even though they may use fancy words and religious looking traditions, if it denies the God-ness of Christ, it is false.

Even though they may do good for people and make you feel all warm and fuzzy, it denies Christ it is false.

And in today’s day and age we have come to a place today that we are what is called religiously "tolerant."

In other words, its okay to believe whatever we want and teach whatever we want and let others believe whatever they want.

And if you show someone they are wrong, not based on your opinion, but based on the Word of God, then you are attacked as being hateful and bigoted.

Christians are increasingly being told not to denounce these false beliefs or any beliefs for that matter.

Just don't stir up any trouble.

The problem is that this attitude is not Biblical and is not of God.

This attitude is not what Jesus died and rose again for.

One of the commentaries that I looked at says it this way: To some modern minds these instructions seem unduly rigid and harsh. A great part of the problem, however, lies in the modern inclination to be highly tolerant of religious differences. One must frankly face the fact that the New Testament writers did not share this spirit of toleration. Their commitment to the truth and their consciousness of the dangers of religious error called forth many stern denunciations of false teachers. Not surprisingly, this modern age, having a diminishing sense of the dangers of heresy, has lost its convictions about the truth.

We need to have real convictions about the truth.

And we need to share those convictions with others.

Because their very souls depend on it.

So, let’s read through the verses and then dig a little deeper into this passage.

2 John, starting in verse 7, John writes . . .

Scripture Focus

2 John 7–11 NIV84

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

The Deceivers are Here

Now, this section of 2 John is interesting when we are talking about false religion and the toleration and acceptance of sin.

Because it doesn’t mention sin itself anywhere.

But it is very important because it shows us how the sin is introduced and how Christians are convinced into accepting that sin as being “okay.”

Again in verse 7, John writes . . .

2 John 7 NIV84

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

And there it is.

There are lots of deceivers out there.

And the key hallmark of these deceivers is that they do not acknowledge Jesus Christ coming in the flesh.

In other words, they were denying that Christ had come, died on the cross, and was resurrected again.

And Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are the key cornerstones of Christianity.

Without those aspects, you no longer have Christianity, you have a book club or a social club.

And any book you get hold of could be just as authoritative as the Bible to these people.

And that’s why all of this tolerance can come into play.

If you don’t like what the Bible says about it—just throw it out and get another book.

Or better yet, just make up one of your own!

It’s all good! Do whatever you want!

John says that there are many of these people and that they are spreading throughout the world.

And the kicker here is that John actually compares them to the antichrist.

And John is not talking about the antichrist that will be revealed in the last days.

John is talking about the spirit of anitchrist.

And this spirit of antichrist is just simply any attitude or belief that is against Christ.

Anti-Christian in other words.

And to gain a better understanding of this antichrist spirit John is talking about, we can go back and look at 1 John 4, just for a second.

Starting in verse 1 . . .

1 John 4:1–3 NIV84

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

And basically it boils down to the fact that you can't have it both ways.

You can't have partial Jesus.

Either God or man.

He is fully man and fully God.

That is the only way this whole thing works.

If Jesus was not fully man, then he couldn't have been the perfect sacrifice for our sin.

The sacrifice had to be blood.

Hebrews 9:22 NIV84

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

So by denying Christ's coming in the flesh, it would actually be denying His ability to shed his blood for our sins.

And this is no different that denying that Christ died on the cross or that He was resurrected on the third day.

All of these points are vitally important and were necessary for there to be a complete remission of sin.

This is why it is important that we accept everything about Jesus, not bits and pieces.

However, this spirit of antichrist was around during John's time and it is around now.

Strong and alive and well.

Who’s main function is to deny Christ and deny Christ's deity.

To throw people off track.

To get people to go down the wrong trail.

To get people to accept and tolerate sin as being “okay.”

John also tells us about the spirit of antichirst . . .

1 John 2:18–19 NIV84

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

And how prevalent is the spirit of antichrist?

It is estimated that there are roughly 10,000 current religions in the world today.

And beyond that there are divisions within religions that believe different things.

And of the world’s population in 2010, roughly 32% identified as Christians.

But even within that, we know that no all who claim Christianity, believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So, the deceiver is very, very good at what he does.

Which is why Peter warns us to . . .

1 Peter 5:8 NIV84

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Because his number one goal is to lead you down a path that veers away from God and lead you straight into Hell.

This deception is subtle and many have fallen victim.

Part of that deception is the pressure to have this attitude of "acceptance" and "tolerance."

Folks, if it is not of God, DON'T TOLERATE IT.

Don’t be snide, hateful, and unChristianlike.

But you do not have to accept and tolerate sin.

Listen to what John says here . . .

1 John 3:7–10 NIV84

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Be Careful Not to Fall

In other words, if you are living in sin and claiming to be a Christian, you are deceiving yourself.

Now I am not talking about Christians just starting out trying to overcome things in their lives, that is completely different.

I am talking about people knowingly living in sin, not trying to do anything about it, and deceiving themselves into thinking that it is okay with God.

Because it is not and it will lead them down the wrong path.

And if we are not careful, we can also be deceived.

Look at what John says next here . . .

2 John 8–9 NIV84

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

And this running ahead of God is very deceptive.

You may think that you are are at a place where you have learned all you need and you are now “teaching yourself.”

Doing it your way.

This is deceptive and dangerous because we have so many that have started rooted in the faith, but over time, let the deception in.

They have diluted the Gospel Message to nothing.

They have allowed every kind of abomination and sin into the pulpit.

They have lost all respect for God.

They left God down the road somewhere and went their own path.

And Paul even warns us about this . . .

1 Timothy 4:1–3 NIV84

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

Why though?

Why does it end up this way?

Well, it has to do with the flesh . . .

2 Timothy 3:1–7 NIV84

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

So, they are constantly feeding the flesh with:

Greed

Power

Idolatry

Pride

Sin

It's wrong and every one of us will stand before God one day and . . .

Matthew 12:36–37 NIV84

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

And . . .

Romans 14:10–12 NIV84

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

And finally . . .

2 Corinthians 5:10–11 NIV84

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

So, don't think that being tolerate and acceptant of sin, just to be kind will be acceptable to God.

Sin will be judged and all who engage and condone it will be held accountable.

Remember our friend Ezekiel . . .

Ezekiel 33:7–9 NIV84

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.

And if you remember from that passage—if we sound the warning we are good. They will be held accountable but we have done our part.

However, if we do not, then their blood is on our hands.

And in essence we have made the Gospel out to be a lie and we ourselves are liars.

And the Bible says some strong words about liars and deceivers as well . . .

1 John 2:3–4 NIV84

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

And . . .

1 John 2:22–23 NIV84

Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

And . . .

Proverbs 19:9 NIV84

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish.

And . . .

John 8:44 NIV84

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

And . . .

Revelation 21:8 NIV84

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Altar/Challenge

And by condoning this sin, you are:

Denying Christ.

Are a liar.

And I know those are strong words, but that is the truth of the Bible.

And the very last part of this passage . . .

2 John 10–11 NIV84

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

Don’t accept sin as being okay.

Don’t condone the sin and share in the sin by condoning it.

Let’s pray . . .