IF IT TAKES AWAY FROM JESUS
2 John 7-11 NKJV
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
This is a short letter from John to the elect or chosen lady and her children. It is a personal letter that also contains an important reminder and an important warning.
The reminder is to walk in love. John equates walking in love with walking in the truth. And that makes sense. God is love, and God is truth. There is no deception or shadow of falsehood in Him. This love is not a warm feeling for everyone but a choice to obey God’s commandments and live so that others benefit. This is the love we are continually learning about and developing in our lives. And walking in this love lets us know we are going in the right direction with God, which gives us confidence with Him.
But this love does not accept everything that comes our way. And John is warning this lady and her children about the deceivers who are in the world. One sure way to discern deception is how Jesus is presented. If anyone does not acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, God’s anointed, who came in the flesh, they are deceivers and antichrist. Not that this person is the antichrist, but there is an antichrist spirit working in them.
This deception was not limited to John’s day. We see it all the time now. The people who claim that Jesus was a good teacher and a moral example but not the Christ are deceivers. Don’t buy that. The ones who declare that Jesus is not the only way to God and salvation are deceivers. Stay away.
John warned to be aware that we are not buying any deception that is in the world. He did not want this lady and her children to lose their reward by entertaining false teachings. And he was very explicit in saying that if someone did not stay with the teachings of Christ, the doctrine of Christ, they did not have God. This makes Christianity very exclusive. This is an offense to some, but remember, they are in deception. The idea that there are many paths to God is false teaching. John warned then, and this warning is still applicable today. Do not buy into our progressive age where everyone has their own truth. Jesus declared Himself to be the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to God except by Him (John 14:6).
John, the apostle of love, also warned the lady not to receive a false teacher into her home and not to greet them. Remember, love is not all accepting and accommodating. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing; the NKJV says iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Someone spreading false teaching is a deceiver and not to be accepted. Which means in today’s culture, don’t let them into your home on YouTube or TV. If they take away from Jesus and propose some other way to salvation, stay far, far away. John did not even want this lady to say hello to false teachers. Southern hospitality is not necessary here.
There is deception today in ever-increasing numbers. Stay with the truth and stay with Jesus as the only way to God and salvation. If it takes away from Him, we don’t want it.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for the truth that is in Christ. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who leads and guides me today. Help me stay away from all deception and falseness.