Verses 1-3, “The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” The author of this book referring to himself as the "elder" is presumed to be John in his later years of life. He is writing to what seems to be a specific church and its members, as it is unlikely that he would be writing to one woman in the literal sense. These people are unique in that they know and love the truth. Knowing the truth of God is what binds believers together, not social networking or political activism, or any other church sponsored activities. When you know and love the truth, you will love others who know and love the truth. Therefore, if someone calls themselves a believer, but does not love his brother or sister, we know they are a liar and do not know and love the truth. Having an evil heart of bitterness toward another Christian is not acceptable, even though we have grown accustomed to this in the church. It ought not to be the case and is totally unfitting for a child of God.
Verses 4-6, “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” Here we see more evidence from the scriptures that we need to not only obey the commandments, but it is aso necessary that we love one another, or we are not walking in truth. Remember these verses we read yesterday, I John 5:2-3, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” It should not be a burden to love God or love fellow Christians. If it is, then we do not love God the way we should; because if we did, we would love His people. John 15:12-14, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
Verses 7-11, “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.” We need to beware of deceivers, and there are many, who try to tempt you to abandon the doctrine of Christ. The devil is persistent, however, and will accept smaller compromises just to get a foothold. He often does this by using those closest to us...the relationships that are the most influential and are hardest to walk away from. Because we see their faces, we do not always realize who is influencing them. Remember that the whole world is under the sway of the wicked one. These deceivers are effective because what they say may seem true (they may even use Scripture), and their message is appealing to our flesh. Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Real truth is contained in God's word and abides forever; therefore, we do not need new false revelations to understand God better. We need to remain anchored in the truth and not be swayed.
Verse 8, “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.” Listen to what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” Those who try to pull you away from the truth are evil and under demonic influence. As hard as it is for us to accept it, we can't feel sorry for everyone and believe they are all helplessly deceived. They are deceived all right...and they are trying to deceive you!!! This makes them an enemy of Jesus and yours, too.
Verses 9-11, “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. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” Making excuses for these people who once received the truth but have now transgressed, is not acceptable. If they are unwilling to receive the truth, but are trying to convince you of their "new" way that overlooks clear commands, you need to separate yourself lest you be leavened by their sin. Not only that, but by you continuing to have fellowship with them, despite their rejection of truth, you will share in their evil deeds. There is NO WAY to reject sound doctrine without rejecting the Father and the Son. If you cannot share the truth without them getting mad at you, it is a pretty clear indication of where they stand. Now it's a matter of where you stand. Those who love the truth, love God more than everything and everyone else.
I Corinthians 5:1-8, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
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