2JN 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
There are false teachers all around, and if anyone
comes along and does not bring the right doctrine, then you are not to let him
into your house, and you are not to wish them success with their efforts.
They are leading men to hell and you are not to have any part in it whatsoever,
and you are not to give them any encouragement at all. This goes for
anyone. It does not matter if they are a stranger or if they are family.
The Bible tells us to take a very strong stance on this. Now what doctrine
is being talked about here? Obviously it must be something very serious.
Not something like was Saul saved. If you disagree with me on that, I will
still wish you God speed. Well we don't have to wonder because the verse
before tells us.
2JN 1:9 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.
The doctrine being talked about is the doctrine of
Christ. It is the people who do not bring the doctrine of Christ that we
are not to let into our homes. What is the doctrine of Christ? It is
simply who Christ is and what He has done. Jesus existed from the very
beginning. Jesus left the glories of heaven and became man. Jesus is
God manifested to us in the flesh. This is often referred to as the deity
of Christ. He lived a sinless life and went to the cross to pay for our
sins. He made the only payment that could be made. Works cannot
save. Christ plus works cannot save. It is Christ and Christ alone
that saves.
So who does not bring the doctrine of Christ. The
Jehovah Witnesses do not for they do not believe in the deity of Christ.
The Mormons don't. They believe that Jesus was a man first and that he was
the brother of Lucifer. The Catholics don't because they believe in a
works salvation. And on the list goes.
2JN 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
of his evil deeds.
Instead of saying I don't agree with you but have a
wonderful day, they need to be told that God commands that they are not to be
allowed in our home and that we are not to wish them well in their efforts.
Tell them that they are leading men to hell. Tell them that they are doing
what the Bible clearly calls evil deeds.
And then pray that God will use it to bring conviction
to their hearts and that the scales will be taken from their eyes. Pray
that they will get saved.
Thought On This Chapter
2JN 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children,
whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the
truth;
2JN 1:2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and
shall be with us for ever.
2JN 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God
the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and
love.
In the Bible Love and Truth are connected. If you
really love someone, then you want what is best for them. And what is best
is the truth. Letting someone go on living in error is not what is best
for them. If they believe in the heresy of a works salvation, then one day
they will wake up in the flames of hell. Letting them go there un opposed
is not love. Love in the Bible is also connected with action, with doing.
If you love someone, then you are going to tell them the truth of God's Word.
When telling the truth, some will forget that in the Bible truth is connected
with love. We need to tell the truth with compassion. We need to
tell the truth out of a concern for them. Love and Truth should NEVER
stand alone.
2JN 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2JN 1:2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
2JN 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
2JN 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2JN 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
2JN 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
2JN 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2JN 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2JN 1:9 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.
2JN 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2JN 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
2JN 1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
2JN 1:13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
General Information About the Book of 2 John.
The book of 2 John warns us against compromise with
error and it emphasizes that the truth be guarded in love.
The key words are truth and love.
The key verses are:
2Jo 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those
things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 2Jo 1:9
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.
The theme of the book is to walk in truth and love.
This book teaches us to guard against false teachers.
False teachers can cause us to lose spiritual rewards and false teachers can
make us be partakers of their evil.
The term full reward in verse 8 clearly suggests that
there are degrees of reward.
Thought on this Chapter
2JN 1:8 Look to
yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we
receive a full reward.
The Bible does teach a reward
system in heaven. This is above salvation. You will not even get to
heaven unless you are born again. The rewards are not dependant upon being
saved. Every one who is saved goes to heaven, but not everyone who goes to
heaven is going to get a full reward.
Getting to
heaven is based on grace. It is a free gift and all you have to do is
receive it thru faith in Jesus.
Rewards are based
on how you live your life after you are saved. Rewards are based on what
you do for Christ. If your works are gold, silver, and precious stones you
will get reward. On the other hand if your works are hay, wood, and
stubble, then they will not count.
Some will say that I
don't care about rewards. They will say I am going to heaven and that is
all that I care about. This often results in them not living for Christ
the way they should and not doing good works for Him. This is a bad
attitude for several reasons. First you should love Christ enough to work
for Him regardless of rewards. Second I think they will change their minds
when they get to heaven and see others getting rewards and they don't get any or
very little. But it will be too late to earn rewards then. And just
think about it. These heavenly rewards are eternal rewards. Not
caring about heavenly rewards is being short sited; only looking at the hear and
now. This is not what the Bible tells us to do.
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
