2 John

Highlight:

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. 

Explain:

John is writing to warn these recipients that it is the identity of Jesus the Christ that is the key to their spiritual survival. Satan seeks to deceive us by giving us these “antichrist’s” to take the place of the real Christ. The essence of the identity of Christ is that He is God and He is man. He is fully both. Anything less than this is deception. This is such a critical doctrine that we must insist on it to the point of not being seen to give even tacit approval to their doctrine by any association with them. We must make it clear that what they teach is false doctrine.

Apply:

This passage brings these applications:

1. The identity of Christ is critical. Who I believe Him to be determines whether I am saved or lost. There can be no equivocation on this point.
2. My response to deception must be clear. I cannot try to smooth over these differences when it comes to the nature of Christ. I must be clear.
3. My outreach to deceivers must be careful. This means
   1. I clearly outline the deception.
   1. I lovingly reach out to the deceived. (When the passage says that we should not receive them into our house not greet them, I think the context would be receiving them into your house CHURCH or greet (i.e. show approval of or favor) their doctrine. We may connect with them socially, but we may not do anything that expresses approval of what they are teaching.

Respond:

I will think about the ramifications of this to ministry.