Podcast 116, 2 John, “Pt 6, Ch 1”

The Second Epistle of John has but one Chapter.

2 John 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;

The Elder is surely John himself. We’ll let scholars fruitlessly debate the identity of ‘the elect lady’ whether it is referring to a specific mother and her children or whether it is referring to the church. In the absence of clarifying information, I prefer the literal interpretation. The surest explanation, however, is that John is addressing his letter to all members of the true church for he is warning against false teachers which are creeping in. From the beginning the apostles have had to fight against false teachers, false prophets, and antichrists.

Notice John’s emphasis, “whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.”

Truth is primary. The purpose of the apostles is to keep the doctrine pure. There is security only if we keep our eyes always on the prophets and apostles. Those are the standards of judgement. John adds.

2 John 1:2

For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

John is speaking of Christ ‘which dwelleth in us forever.’

2 John 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.

John’s message really doesn’t vary. Only “in truth and love” can we know the Savior. I love returning to the following verse given to us earlier by John.

1 John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

That is a very tall order, to be like Christ when he returns to the earth. That cannot be, however, except through ‘truth and love.’

Let’s rehearse some of the highlights of each of the five preceding chapters from John’s first epistle. John doesn’t vary from his message.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 2:3

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 3:8

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 5:1

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

One thing that sets Christ apart from all of mankind is that he obeyed the Father perfectly in everything. That is why he alone can be the Savior of the World. He was sinless. He was nonpareil.

2 John 1:4

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

We must never take our eyes off the words of Christ given in the Intercessory Prayer.

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Only through the Son can we know the Father, and only through knowing the Father and the Son can we have eternal life with the Father and the Son. In the Book of Revelation, John says those servants who serve God shall see his face.

Revelation 22:3-5

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Let me point out one obvious lesson from above. Regardless of our status on earth, regardless of birth, of position, of importance, of wealth, of intelligence, of education, of power, we all have the same chance for eternal life with God where all shall see his face, where all shall have his name in their foreheads, where all shall receive the light of Christ, and where all shall reign with him for ever and ever. The only thing that really matters on earth is that we keep the commandments of God. Everything else is administrative. Everyone on this planet has different gifts given of God. It is what we do with those gifts that matter. We are all familiar with the parable of the talents. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Christ said,

Matthew 22:36-39

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

One does not have to have a position of authority to obey those two commandments. No other apostle takes that more literally than John or teaches that principle more frequently than John.

2 John 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.

John does not leave it in the abstract. He refines the meaning.

2 John 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.

What does John mean by “ye should walk in it”? The military term is ‘boots on the ground.’ He means for it to be part of our daily walk, our daily lives. We should take that love with us wherever we go, to church, to the grocery store, while driving in heavy traffic, in our homes, even when our children are unruly; in other words we should take that love in all of our walks of life.

John warns against antichrists.

2 John 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.

John is the only biblical writer to use the term ‘antichrist.’ He defines what he means in his epistles.

1 John 2:18

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1 John 2:22

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son"

1 John 4:3

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The prefix ‘anti’ is from the Greek meaning against, opposed to, in place of, instead of, or in opposition to. Romantic writers appear to create a monster called ‘Antichrist.’ Remember one of the beasts appeared as a lamb. There is a growing feeling of antichrist even in America day. Christianity is under attack. The Jews, as if the Holocaust meant nothing, are again coming under attack. Hate, violence, and contention are on the rise. Anything that goes against the teaches of Jesus Christ is antichrist.

John places the responsibility of our souls squarely upon our shoulders, meaning that we choose whether or not to obey the commandments of Christ.

2 John 1:8

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

He further emphasizes our responsibility.

2 John 1:9-11

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. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

How fortunate we are to have the letters of John and of Peter and of Paul, but the apostles were also busy mingling with the Saints and teaching them in person. Such open exposure cost them their lives.

2 John 1:12-13

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. The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

It is easy to overlook the incredible courage of the early saints in the face of certain death. The early martyrs received their eternal reward from God.

Revelation 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

It is very poignant to observe that while John is commanding the saints to love one another, they are surrounded by people who want to kill them. Those were very perilous times for the Saints, yet the doctrines of Christ never changed. Christ said,

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

It is not unreasonable to assume that we too who live in the last days may face the same opposition, but the doctrine doesn’t change. John’s message, which was delivered to him by Christ himself, is the same for us as for the saints in former times.