2 John 1:7-13 (NKJV) 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.
John’s Farewell Greeting
12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
V7 “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.” Why do people become deceivers? There are 2 reasons: 1) they have been deceived and are passing it on as truth and/or 2) they wish to destroy the faith by substituting error in place of truth. Why would they want to deceive? There are 2 reasons: 1) money, influence, fame and/or 2) have followers and power. We who have the truth (Scriptures) need 2 things to protect ourselves: 1) God’s grace (the Holy Spirit’s conviction) and 2) the Bible (read, studied, and believed). It is sad, but there are not just a few but many. Jesus is 100% a human male and 100% God. The Gnostics, primarily but there were others, believed that what is spirit is good and what is flesh is evil. With this mindset, Jesus could not have had genuine human flesh. Let us believe the Scriptures. Jesus is a human male (John 1:14, 1 Timothy 2:5, and Hebrews 4:15) and God (Colossians 2:9, John 1:1, and Revelation 1:8). Those that teach anything but the Bible in its plain, normal sense are a deceiver and antichrist. They are an antichrist, because they offer a different Jesus. The authentic Jesus is in the 4 Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
V8 “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.” This is self examination. We have the New Testament to show us God’s standard. The Holy Spirit will convict us if needed or comfort us. But the warning here is to not drift from the faith (Hebrews 2:1). The time of rewards is after the Rapture at the Bema Seat Judgment—a judgment for rewards. It has nothing to do with whether we are Christians or not. See Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:10–4:5, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.
V9 “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.” The “doctrine of Christ” is Christology, the doctrine about Jesus Christ, who He is and His work. If one deviates from the clear teaching about Jesus Christ, then it is a proof that person is not a Christian. The one who does have correct Christology is a Christian.
V10 “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him…” There is a place for separation. There is to be no compromise about the doctrine of Christ. If it is wrong, we are not to treat him as a Christian. In John 14:23, Jesus teaches that the Christian has both Father and Son.
V11 “…for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” A warning how we are to treat false Christians. If we greet them and treat them as fellow believers, then we sin. Sharing in his evil deeds refers to the believer has considered the fake to be a real Christian which might cause others to stumble in the faith.
V12 “Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” As a good pastor, he would rather be present to answer questions, encourage, and motivate.
V13 “The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.” This might be John’s wife or someone in the Ephesian church.
We learn:
• The importance of the doctrine of Christ.
• The importance of truth.
• The importance of remaining faithful.