We Must Abide in the Truth
2 John 7-11
Verse 7
In this short letter John has already encouraged the recipients to "know" (vv.
1-3) and "walk" (vv. 4-6) in the truth. Now as he concludes his thoughts he
warns his readers to remain (abide) within the set boundaries of the truth.
False teachers will try and bring believers outside of the confines of the
truth. Once outside, believers have removed themselves from the protection
afforded them " in Christ." To protect us as individuals and as a congregation
we must bind ourselves together in love, walk in Christ's footsteps, and keep
the commandments that have been given. These deceivers may not be strangers;
indeed, the congregation may have intimate knowledge of some of these
"deceivers" (1 Jn. 2:18,19; Acts 20:30).
The specific type of false teaching being warned about here is rejecting Jesus
Christ as the God-Man. Of course in John's time Judaism (as it does today)
denied that Christ had come at all. The Gnostics denied that Jesus could come in
the flesh.
Anyone who would deny the incarnation of Jesus is styled by John as the deceiver
and the antichrist (1 Jn. 2:18, 22; 4:3). When someone approaches you wanting to
discuss Christianity the first question you should ask is: "What do you think
about Christ; is He God come in the flesh?" There are so-called Christians today
who will say He hasn't; these are antichrist. In general anyone teaching against
Christ and His doctrine is antichrist. It is beyond the scope of this article to
study "the antichrist" in much depth. Suffice it to say that anyone who would
align himself or herself against the Lord's church is "against Christ" and is
certainly caught up in the spirit of the antichrist.
Verses 8-11
To "abide in the truth" means to remain true to the doctrines of the Christian
faith. The false teachers of the first century presented the same danger as the
false teachers of the twenty-first century. They had departed from the truth and
the fellowship of believers and had it in their hearts to take as many believers
with them as possible. The deceivers in the world present three dangers to the
Christian and the local church.
The danger of going back (v.8)
This passage clearly teaches that it is up to us as Christians to protect our
own salvation by carefully examining our hearts and checking out the defenses
that we have put into place. This verse gives three plain lessons that
explicitly show us that our souls are in danger if we go back:
The possibility of falling away from the truth.
The necessity of constant and careful self-examination.
The necessity of being "on the lookout" for Satan's next onslaught.
Wuest translates this verse: "Do not lose the things we accomplished." How can
our Calvinistic neighbors misread John's intent here? The letter is addressed to
Christians. If it were impossible for a child of God to lose the things that he
has accomplished (most importantly, our salvation through God's grace), then why
would John suggest that we could? The false doctrine of "once saved, always
saved" was obviously foreign to the apostle John!
The danger of going ahead (v. 9)
In this verse John clarifies just what it is we stand to lose: God Himself! We
cannot proceed beyond (transgress = goes onward) the boundaries set for us by
God through the Gospel of Christ. Conversely, we must abide (to stay in a place;
to remain; to endure) in the doctrine of Christ. No deviation from His Divine
standard is possible without apostasy.
This verse teaches that we are not to be progressive when it comes to doctrine.
Progress is only good when it is in the direction of Christ (Woods). Otherwise
we are progressing (digressing!) from the truth. The truth of the first century
is the truth of today. The safe and sufficient rule of faith can only be found
in the oracles of God.
True progress comes from remaining in the true teaching; this is where we will
find the Father and the Son. Do the conditions existing in the world today call
for a modernized approach? It depends what we mean by "modernized approach." Can
we use the television, radio, and Internet to proclaim the Gospel? Yes. Can we
teach another (different) Gospel to try and appeal to the twenty-first century
mind? No! (Gal. 1:6-8.) Was the New Testament intended to be the spiritual
arrangement for all succeeding centuries? Yes. Can we use our own "sanctified
common sense" in adapting the Gospel to the twenty-first century? (1 Pet. 4:11.)
Yes, but if our "progress" leads us away from the truth as proclaimed by Christ
then we will find ourselves outside the boundaries that God has set for us.
The danger of going with (vv. 10,11)
Christian fellowship and hospitality is to be denied to anyone that does not
teach according to the doctrine of Christ. We know that we are to open our arms
to visitors (Rom. 12:13; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:3-10; Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:8-10). To not
extend this courtesy would have to be for a serious reason.
The test supplied by John to his readers is this: Do these visitors advocate the
teachings of Christ? Specifically, do they believe that Christ has come in the
flesh? If not, then they are not to be extended the arms of fellowship. The
Eastern greeting was more than just "hello," it was an approval of the course
being pursued by the one being greeted (Woods).
This greeting would be seen as approval by neighbors and fellow Christians who
witnessed or heard of it. The severity of this injunction might lead one to
misunderstand its intent. Please note:
Hospitality to strangers is not forbidden. Even if we find a known minister of
false doctrine suffering we are obligated to assist him as long as we do not aid
or abet him in his false teaching.
However, it is forbidden to receive a false teacher in such a way as to give
them opportunity to teach their heresy. We must do nothing to support or
encourage that which is not true. We must not subject ourselves to the danger of
becoming corrupt because of an association with them.
Conclusion
From verse seven we learn that John wrote these verses to combat the specific
false doctrine mentioned there, namely, denying that Christ came in the flesh.
By consulting John's other epistles as well as his Gospel, we understand that
anyone taking any position that is "against Christ" is to be marked and avoided.
In closing let us go back and examine verses 5 and 6.
John commands us to "love one another." Is it possible to command "love?"
Absolutely, when we realize what true Christian love entails. This love is
embodied in the Golden Rule: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
Christian love goes beyond the emotional aspect and is actually embodied in an
act of our will. Our proper attitudes and actions lead us to be able to express
true Christian love. It is this attitude of love that will help us deal properly
with our brethren as well as false teachers.
John also demands that we be obedient. It is only through obedience that we will
learn more truth. It is mandatory then that we live a life of love, truth, and
obedience that in turn will lead us to love more, seek more truth and obey that
truth more fully. As Wiersbe puts it: We must get ourselves out of the "vicious
circle" of the world and into the "victorious circle" of love, truth, and
obedience (Paraphrased BEC Vol. 2 p. 537). This is the life of a true Christian.
Do not go back to your old man of sin; do not go beyond the boundaries set by
Jesus Christ our only Lord and Savior, do not go with teachers that deny even
the very essence of the God-Man. As Christians we must train ourselves to be
content with what Christ and His Apostles have taught us through the Holy Spirit
given word. "Only the false teachers are compelled to eliminate or elaborate" (Eerdman's
Handbook to the Bible 1974 ed. P.643).
Resources
Guy N. Woods' Commentary on the New Testament Epistles, Vol. 7, pp. 344-51.
Headings adapted from Wiersbe's Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 2, pp. 537-38.
By Carey Dillinger
From Expository Files 9.2; February 2002
