Weekly Devotional 8-20-12 For Truth’s Sake
“1The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, 2because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. 5And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. 6This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 7For 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. 8Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9Who-ever 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. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 1:1-11).
The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Christians at Corinth that they were to abide in three things, faith, hope, and love, but said he, the greatest of these is love (1st Corinthians 13:13). John is in full agreement with that statement as evidenced by his words, “5And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. 6This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
This letter, however, also had another intent; John cautioned the church (the elect lady) to be very discerning about who they allowed to come into their assemblies as speakers (as teachers). There were some in the church who were extending hospitality to all those who claimed to be Christian. Even though, some of those who visited were heretics who denied the deity of Christ and other truths of the Christian faith. John warns against welcoming such into their midst. He gave this strong caution in verse 10, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds”. Strong words for sure, but when considered such persons were doing (and can do) tremendous damage to a fellowship. John also wrote, “8Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.”
The false teachers of John’s day were doing great harm to the faith of the recipients of his letter, and false teachers do great harm to many persons of the church of our day, especially to a weaker brother or sister. Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote, “17Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18).
Does this mean that we are not to allow visitors into our churches or homes who hold to some other doctrine than that which the apostles preached? Which was, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12. The answer is we must not allow them a voice because their doctrine is of Satan. If a visitor should come into our fellowship, either in a church setting, in our homes, or in some other venue and is willing to listen and not dispute the doctrine of Jesus, in Christian love (1st Corinthians 13:4-8), allow him (or her) entrance. How else can he or she be exposed to the true gospel? Paul reminds us of this in Romans 10:13-14, “13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”14How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” People need to hear the gospel if they are to be saved. They cannot hear it if they are not exposed to it. However, it should be reiterated, we are not to afford them an opportunity to present false doctrine. For if we do, we share in their evil deeds (verse 11 of our opening text). What then is to be our reward? (See verse 8 of our opening text above).
Old Covenant Israel was charged with preserving the Law. We of the New Covenant are charged with preserving the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to keep it untainted. Lord, help us to be faithful to that charge.
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