Intro:
1. There was a song some years ago that went, “I hear you knocking…but you can’t come in!”
2. The cults will always come knocking on our door, but if we are wise we will not let them in. The essence of this little letter is: It is a Caution against Endorsing a Cult. I believe the key verse is verse, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting.”
3. I Hear you knocking…but you can’t come in!
I. First, the Writer of this letter. 1:1a [The apostle John]
The elder – this refers to:
A. It can refer to age – usually to an old man. Lu. 15:25/ I Tim. 5:1
John was clearly an aged man when he wrote this little letter.
Courson, “John was the last surviving apostle, at the time he wrote this letter, he was most likely close to one hundred years old. That’s the great thing about ministry. A thirty-three-year-old player in the NFL is considered an old man. But in the things of God, a man that age is just beginning. If we walk in fellowship with God, our lives become only deeper and richer with age – there is no age disqualification for us.”
B. It can also refer to the rank or office of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Mt. 16:21
C. It can refer to Leadership in the local church. Ac.11:29-20; 20:17/I Tim.5:17,19
Trans: The writer of this letter does not give his personal name. He writes like a modern clergyman who might sign a pastoral letter to members of his congregation with “Your Pastor” without adding his name [which of course would be familiar to them].
What matters is his position rather than his personal name. This is indicated by the phrase “elder.” The word simply means…a venerable figure in the church known with affectionate [respect] as “the old man.” [Marshall]
II. Furthermore, the Woman he is writing to. 1b-6
A. First, she is Chosen. 1, 13
“Elect is eklektos, one picked out, chosen. The reference is to the fact that his lady was one of the elect of God, one of the chosen-out ones of God, chosen-out from among mankind by the sovereign grace of God for salvation.” [Wuest]
“Election is that eternal act of God whereby He, in His sovereign good pleasure, and on account of no foreseen merit in them, chooses a certain number of people to be the recipients of special grace of eternal salvation. Thus election is unconditional [i.e., there is nothing in the creature that conditions God’s choice), pretemporal [before the foundation of the world], unmerited [by grace], as the basis of salvation.”
[Basic Theology, Ryrie]
Eph. 1:4/ 2 Tim. 1:9/ etc.
B. Furthermore, her name is Covered-up.
chosen lady – this opens the door for a variety of interpretations:
1. Some take it as a figurative reference to a local church.
Townsend, “Do you like cryptograms [that is, messages hidden in code words]? Very probably II John opens with just such a cryptogram – referring to a church community under a cryptogram name.”
2. Others take it to be a lady named Electa. [meaning chosen]
This would seem odd, if for no other reason, than her sister would have had the same exact name! The same word is used in v. 13, not too many people give their daughters the same exact name.
3. Some identify her name as Kuria. [the Greek word for lady]
I have know a few dogs that go by the name dog, but never a lady…
4. It could be that the lady’s name is anonymous.
Gooding, “It is far simpler and more profitable to take the word of God as it stands, “the elect lady.” It could be inferred from the letter that she is a widow. No husband is addressed or mentioned and it would be very impolite and improper to address her and ignore him [even if he were not converted]. I suggest that she is a widow with at least four children. John addresses children [sons] with her and also states that he found her children walking in truth and he writes to her about them.”
C. Children. [masculine gender]
D. The Caution.
whom I love in truth – so as to avoid any misunderstand.
1. He uses the word agape which is not a word of personal endearment like agapetos “well-beloved.” In 1 John he often uses the word beloved (2:7; 3:2,21; 4:1,7,11) and in is third epistle to a man (vv.2,5,11). But here he omits the word to avoid anybody making something out of his correspondence to her.
2. He also uses the word “truth” – lit. “his love was in the sphere of truth.”
3. He equally includes her children as the object of his love.
All of this would stop any gossip dead in its tracts, and keep everything without the appearance of anything improper.
E. The Continuation of truth.
For the sake of truth which abides in us and will be with us forever – the truth may refer to:
1. Jesus Christ Himself (Jn. 14:6)
2. The Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16-17)
3. The Word of God (Jn. 17:17)
E. The Certainty of truth prevailing. 3
1. The Source of our certainty.
From God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father in truth and love – Here we see God the Father and the Son placed on equal footing, something that the Gnostic denied.
2. The Substance – what comes from God to us?
a. Grace - God’s unmerited favor for everything we need to do God’s will.
b. Mercy – God not giving us what we deserve.
c. Peace – the result of grace and mercy.
“Truth takes up its permanent abode in a believer’s heart, nor can Satan uproot it. This is guaranteed: “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace…” That’s what Satan is up against when he attacks a believer. He may win some tactical battles but he cannot win the war…All this is assured by God the Father and the Son…Satan for all his diligence and resourcefulness is on the losing side.” [Phillips]
G. The Compliment. 4a
I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth – this brings joy to a mother heart!
“Commentaries are meant for the head; this verse is mean for the heart. It is full of pathos and emotion. I am convinced that when it was read by the elect lady for the first time it was accompanied by a flood of tears of gratitude and joy. Imagine this dear widow receiving this letter from the aged apostle…What a recompense for a mother’s faithful sowing of the seed…
John found those [of her children] who were at some place where he had visited in the course of ministry; there were others at home who were also waking in truth…Those who left the family nest, to face all the temptations of the world, [were of course a source of concern]. Think of the anxiety of a mother’s heart, and now the thrill of this news; they are still going on, waking in truth.” [Gooding]
H. The Commandment. 4b-6
Walk in love – he is about to hit upon a problem.
In that day hospitality was essential because safe places were rare, and often vile people lurked in the few places open for a traveler. Traveling ministers were dependent upon godly people taking care of their needs.
To respond to such travelers must not be without serious discernment because not every minister was of God.
Romans 16:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
18 For 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.
The implication is that this woman has been guilty, though without intent, of taking in these cultic deceivers. How do we know this?
According to the Discovery Bible verse 10 should be translated this way:
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, stop receiving him into your house, and stop giving him a greeting.”
“The negative present imperative means stop doing this. Do not let it continue any longer.” [The Discovery Bible, Moody Press.]
Ryrie, “The if assumes the case, not merely expresses the possibility. In other words, such people were coming into Christian homes under a friendly guise.”
Love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in truth” (I Cor. 13:6). So turning away cults is not a lack of love but actually an expression of it.
“The point of John’s second epistle is that love must be discerning. Love cannot be divorced from truth. God’s love is not blind sentiment; it is just, truthful, demanding. God’s love motivated him to sent His Son to Calvary; but those who do not believe are condemned. Calvary and condemnation are both aspects of love.” [The Daily Walk Bible]
III. Thirdly, the Warning against receiving cults. 7-11
A. First, the Deceivers. 7
Deceivers is derived from a verb meaning “to wander, rove, to mislead, to lead into error, imposters.”
“Not the content to be deceived themselves, these men cannot rest until they have deceived others…they do not bother pagans, their prey are true Christians.” [Lenski]
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NKJV)
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh – they deny the incarnation, teaching that “Jesus” and “the Christ” are two different persons.
Those who deny that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man in one Person are deceived and deceivers (1 Jn. 2:18,22, 26; 4:1,3).
B. The Danger. 8
that you do not lose what you have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward – believers cannot lose salvation but they can lose rewards. Rev. 3:11
“Satan is a thief and so are his helpers. John wanted his readers to receive “a full reward” which is his equivalent of 2 Pet. 1:11, an abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom.”
[Wiersbe]
“Being seduced by false teachers is one way the Christians can lose their reward at the judgment. With this in mind, John writes that the reason to guard against deceivers is our own desire not to lose our reward at the judgment seat of Christ…Every believer has the potential of a full reward or a complete loss of reward: “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as through fire.” (I Cor. 3:15)
The determining factor is our faithfulness to Christ. Justification is not in view here because it is not something we worked for, but something we received as a gift from God
(see Rom. 4:1-6/Eph. 2:8).” [Nelson’s Study Bible]
MacArthur, “A loss of that reward may occur to any believer who does not discriminate fellowship on the basis of adherence to truth. This is a potent warning. All the eternal reward one earns by seeking Christ purely, eagerly, and effectively in the Spirit can be diminished by any aiding or abetting of false teaching.”
“Not all believers move ahead spiritually at the same pace, and some seem not to grow at all (I Cor. 3:15/2 Jn.80. As a result at the judgment seat of Christ they will lose out on rewards and on positions of service in Christ’s coming millennial reign (2 Tim. 2:12).”
[Understanding Christians, Charles Swindoll and Roy Zuck]
C. The only Defense. 9
whoever transgresses – “Here we have the present participle of proago – ago, “lead” and pro “before.” So the verb means “go before, precede, to go on ahead.” It may be translated here ‘goes too far” (NAS) or “run ahead (NIV).” [Word Meanings in the N.T. Ralph Earle]
Stott, “John is almost certainly borrowing from vocabulary of the heretic. They claimed to have to go-ahead ideas, a super gnosis, which enabled them to advance beyond the rudiments of the faith in which the common herd were content to abide…By way of contrast “He that abides in [that does not go beyond] the doctrine of Christ, has both the Father and the Son.”
Our defense is to abide in God’s truth as found in His written Word…
“The verb ‘runs ahead” [goes too far] in 2 John might be understood as “is so advanced.” So here it carries the significance of “to go beyond” or “go one ahead.” They thought of themselves as having “advanced” beyond these unenlightened Christians. The truth is that the cultist had “advanced” beyond the truth.” [Townsend]
D. The godly Distain. 10-11
1. Refuse Hospitality. 10a
Phillips, “It ought not take long to find out if a person is sound as to the doctrine of Christ – His deity, virgin birth, atoning death, resurrection, ascension, and His coming again…Two major cults in our day specialize in going door to door; the Mormons and the so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses. Both cults are heretical with regard to the person of Christ. “Meet them at the door,” John says, “don’t invite them in – you’ll find them hard to get rid of – plausible, persuasive, and persistent. Shut the door firmly in their faces.”
This of course is not talking about mere lost people who come to visit us, but people who are on a mission to spread a false gospel that denies the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.
2. Refuse to give a Handshake. 10b-11
If we encourage them in any way we are helping the devil do is work through them. Lets say I let one of them in and then as they go to my neighbor house and say, “Hello, I just came from your neighbor Johnny’s house. Isn’t he a great guy! We had a great talk and we would like to take a few minutes of your time to share something very important with you.”
“The form of “if” used assumes that this sentence is a statement of reality. False teachers actually were coming to this home, men who did not carry with them the genuine teaching of Christ. When this happened. John’s command was clear. Do not receive them! The present tense suggests that the lady may have been welcoming such people indiscriminately in the past, so John called on her to stop doing so. She was not to bring them into her home, and she was not to provide them with the hospitality and help that went with a formal greeting in that culture.” [CBL]
V. Last, a final Word. 12-13
Better to talk things out face to face then in a letter…
Con:
1. The next time a cult comes knocking on your door – maybe you should begin singing, “I hear you knocking…but you can’t come in!”
2. Chuck Smith gives some good sound advice:
“If there are those who deny the doctrine of Christ – that He is God and that He was manifested in the flesh – don’t invite them into your house. If they make Jesus out to be less then God, whether they contend He is “the Son of God” and not God Himself [as the Jehovah’s witnesses say] or whether they say He is the spirit brother to Lucifer [as the Mormons teach] don’t let them in. Don’t let them park in your front yard. And don’t let heretics into your house through the television set. Shut the door on false teachers!”
Johnny Palmer Jr.
www.strugglingthruscriptures.ning.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/profile.aspx?userurl=pastor-palmer
