July 30 Service
2 John 9-13
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister greet you.
John concludes this letter by providing the line in which truth gets distorted and becomes false teaching and ultimately heresy. The line we are to hold to is the teachings of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Anything added to or taken from this becomes a slippery slope. Even one degree off over a long period of time takes you widely off course. This is John’s warning to those who are a few degrees off and his exhortation to those who are trying to remain true. His message is to know the line and then abide there.
By adding or taking away from the teaching of Christ and His gospel (truth), we are saying in essence, that Jesus is not enough and therefore we need to add something to Him and what He taught. Or, we don’t see or know Him rightly and thus project or remove things about Him, forming our own image of who we want Him to be. Both lead us away. Both are what John describes as going on ahead and not abiding.
Abiding has to do with remaining, making your home in, settling into, and staying with. We are to do this kind of abiding in Christ and His teaching. Those who do are the one’s who know and grow with the God. Those who don’t, do not have God.
In John’s gospel and first letter he has worked hard to establish clearly who Jesus is, what He is like and what Jesus taught. John’s heart here is calling for everyone who claims Christ to know Him and abide in His teachings.
Reflection
Read Colossians 2:6-9 (same theme as John but from Paul to the Colossians)
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
Are you listening to teachings that are a few degrees off from Christ’s teaching and the gospel? What temptations do you have with this?
In what ways is Jesus not enough that you are adding to Him and His teachings?
In what ways do you NOT know Him rightly and are forming Him into your own idol?
How is God inviting you to abide in the teachings of Christ and steward your faithfulness to truth? What course correction is He asking you to make?
Prayer:
Jesus, give me an ever-increasing desire to hold fast to all that is true. May I never add to or take away from this. Protect me and give me discernment from false teaching. Give me courage to make my home in You and abide all my life in Your teachings despite the worlds deceptions and persecution against the truth. May I know deep fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Share what God has done in your heart this week with your community group and/or friends.
Grace and peace on this journey together,
Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Don Logan
1) Read 2 John 9-13. What does it mean to “go ahead and not abide in the teaching of Christ?” Have you ever done this?
2) What did Paul mean when he said to the church at Corinth that he had decided to “know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified?”
What are those two things?
3) Look over the early church heresies. Have you seen any of these in authors or podcasts? Has the church (global) adopted slight forms of these heresies in their teaching?
4) Do some of these seem such small differences that you wouldn’t call them heresies? Why are they more dangerous when they are close to the truth?
5) Why do you think Truth can become truly unloving, and why do you think it is truly unloving to not protect the Truth?
6) Prayer and praise