The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
December 6
Commentary by Nick Boork
December 6
December 6 ~ 2 John 1:1-13
Greeting the Elect Lady 1 The 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, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, 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.
Walk in Christ’s Commandments 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And 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. 6 This 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.
Beware of Antichrist Deceivers 7 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.
Okay here’s my commentary
The apostle John writes to a person he refers to as the Elect Lady. Some interpret this as being the bride of Christ but my opinion is that this woman is a spiritual leader responsible for a group of Christians. John had recently made a visit and ministered to these believers and for this reason he was writing a follow-up letter in which he expresses his excitement of finding several of those in this group walking in the truth. It’s very encouraging for ministers of the Gospel to know that God has used them in a significant way to lead people to faith in Christ and spiritual growth.
John reminds them that the most important commandment is to love one another. Jesus told his apostles that everyone would recognize they belonged to Christ because of the abundant love they had for one another. This is even more important for us today because we are living in the last days. Jesus told us that the love of many would grow cold just before his return to earth. I believe that the most vital spiritual element in local churches is the love of God! Is correct doctrine important? Absolutely, but the Bible says God is love. What do people feel when they come to your church? Do they sense Love and acceptance or do they feel like they just entered into a cold walk-in freezer by the lack of love and coldness of the people?
John also warns them about false prophets and deceivers. How can you tell the difference between true and false religions? One obvious distinction is that false religions do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God having come from heaven to earth being incarnated in the flesh. In other words, they do not believe that God became man through Jesus Christ.
John writes to be careful not to lose what they had worked for in order to receive a full reward. What is he talking about? Souls! Young Christians are primary targets in spiritual warfare. Every believer needs to become rooted and grounded in who they are in Jesus Christ through the word of God. This way, they’re able to resist the attacks of the devil, especially in the area of who Jesus Christ is. Jesus said; upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Jesus was talking about the revelation knowledge that Peter had received from the Father that Jesus was in fact the Son of the living God not just a good teacher or prophet.
Today, we have Islam proclaiming that they are the authoritative voice of God but according to the Holy Scriptures they qualify as a false Antichrist religion because they do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. It’s amazing that some people that are not rooted and grounded in the truth and have been brought up with a Christian heritage actually end up being converted to become Muslims. The apostle John warns us in verse 9 that if anyone lives in sin and does not allow the teachings and words of Jesus Christ to transform their lives that they really do not have God. We have great assurance that if we choose to live in Christ and his words we have the promise that we have the Father and the Son of God in our lives.
Finally, John also writes that Christians should not invite those of other religions into their homes or wish them well. This sounds kind of harsh but it’s a caution to guard against false religious people and members of cults. Remember, if they do not confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world then they are under another spirit and according to the Bible it is the spirit of the Antichrist which will only seek to turn believers away from following Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus Christ himself said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me.
What's the bottom line?
1) The apostle John wrote to a woman minister responsible for a group of Believers.
2) Loving God and people is the highest commandment.
3) The spirit of antichrist is in the world and must be resisted.
4) False world religions and cults do not confess Jesus as the divine Son of God having come in the flesh.
5) Living in the doctrine or teaching of Jesus will set us free from sin and we can be confident according to the promise of God’s word that we have both the Father and the Son living in us.
Greeting the Elect Lady 1 The 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, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, 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.
Walk in Christ’s Commandments 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And 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. 6 This 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.
Beware of Antichrist Deceivers 7 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.
Okay here’s my commentary
The apostle John writes to a person he refers to as the Elect Lady. Some interpret this as being the bride of Christ but my opinion is that this woman is a spiritual leader responsible for a group of Christians. John had recently made a visit and ministered to these believers and for this reason he was writing a follow-up letter in which he expresses his excitement of finding several of those in this group walking in the truth. It’s very encouraging for ministers of the Gospel to know that God has used them in a significant way to lead people to faith in Christ and spiritual growth.
John reminds them that the most important commandment is to love one another. Jesus told his apostles that everyone would recognize they belonged to Christ because of the abundant love they had for one another. This is even more important for us today because we are living in the last days. Jesus told us that the love of many would grow cold just before his return to earth. I believe that the most vital spiritual element in local churches is the love of God! Is correct doctrine important? Absolutely, but the Bible says God is love. What do people feel when they come to your church? Do they sense Love and acceptance or do they feel like they just entered into a cold walk-in freezer by the lack of love and coldness of the people?
John also warns them about false prophets and deceivers. How can you tell the difference between true and false religions? One obvious distinction is that false religions do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God having come from heaven to earth being incarnated in the flesh. In other words, they do not believe that God became man through Jesus Christ.
John writes to be careful not to lose what they had worked for in order to receive a full reward. What is he talking about? Souls! Young Christians are primary targets in spiritual warfare. Every believer needs to become rooted and grounded in who they are in Jesus Christ through the word of God. This way, they’re able to resist the attacks of the devil, especially in the area of who Jesus Christ is. Jesus said; upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Jesus was talking about the revelation knowledge that Peter had received from the Father that Jesus was in fact the Son of the living God not just a good teacher or prophet.
Today, we have Islam proclaiming that they are the authoritative voice of God but according to the Holy Scriptures they qualify as a false Antichrist religion because they do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. It’s amazing that some people that are not rooted and grounded in the truth and have been brought up with a Christian heritage actually end up being converted to become Muslims. The apostle John warns us in verse 9 that if anyone lives in sin and does not allow the teachings and words of Jesus Christ to transform their lives that they really do not have God. We have great assurance that if we choose to live in Christ and his words we have the promise that we have the Father and the Son of God in our lives.
Finally, John also writes that Christians should not invite those of other religions into their homes or wish them well. This sounds kind of harsh but it’s a caution to guard against false religious people and members of cults. Remember, if they do not confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world then they are under another spirit and according to the Bible it is the spirit of the Antichrist which will only seek to turn believers away from following Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus Christ himself said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me.
What's the bottom line?
1) The apostle John wrote to a woman minister responsible for a group of Believers.
2) Loving God and people is the highest commandment.
3) The spirit of antichrist is in the world and must be resisted.
4) False world religions and cults do not confess Jesus as the divine Son of God having come in the flesh.
5) Living in the doctrine or teaching of Jesus will set us free from sin and we can be confident according to the promise of God’s word that we have both the Father and the Son living in us.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
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