And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments…For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
2 John
Throughout church history, attacks upon the church, its doctrines and, Christianity itself have waged war upon the body of Christ. It began even during the ministries of the Apostles and is given to us in the Holy Scriptures written by them under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. In nineteenth century America, liberal scholarship gained ascendancy in mainline American seminaries and universities with many denominations embracing the anti-supernatural biases of the Enlightenment period of the previous century. In the early 1900’s, it became increasingly common for ministers within many denominations to deny major doctrines of the faith. There were champions of biblical orthodoxy, such as J. Gresham Machen, who vigorously protested these trends and eventually left the unorthodox denomination when it became clear that its direction away from the apostolic faith would not turn. When Machen and others like him throughout church history stood firm for the essential truths of the faith, they were heeding the teaching of the apostle John in today’s passage. We read, in verses 10-11, “…do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting…for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” Those who do not bring a certain teaching with them are not to be greeted or extended any credence for to do so would be to take “part in his (their) ‘wicked works.’” Verses 7–9 clearly state John is referring to the incarnation of the Son of God in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. Those teachers who deny the incarnation are not to be given even the time of day. And, there are those who, today, deny the deity of Christ. Just as those who deny the incarnation is the specific doctrine in view here, we must likewise be careful not to sanction false teachers who oppose any apostolic doctrines of the faith. Now, John is not forbidding contact with non-believers in general or prohibiting attempts to persuade false teachers of their errors. John is writing to believers in the Gospel; thus, John is prohibiting them from giving official sanction to those who deny the faith. He is forbidding members from providing for those who claim to be teachers but reveal themselves to be false believers by what they teach.Christian teachers are obligated to confront false doctrine and must not allow it to be advocated by church leaders. Teachers who deny apostolic teaching are never to be given any credence at all. True Christians will know such false teachers/preachers because they know the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Are you, O Christian, reading the Holy Bible regularly, understanding it teachings and, knowing what is being taught to you by another is true and righteous? If not, you may unwittingly be supporting the work of false teachers! Take some time today to look at your church’s beliefs and doctrines and your own beliefs to be sure you are not giving to those who oppose the Gospel.
Source: S C Ball October 15, 2023
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