Sunday, December 8, 2013
pm
THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
2 John 9-11
As John writes to “the elect lady and her children” in 2 John
1 he warns her of deceivers and her need to walk according to the
commandments of Christ Jesus. (5-8) Following this, John writes a
statement I want to focus on this morning.
He said, “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.” (2 John 9)
a.
The word “doctrine” is a
word that means teachings.
It has to do with learning about some particular subject that we seek to
apply to our lives.
b.
There are actually 2
different views as to what this is and therein lies the challenge of
this text.
i.
Some believe it is
speaking of teaching about who Jesus was (i.e. about Him)
ii.
Others believe it is a
reference to the teachings that Jesus taught – if this be the case, it
would be His message to His apostles and disciples as well as their
teachings (i.e. the New Testament).
iii.
BOTH are true and needed
– that is, we need to study the life of Jesus as our example (1 Pet.
2:21, 1 John 2:6, 1 Cor. 11:1, Phil. 2:5, etc.).
But we also need to study His teachings and treat them as
necessary (2 John 6, 1 John 3:24, etc.).
iv.
HOW we view this has a
bearing on how we use this scripture.
There are some who insist that it is a reference to the teachings
about Jesus. Often, the goal
in such is to say that as long as we are in agreement as to who Jesus
is, then we can have fellowship with one another.
This is advancing the false doctrine of “unity-in-diversity”.
(NOTE: Even if this text were about the teachings of the life of
Jesus – their concept will not stand in light of the rest of scripture)
IF it has reference to the teachings of Jesus to His apostles,
disciples, and ultimately to us, then the warning of this text means
that we need to carefully weigh His words and live by them. And it will
affect how we associate with others, especially brethren, who are
teaching error.
v.
While the original
language does not clearly distinguish which meaning in intended in the
text (i.e. the word “of” could carry both meanings) there are distinct
reasons why I believe it ought to be the latter conclusion (teachings of
Jesus) and we will discuss that in this lesson.
c.
The teachings of Christ
i.
Contextually – (2 John)
1.
Vs. 1-2
– the truth is
to abide in us and be with us forever
2.
Vs. 4
– We are to be walking in this truth.
Would walking in Christ be merely believing that He exists or
being His disciple?
3.
Vs. 5 – it was “the
commandment” received from the Father – that we love one another (an
action).
4.
Vs. 6 John spoke of
walking “according to His
commandments” which would be the teachings of Jesus (and His
apostles).
5.
Then in vs. 7 he gave
the reason, because there are deceivers who pervert the teachings of the
person of Jesus. NOTE:
When we consider this could the expression include both?
I contend that IF one is teaching
the commandments of Jesus that would INCLUDE teachings about Him as well
(Jesus and others DID teach about believing in Him and what He did -
John 8:24 where Jesus did say unless you believe in Him you would die in
your sins, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, etc.).
To me that makes the most logical sense.
Especially when as you examine the rest of the New Testament you
NEVER find a passage advocating ONLY the belief in the person of Jesus
(to the exclusion of His teachings).
ii.
Furthermore, consider
other passages that use similar language (“doctrine of”) –
1.
Matt. 16:6, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Was the “leaven” teachings about the Pharisees or their doctrine?
2.
Acts 2:42, “They
continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine….”
3.
Col. 2:22, “ the
commandments and doctrines of men”
4.
1 Tim. 4:1, “giving heed
to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”
5.
Rev. 2:14,15 “the
doctrine of Balaam” and “the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.”
6.
From these examples, we
can see the consistent pattern of the New Testament
d.
The “doctrine
of Christ” includes:
i.
Believing in Him - “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does
not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on
him.”
ii.
Abiding in His teachings makes on His disciple – John 8:31-32,
“Then Jesus
said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are
My disciples indeed.
And you shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
iii.
Loving Him and keeping His
commandments,
John 14:15, ““If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 15:10 -
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I
have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
1 John 3:24
“Now he who
keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know
that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”
iv.
NOT abiding in darkness, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever
believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)
1 John 2:10, we “abide in the light.”
v.
Abiding IN Him – John 15:4-5,
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you
abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,
and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
vi.
The teachings of the apostles
–
1.
John 16:12-13 – Jesus
said the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth.
2.
They were inspired – 1
Cor. 2:10-13, 2 Tim. 3:16-17
3.
Their teachings was the
doctrine of Christ – 1 Cor. 14:37,
2 Tim. 1:13, 2 Peter 3:1, 1 Thess. 4:8, etc.
vii.
In all of this we can see that we CANNOT abide in Him without obeying Him.
Luke 6:46, ““But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do
the things which I say?”
a.
We must not transgress it – the word “transgress” means to go beyond or to pass beside.
The idea is to not stop at a set boundary or to bypass (ignore) it.
When it comes to the word of God, we CANNOT go beyond God’s
boundaries. Gal. 1:6-9
says that if one comes with a different gospel, he is to be accursed.
1 Cor. 4:6 tells us to not think beyond what is written.
Rev. 22:18-19 – do not add to or take away.
NOTE: Yes, the primary text is dealing with the prophecy of
Revelation, but would not the principle apply to all of God’s word? (2
Tim. 3:16-17, 2:15, etc.)
b.
We abide in it
– the word “abide” means to continue in an activity or condition.
It is actually a term associated with travel and means to stay or
remain (rather than being transient).
WE have already discussed what it means to abide in Jesus – it is to
keep His commandments.
John 14:23-24 says that if we love Jesus and keep His word that He and
the Father will come and make their home with us.
1 John 1:6-7 – we “walk in the light as He is in the light…”
1 John 2:3-6 – Knowing Him means we keep His commandments.
IF we abide in Him we ought to “walk just as He walked.”
And it is something we must continually do!
IT is a way of life for us – Luke 9:62, Heb. 10:38, “If anyone
draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
c.
We reject those who do not abide in it
– here is the application. If one is teaching error, whether dealing
with the nature of Christ OR His teachings, we are to reject him.
WE are to leave NO impression that we approve of error.
Eph. 5:3-7 – do not be deceived with empty words or partakers with them.
Vs. 11, “Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather expose them.”
2 Cor. 6:14-17 – do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
Again, Gal. 1:8-9 – let him be accursed.
Romans 16:17, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause
divisions and offenses, contrary
to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”
1 Tim. 6:3-5, “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to
wholesome words, even the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with
godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with
disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife,
reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds
and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of
gain. From such withdraw yourself.”
d.
Conversely, we will
accept those who DO dwell in the doctrine of Christ.
Galatians 2:7-9 – Fellowship was extended to Paul and Barnabas when they
determined that they were teaching the truth to the Gentiles (that it
was from God).
Friends, the point of this lesson is to emphasize the
importance of following God’s word.
There are many today who want to water it down and ignore those
parts of it that they don’t like.
We are facing a serious crisis in the Lord’s church where the
pattern of scripture is being dismantled and ignored.
Have no part with such – by either accepting the teaching itself
OR those who are teaching it.