Week Ten: \u00a0Nov 13, 2011<\/p>\n
This week we finish the bulk of 2 John.<\/p>\n
Study<\/p>\n
8 \u2013 See1<\/sup> to it that you2<\/sup> don\u2019t destroy what we have3<\/sup> worked for, but that you4<\/sup> receive your5<\/sup> full reward.<\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is not talking about losing one\u2019s salvation for John is talking about a reward that we work for (\u03b5\u1f30\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1\u03c3\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b1 – eirgasametha).\u00a0 The background here is that God has set aside a reward for us, but our unfaithfulness could destroy it.\u00a0 This refers to loss of rewards that are earned, rather than loss of salvation which is by grace.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First and foremost when dealing with heresy, we must be careful that we don\u2019t fall into the deception. \u00a0\u00a0We should look to our own walk first.\u00a0\u00a0 As Jesus says in Luke 6:42, \u201cHow can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 9a \u2013 Everyone who does not remain true to the teaching of the Messiah,6<\/sup> but goes beyond it, does not have God.<\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Literally this says \u201cstay in the teaching\u201d<\/em><\/strong> where teaching is singular.\u00a0 Teaching here is synonymous with the truth referred to earlier.\u00a0\u00a0 It is the teaching of the Lord, transmitted by the apostles down to us.<\/p>\n but goes beyond it<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Literally but goes ahead of it.<\/em><\/strong> The picture here is that God has given us a place to be and we are not to go wandering off. \u00a0God has given us what we need to know.\u00a0 Trying to go beyond this can lead to error. \u00a0For example, the heresies surrounding the Trinity all stem from trying to make sense of the statements of scripture, to force them into something we can understand, instead of just taking them for what they say.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This may also be a sarcastic statement against the deceivers mentioned in verse 8.\u00a0 \u00a0Again a key aspect about Gnosticism and proto-Gnosticism was the belief in secret knowledge.\u00a0 Christianity is knowledge for everyone. Gnosticism is the secret knowledge only for the Gnostics. \u00a0Therefore, Gnostics could easily be seen as not remaining with the teaching of Jesus but going \u201cgoing ahead\u201d to the secret knowledge.<\/p>\n does not have God.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is not in a personal relationship with God. \u00a0\u00a0However, the focus here is not really on salvation, either having it or losing it.\u00a0 The focus is on whom you should trust for teaching. \u00a0If a person does not have God, we should not be looking to them for teachings.<\/p>\n 9b \u2013 The person who remains true to the teaching of the Messiah7<\/sup> has both the Father and the Son.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The one who stays with the teaching of Jesus, rather than going ahead of the teachings is the person that has the Father and the Son. \u00a0To have one is to have the other.\u00a0 This is the person you can trust.<\/p>\n 10*-11 \u2013 If anyone comes to you8<\/sup> but does not present this teachings,9<\/sup> do not receive10<\/sup> him into your house or even welcome11<\/sup> him, because the one who welcomes him shares in his evil deeds<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Verse 9 was the test we should use; now John gives us the application.<\/p>\n do not receive him into your house or even welcome him<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Does this mean only Christians should enter our homes?\u00a0 Here is a case where the historical context is important.\u00a0\u00a0 3 John 5-7 makes it clear the gospel was being spread through the efforts traveling missionaries. \u00a0These missionaries depended upon the support and hospitality of fellow Christians to do their work. \u00a0The core meaning here is that we should not to give aid and support to those spreading false teaching.\u00a0 When applying this verse, this is the key question we should ask.\u00a0 Are we giving aid and support?<\/p>\n Based on this, I do not believe this applies to non-Christians in a non-religious role.\u00a0 As Walter Martin once pointed out, it is ok to have a non-Christian plumber enter your house if your basement is flooding.<\/p>\n How does this apply to missionaries such as Mormons and Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses, who come to your house, should you invite them into your home?\u00a0 Again the key question applies; are you supporting their efforts by your actions?\u00a0\u00a0 I do not believe you are for two reasons.\u00a0 First you can challenge them in truth and love and in the process share the Gospel with them.\u00a0 Secondly, while they are with you, they are no out spreading their errors to others.\u00a0 So by inviting them in, you are actually inhibiting their efforts to get converts.\u00a0 This, of course, assumes, you are grounded enough in the teaching of the Bible not to be deceived yourselves.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Another question is what about Christians who have different beliefs than we do?\u00a0 What are the core teachings on which we should break fellowship? Different views of the millennium? Different views of rapture? Different views of Salvation? Election? Can you lose salvation? Different understandings of Genesis?\u00a0 Inerrancy? \u00a0Where do we draw the line?<\/p>\n This is where John\u2019s test is important.\u00a0 What do they say about Jesus and how is their walk with the Lord?\u00a0 With all of the issues just listed, there are Christians on both sides of the issue who would still agree about Jesus and whose walk with Lord is good.\u00a0 This should be our primary focus.<\/p>\n because the one who welcomes him shares in his evil deeds<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Literally:\u00a0 the one speaking a greeting to him. \u00a0The concept here is of giving encouragement. To support evil is to do evil.\u00a0 The concept here is the flip side of the point made in 3 John 8 \u201cTherefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become fellow workers with them.\u201d<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The key point here is that we must be careful whom we support. \u00a0In a modern time this will largely be concerned with what charities do we give money to?\u00a0 What do they do with that money?<\/p>\n Questions and Discussion.<\/strong><\/p>\n A of lot of the discussion this week centered on verse 10-11, and was summarized in the verse above. The rest centered on what constitutes \u201cgoing beyond\u201d the teaching of Jesus.\u00a0 Does, for example, liberation theology go beyond?\u00a0\u00a0 Liberation theology is a blend of the Gospel interpreted into Marxist ideology.\u00a0\u00a0 For example, the fact that there was no room at the inn for Joseph and Mary is interpreted in term of class struggle with them being homeless, and exploited by wealth elites.\u00a0 This is going beyond what the gospel teachings.\u00a0 From this we started to discuss what our duty to the poor is. Finally we spend some time discussing how to deal with Mormons and Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses.<\/p>\n Next week we will continue in 2 John 8<\/p>\n If you have question or comments about the class, feel free to send me an email at\u00a0elgin@hushbeck.com<\/a> and be sure to put \u201cEpistles of John\u201d in the header.<\/p>\n See here for references and more background on the class<\/a>.<\/p>\n