1, 2, and 3 John
Lesson Seven

2nd John

Greeting

2Jn 1:1  The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 
2Jn 1:2  For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 
2Jn 1:3  Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Walking in Truth and Love

2Jn 1:4  I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 
2Jn 1:5  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 
2Jn 1:6  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

John speaks a lot about “truth”, “love”, and “commandment”.  These are all referring to the same things...Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is God, and God is love (1 John 4:8), therefore Jesus Christ is Love.  He is also “truth”, (John 14:6), and He is also the word of God, (John 1) which refers to the commandments as well as the rest of the word.

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Again he brings up antichrist, and connects this term to a spirit of rejection of Jesus Christ, NOT someone who is yet to come.  “confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” means more then what most people think. It does not simply mean that they reject there was a man who once walked the earth named Jesus.  It refers to rejecting that Jesus IS God Himself, that God literally came to earth in human form, and that He is the Messiah, the saviour of the World. So “antichristr” is anyone who rejects that Jesus is God Himself, or rejects that God literally came to earth in human form, or who rejects that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah.  Many (if not most) religious denominations fall into one or more of these categories either directly, or indirectly.

2Jn 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

“Look to yourselves”, simply means examine your beliefs and make sure they line up with God's Word, not mans teachings.

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 
2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

This is a hard truth, but one we should all learn.  Saying “God bless you”, or “God be with you”, or other such statements to a person who is not following the Biblical doctrines of Christ is the same as partaking in their evil (antichrist) life.  Never invoke a blessing upon some one in God's name who you do not know is a Child of God.  And, we should not receive them into our homes either.

Final Greetings

2Jn 1:12  Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 
2Jn 1:13  The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.