Watchout For Deceivers

                                      Sunday School Lesson
                                            

Lesson: II John 1:1-13                                                                                                  
Golden Text: “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (II John 1:8).
I.  INTRODUCTION.  The book of Second John warns against showing hospitality to those who were false teachers.  A believer’s loyalty to Christ’s truth could be seen by refusing to cooperate with anyone who promotes error.  This week’s lesson reminds us that we need to be cautious about deceivers especially those who lead people away from God’s truth.  We must evaluate teachers only by the truth of God’s Word.
II. JOHN’S GREETING (II John 1:1-3)
A. The bond of truth (II John 1:1-2).
1. (vs. 1).  Our first verse says “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.”  The apostle John introduces himself to his readers both here and in III John as “The elder.”  Some have suggested that the writer of both II John and III John was a certain John the elder and not John the apostle.  However, comparing these epistles with I John and John’s Gospel makes it clear that the same person wrote all of these books.  That John would call Himself an elder is not unusual for two reasons.  First, he was very old at this time, which is one meaning of the word “elder” in the New Testament (see I timothy 5:1).  Second, as a church leader he could appropriately be called an elder, just as Peter was (see I Peter 5:1).  We should also be mindful that in a personal letter like this one, it doesn’t seem out of place for a man of John’s age and spiritual leadership to refer to himself as an elder.  John addressed this letter to “the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth.”  A number of views have been expressed as to who these persons were.  Some believe that “the elect lady” refers to a church and that “her children” were the individual members.  Others see “the elect lady” as simply an unnamed Christian lady and “her children” as members of her family.  Both of these explanations have some merit, so it’s impossible to say that either one is wrong.  But whoever the recipients of this letter were, John affirmed his genuine love for them with the words “whom I love in the truth.”  In other words, John loved them “in truth” or “sincerely.”   There was no hypocrisy in his love for these believers.  Not only did John love them, but He said that they were also loved by “all they that have known the truth.”  They were all bonded by “the truth” which here refers to the revealed truth of God, especially regarding Jesus Christ (see John 14:6).  Note:  Christian love is based on God’s truth revealed in Christ.  Without His gospel, there can be no love, for it is through receiving Christ that God’s love is implanted in us (see I John 4:15-17; 5:1).  Since all believers are bonded by “the truth” who is Jesus Christ, not only did John love his readers, but so did every believer who had come to know “the truth,” Jesus Christ.
2. (vs. 2).  John continues to say in this verse “For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.”  The phrase “For the truth's sake” simply means because of the truth.  Love existed among these believers because God’s truth was dwelling in them and would remain with them forever.  False teachers and heretical fads will change, but truth will remain.  The believer’s love endures because the truth endures and never will never change.  A unity had been established between John and his readers because they shared a common adherence to correct teaching and consistent living.
B. The blessings of God (II John 1:3).  In this verse John says “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.”  This greeting of “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace” was not a wish or a prayer, but a confident declaration of blessings.  Literally, the Greek says “There shall be with us grace, mercy, peace.”  The term “grace” is God’s undeserved favor that He freely gives.  “Mercy” is God’s compassion that He shows to those who are miserable and helpless.  “Peace” is the harmony we have with God, ourselves and others.  Notice the order in which these three comforting words occur.  God’s grace comes before His mercy.  God’s peace is extended to those who have experienced His grace and mercy.  John continued to say that these blessings come “from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father.”  John stressed the fact that whatever blessings come from the Father also come from the Son.  To receive these blessings, one must acknowledge both the Son and the Father.  False teaching reduced Jesus to less than divine, but John’s unique reference to Christ as “the Son of the Father” reflects his constant emphasis on Jesus’ divine son-ship (see I John 4:1-3; II John 1:7).  Finally in this verse, John tells us that the manner in which God gives His blessings is “in truth and love.”  These words express aspects of God’s nature as well as describing how we as His redeemed people should deal with others.   

III. JOHN’S EXHORTATION (II John 1:4-6) 

A. A commendation for walking in truth (II John 1:4).  In this verse John writes “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.”  John was greatly overjoyed that he “found of thy children walking in truth.”  The word “found” indicates that John had met these believers somewhere during his ministry and he was glad to see them “walking in truth.”  For sure, “truth” here refers to God’s revealed truth in Scripture and in Christ.  However, since it is not preceded by the definite article as in “the truth,” the meaning could simply be sincerity and faithfulness.  Depending on one’s interpretation, these “children” were the offspring of the lady addressed in the greeting, or they are individual members of a church (see the commentary above for II John 1:1).  The word “walking” is in the present tense indicating a habitual pattern.  The phrase “walking in truth” means to live daily in faithfulness to God’s revealed truth in Scripture.  It includes being faithful or committed to sound doctrine and obedience in conduct.  This is not optional because John said that we walk in truth “as we have received a commandment from the Father.”  In other words, we are faithful to sound doctrine and obedient conduct because we have been commanded by the Father to be so.  God expects us to “walk in truth,” therefore it’s not optional! 
B. A call to walk in love (II John 1:5-6).
1. (vs. 5).  John continues to say “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.”  John gently urged the practice of love saying “And now I beseech thee, lady.”  The word “beseech” means to beg or to plead.  As an apostle, he had full authority to command; yet he chose to plead.  Here is an example for us.  When correcting errors of fellow believers, tenderness should be the rule (see II Timothy 2:24-26).  Note:  Since John used the term “lady” here, some think that he was actually writing a personal letter to a Christian woman.  However, more likely “lady” refers to the church.  Elsewhere in the New Testament, the church is depicted as the bride of Christ (see Romans 7:4; II Corinthians11:2; Ephesians 5:22-33).  Likewise, the Old Testament frequently pictures God as married to the nation of Israel (see Isaiah 54:6; Jeremiah 3:14; Hosea 2:19).  In his plea for love, John said that he was not writing concerning “a new commandment.”  Though it was once a “new commandment” (see John 13:34), it is no longer new to those who know the Lord Jesus as Saviour.  John said that this commandment about love was not new because it was “that which we had from the beginning.”  The word “beginning” doesn’t mean the beginning of the world, but to the beginning of the gospel being announced to the world by the Lord Jesus Himself (see Mark 1:1).  John was simply reminding these believers of the commandment of Christ that “we love one another.”  By using the word “we” in this verse, John made sure to include himself as subject to the same commandment.  Here again John is an example for us.  We should always place ourselves under the authority of God’s Word before instructing or correcting others.  This is what sets Christians apart and identifies us as true disciples of the Lord (see John 13:35).  Note:  Love is the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22), the crowning virtue in Christian growth (see II Peter 1:5-7), the greatest gift (see I Corinthians 13:1-3), the fulfillment of the law (see Romans 13:10), and the one virtue that binds everything together in perfect unity (see Colossians 3:14).  When God’s love becomes part of our lives because we possess His Spirit, it produces a proper response to both God and man.  Therefore, will fulfill Christ’s commands (see Romans 13:8-10), one of which is love.
2. (vs. 6).  In this verse John defined genuine love, writing “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.”  While love may be expressed in any number of ways, John emphasized that true Christian love is shown when as “we walk after his commandments.”  No one can say that he loves God and then deliberately disobey Him.  Just as Jesus was obedient to the Father’s will, so we must be obedient children of our Father (see Hebrews 5:8-9).  John then repeats that his readers have heard this commandment since the beginning of their salvation.  Therefore, they “should walk in it.”  The word “it” could refer to either “commandment” or “love.”  However, “love” seems better because it is the content of the command.  To walk in love is to display it daily as a habit of life.        
IV. JOHN’S WARNING (II John 1:7-11)

A.  Being aware of deceivers (II John 1:7-8). 

1. (vs. 7).  John goes on to say in this verse “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.”  The word “For” connects this verse with John’s exhortation to love in the previous verse.  Christian love is essential in times of false teachings mainly because it keeps us bound together in the faith and therefore unlikely to be deceived by falsehoods or error.  In describing false teachers, John said “many deceivers are entered into the world.”  The word “deceivers” indicates an impostor or seducer.  These false teachers were those “who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.  Popular false teaching in John’s day denied the incarnation of Christ (see I John 4:1-3), either by claiming that His physical body was not real or by saying He was a mere man only connected to a divine spirit temporarily.  Note:  The false teachers John referred to denied an essential truth of the Christian faith: “that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.”  Apparently these heretics claimed to accept the temporary divinity of Christ but rejected His humanity.  For the Lord Jesus to accomplish our redemption, it was necessary for Him to be fully human and fully divine.  While the mystery of the incarnation cannot be fully understood by our finite human minds, nevertheless it is taught in Scripture and must be accepted by all true Christians (see John 1:1-14; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 2:9).  In the last part of this verse, John says that anyone who rejects the incarnation of Christ is both “a deceiver and an antichrist.”  Although the concept of the antichrist is frequently identified with the beast out of the sea in Revelation chapter 13 and Paul’s “man of sin” in II Thessalonians 2:3, the actual word “antichrist” appears only in I and II John.  In this verse John uses it to refer to the false teachers of his day of which he said there were “many” (see I John 2:18; 2:22; 4:3).  “Antichrist” can mean either “against Christ” or “instead of Christ” or perhaps combining both definitions to mean “one who assumes the identity of Christ, while opposing Christ.”
2. (vs. 8).  John continues to exhort his readers in this verse to “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”  The words “Look to yourselves” can be rendered as “beware” or “watch out.”  John was reminding them to be on guard against false teachers so “that we lose not those things which we have wrought.”   The words “those things” refer to rewards that the believer could lose by following false teachers.  The word “wrought” means “labored” or “worked for.”  John was saying that his readers needed to guard against false teachers or their labors or works would be in vain and whatever spiritual progress they had made would be lost (see Galatians 2:2; 3:4; 4:11; Philippians 2:16) along with their rewards.  The danger they faced in being led astray by false teachers was not loss of salvation, but loss of rewards (see I Corinthians 3:13-15).  However, on the other hand, if he and his readers remained faithful to the Lord and His teachings John said “we receive a full reward.”  To be rewarded fully does not refer to salvation because salvation is free and no human labor or works are required (see Ephesians 2:8-10).  It refers to the rewards for loyal service to the Lord.  As before, John used the word “we” to indicate that he included himself in this warning.  Note:  God in the New Testament Scriptures offers salvation to the lost and He offers rewards for faithful service to the saved.  These Scripture passages are easily distinguished by remembering that salvation is spoken of as a free gift (see John 4:10; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9), whereas rewards are called crowns and are earned by our works or good deeds (see Matthew 10:42; Luke 19:17; I Corinthians 9:24-25; II Timothy 4:7-8; Revelation 2:10; 22:12).  A further distinction between salvation and rewards is that believers have salvation now (see Luke 7:50; John 3:36; 5:24; 6:47), whereas we will receive our rewards in the future at the rapture (see II Corinthians 5:10; II Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:12).  
B. Identifying deceivers (II John 1:9).  In this verse, John goes on to write that “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.”  Here the apostle revealed the spiritual difference between false and true teachers.  First, he warned his readers that those who “transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.”  The Greek word translated “transgresseth” means “to go beyond” or “to go ahead of” and referred to anyone who goes beyond apostolic teaching.  Deceivers like the Gnostics, who taught that knowledge was the way to salvation, claimed to have new revelations that would give believers superior knowledge.  However, they had gone beyond God’s message into heresy (an opinion or belief contrary to the established doctrines of a church or religious system).  John said that the transgressors or false teachers “abideth not in the doctrine of Christ.” The word “doctrine” means teachings.  In the context of this letter, “the doctrine of Christ” seems to refer to convictions we hold about both Christ’s teaching and the apostles’ teaching about Him, especially belief in the incarnation.  John said that those who didn’t believe the doctrine or teachings of Christ “hath not God.”  To reject what the Scriptures say about Christ is to reject God Himself.  Since there is an essential unity between the Father and the Son (see John 10:30), we can’t have one without the other.  In contrast to the false teachers, John said “He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”  Unlike the false teachers who abandoned Christ’s and the apostles’ teachings, whoever continued in those teachings has or is indwelt by “both the Father and the Son” (see I John 2:22-23).  Every religion that rejects God’s revelation of Himself in Christ Jesus is false (see John 10:30; 14:6).
C. Dealing with deceivers (II John 1:10-11).
1. (vs. 10).  Now John says “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.”  In a day when Christian preachers and teachers traveled from church to church, John’s readers were sure to come across them.  So John commanded his readers saying “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house.”  The word “if” in the Greek is so certain that it could read “when.”  John’s instructions are very clear.  If the teacher didn’t teach those things verified by Scripture, John told his readers to “receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.”  To “receive” someone means to show hospitality by providing food and lodging.  The words “God speed” was a way to wish a person well whether they were coming or going.  John was saying that believers were not to invite false teachers into their homes or wish them well when they left.  Note:  John was not saying that Christians couldn’t entertain unbelievers in their homes, or even Christians who interpret Scripture differently than we do.  His words apply only to those who qualify as deceivers and antichrists---individuals who promote teachings that slander and defame Christ leaving out the heart of the gospel.  Anyone who spreads anti-Christian teaching should not be given support or encouragement in our homes and churches.  Far too often, Christians make small compromises in order not to offend people mistakenly thinking that it will open the door to greater opportunities.  Yet, we can never sacrifice the truth in all its fullness for the sake of harmony and not making waves.
2. (vs. 11).  John continues to write in this verse “For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”  Continuing what he began saying in verse 10, the apostle declared that whoever “biddeth” or wishes a false teacher “God speed” or best wishes was a “partaker” or shared in the evil person’s deeds.  Whoever actively spreads error concerning Christ is committing “evil deeds,” deeds devoted to corrupting others.  To encourage such a person in any way is to share in his or her evil.  Note:  This is a serious charge and it should cause every Christian to study Scripture carefully and pray for discernment to be able to recognize error when we see it.  All of us need divine wisdom to know whom we can welcome into our homes and pulpits.  Inviting false teachers into our homes and pulpits show that we approve of what they say and do.  It may seem rude to turn people away who are teaching error, but how much better it is to be faithful to God than to be courteous to people who are trying to deceive us!  John is condemning the support of those who are dedicated to opposing the true teachings of God.  He’s not condemning hospitality to unbelievers who God may have sent our way so that we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.     
V. JOHN CONCLUDES HIS LETTER (II John 1:12-13) 

A. John anticipates fellowship with these believers (II John 1:12).  In this verse John says “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.”  With the phrase “Having many things to write unto you” John was saying that he still had much more to write to his fellow believers.  In this short letter, it appears that he only touched on the most urgent matters.  He said “I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face.”  In other words, John preferred not to write the rest of what he had to say with “paper and ink,” but he would wait until he came to visit them personally.  This is the only time the word “paper” appears in the New Testament and it refers to papyrus sheets made from the papyrus plant.  “Ink” was usually made from powdered charcoal, lampblack, or a mixture of soot and water, and sometimes tree resin.  As John wrote, he was anticipating a visit to these saints.  The phrase “speak face to face” literally means “mouth to mouth.”  John said that he wanted to communicate with them this way so that “our joy may be full.”  In other words, speaking to them in person would be far more satisfying for both him and them.

B. John’s final greetings (II John 1:13).  In our final verse John says “The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.”  The apostle closed this letter with a greeting from “The children of thy elect sister.”  The “elect sister” most likely refers to a “sister church.”  If this is true, “the children” would be the members of that church.  This gives us a glimpse of fellowship that took place between congregations in apostolic times, the latter half of the first century A.D.  The term “Amen” literally means “so be it.”  It’s a solemn word used to confirm a statement, an oath, or a covenant (see Numbers 5:22; Deuteronomy 27:15-12; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6).  It’s also used in worship to affirm an address, psalm, or prayer (see Psalms 41:13; 72:19; Jeremiah 28:6; Matthew 6:9-13).  Note:  In Isaiah 65:16, the Lord is called “the God of truth.”  The original Hebrew means “the God of Amen.”  This was Isaiah’s way of saying that the Lord is the One who remains eternally true, the One who can always be relied on.  In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ is given the same title: “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness” (see Revelation 3:14).  He too, like the Father is eternally true and reliable.
                                  
VI. Conclusion.  This week’s lesson presents us with some self-examining questions.  Do we know enough about God’s Word to recognize false teachers and their teaching, particularly what it teaches concerning Christ?  This knowledge only comes as a result of diligent study of Scripture (see II Timothy 2:15-18).  When we identify false teachers and false teaching are we bold enough to stand firmly on God’s Word of truth?  Remember, God will reward us as we serve Him faithfully.