DISCERN by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: Most people are very discerning as to who they allow into their personal space. There was a time when you could hitchhike but not anymore. When we are at a stoplight, we make sure our doors are locked. At home, we make sure our doors are locked. If someone knocks, we look through the peep hole first and then there’s the screen door with a lock on it. Now, they even have video doorbell cameras with motion alerts and facial recognition! Unfortunately, the one place we are the least discerning is in the area of our mind, what we believe, in doctrine. We allow anyone and everyone to speak into our lives. This is so critical in the age of social media where everyone with a voice is an expert and they have access to us. The Bible commands us to be discerning against false teachers and their doctrines. Failure to do so is to become a participant in their evil works. Today’s message is a stand-alone message from 2 John titled “DISCERN.”
2 John 7 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christas coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9 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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
Question: Who are listening to that you shouldn’t? Who has access to your mind? Are you abiding in the doctrine of Christ? Do you know Christ? Are you saved?
Context: 2 John, from which we just read, has only 200 Greek words, but it has much to say to us today. The writer, the apostle John, was warning the readers to be discerning as to who they let into their homes. Apparently, some so called “Christian teachers” were going from door to door preaching and teaching, but they did not share the same beliefs regarding the person and nature of Jesus Christ. John the elder was warning the Christians not to be gullible. Pay attention to what they are teaching. Recognize that they have an agenda, an ulterior motive. In fact, don’t even engage them. Refuse to let them inside your doors. Truth is vital. Truth is critical. Failure to stick to the truth is self-condemning. Guard your mind. Don’t overestimate your ability to recognize error.
Application: Do you guard your mind? Are you being misled, not just about the doctrine of Christ but other areas of Christian life? This is an important question in this era of social media. Are you letting anyone and everyone to speak into your life?
With that said, let’s get back to our message. To get at the seriousness of John’s warning to the readers against false teachers, we need to begin reading in verse 6 “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” Just like in our day and age, people have always had all kinds of definitions of love—Love is being there for someone no matter what. Love is mutual respect. Love is reaching our dreams together. There is some truth in all of them, but how does the Bible define love? Love is walking according to God’s commandments. In other words, love is obedience to the truth. If you say that you love God, then the question is—Are you obeying his truth? Failure or refusal to obey God is failure and refusal to love God. They go hand in hand. Verse 6 goes on to say, “…This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” What is “it?” The answer is found two verses earlier in verse 4 “I rejoiced greatly that I have foundsome of your children walking in truth…” So, listen again to verse 6, ““This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in the truth.” Here’s the point: Truth is not optional. Truth is essential. It is the verification of our love for God.
The question that follows is—“What is the truth?” We actually have to go to I Johnwhere John gives us the definition of truth in 3 points (Karen Jobes):
- The man Jesus is the Christ, God’s Anointed King.
- The Son of God has been incarnated as a human being.
- The death of the Son of God is the atonement for sin.
In other words, the truth that John is referring to is regarding the Identity of Jesus, Incarnation of Jesus, and the Atonement of Jesus—“Who he was, How he came, and What he did.”
Application: How seriously do you take this “truth?” Are you easily blown about by “every wind of doctrine?”
All this is not just chit chat. There is a serious situation at hand. Listen to verse 7 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” In other words, truth about Jesus Christ is under attack. Which truth specifically? The truth that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. “Come in the flesh” is much more than just how he was born, his incarnation; it also refers to his sacrificial death for the atonement of sin. Now, listen carefully to how he describes those who contradict this truth—“This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” People often ask me—“Do you think the Antichrist is alive today?” “Do you think that so and so is the Antichrist?” Listen carefully: The only person in the Bible who talks about the Antichrist by name is the apostle John and he only does that here and in I John. He doesn’t use that title in the Book of Revelation. What can we learn about the Antichrist from him? Listen to 1 John 2 18 “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” There are many antichrists and not just one. Maybe one big one in the end. Also, they’re not just in the future. They’re also here right now. 19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” They seem to be emerging out of the church. Their exiting is their unmasking. One more thing: 1 John 2 22 “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either…” In other words, the Antichrists deny the apostolic tradition regarding Christ.
Application: Do you know Christ? Are you connected to him? Are you listening to someone who could be Antichrist?
What is at stake in listening to the deceivers and Antichrists? 2 John 8 “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.” What is the “full reward?” That phrase is found several times in the New Testament. Here’s the most helpful one in Revelation 22 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. 14 Blessed arethose who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” The reward is eternal life itself! I know some will now wonder what that does to eternal security. I believe in it as well but this verse reminds as the truth is not something to play with if you want eternal life. If that’s not enough, here comes the next verse—9 “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.” Before we look at this carefully, this is the center of this letter. The Greek word behind “abide” is “meno,” which can be translated as “continue,” “remain,” or “wait for.” This is not some novel idea. Jesus said the same thing in John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
So what action can you take? 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him.” Hospitality was a big deal in that culture and still is in that part of the world. John goes a step further to say that even a “hello” should not happen. 11 “for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
Invitation: How seriously are you taking the truth about Christ? Are you walking in the truth? Are you remaining in the truth? Do you know Christ? Are you saved?
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