2 John reminds me of my grandmother. I was one of her younger grandkids, so she was in her 80’s by the time I was able to communicate. My recollection is that her priorities for me were narrow. Age and perspective tend to separate the important from the unnecessary. Today’s lesson is about fundamental truths. The apostle John was near 90 when this letter was written. He introduces himself as “The elder”. That title carried immense respect. He writes to “the lady chosen by God and to her children.” Although this could represent a church; I prefer to believe he is writing to a faithful follower of Christ, introduced through her believing children. Of her children, John writes: “whom I love in the truth.” Today, people argue that the truth is subjective, your truth may be different from my truth. The word used represents “being free from deceit”. He adds that this truth “will be with us forever” because God does not change. 1500 years earlier Moses wrote: “The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished” (Numbers 14:18). Therefore, sin separates us from God. This is the human dilemma. John does not debate which sin is worse. He proclaims that “Grace, mercy and peace” come “from God the Father and from Jesus Christ.” Forgiveness is assured to all who acknowledge that Christ took the punishment for their sin. Jesus is our forgiveness and our hope for eternity.
John notes that it is his great joy to see “some of your children walking in the truth.” That means there is something observable in their behavior. The Elder continues: “I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.” John could have given a list of do’s and don’ts. But he focused on the most important thing. Demonstrating my righteousness is not the priority. Self-righteousness can lead to judging others as less worthy. Instead, John says: “This is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands… His command is that you walk in love.” Love does not embrace sin as a satisfactory option; sin always degrades. Love understands sin is the nature of the flesh. Walking in love means we honor God, and we trust that God’s grace and patience will lead to repentance. Our life is to be a lighthouse of hope that points the way to Christ.
The chapter closes with warning that evil continuously seeks subtle compromise. Deception offers cheap imitations. John writes: “many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” have gone out into the world. This is John’s unyielding truth: anyone that denies the birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection “is the deceiver.” John stands on this priority because, if Jesus was not born in the flesh, there is no gospel; and we are all dead in our sin. The two most common errors we make are adding to the gospel and taking away from it. Jesus is the Messiah, and I am the product of His completed work. John adds: “Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for.” Perhaps this refers to arguing over non-essentials? All have sinned. Jesus is fully man and fully God. He alone is able to save. We receive His forgiveness through faith. There is only perfection or sin. We can choose to trust in His sacrifice, or in our own righteousness. John says: “continue in the teaching of Christ.” Jesus did not condemn; He taught, He healed, He forgave, and He set captives free. Jesus said: “Now go and sin no more (John 8:11).” Believers are expected to live as a new creation in unity with the Spirit. John notes that supporting anyone who adds to the fundamental gospel of restoration “shares in their wicked work.” Every single person needs to know that we have hope because Jesus came in the flesh. Friend, what gospel do you teach?