2Jn 1:1 -8 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; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 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. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 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. 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. 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. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
The Elder, I believe is John. He is the Circuit Apostle to the Churches as seen in the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches. [I use the word circuit because of his travel to all seven] [The number seven in the Bible represents divine perfection, totality or completion and is mentioned at least 490 times.] I believe the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches speaks to the Body of Christ, the Church. I think the elect lady and her children is the church. If the elect lady is a person, then why only the children of her sister send their greeting. The children of the elect sister are the member of the church from where John is writing the letter.
V8 – 11 is a warning about false doctrine and the destruction it brings when received: 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 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.
There is a difference between Everlasting Life and Eternal Life. Everlasting Life has a beginning but no ending. Eternal Life has neither a beginning nor an ending. Everlasting life is given to the believer who simply believes in Jesus for salvation. Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Eternal Life is the Gift of God to the believer, Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. “Seed” An offspring of God = You have been born of God, Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
The Believer becomes part of The LORD’s Eternal Plan
When you were saved, you have both everlasting life and eternal life. Eternal life is His seed that remains in you and because of that we become a part of His eternal plan. In our physical life, we live in an unredeemed body, and we sin but this new man did not sin. We are to be victorious in our life by living after the new man, Eph_4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.Col_3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
In the journey of the children of Israel they fought literal fortified cities like Jericho and Ai; we fight fortified cities in the mind, 2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, 1Ti_6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Since the believer already possess eternal life, he is talking about finishing your race that you might store up 1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. The time to come is eternity - Lay hold means to receive from that foundation you have laid up.
“Fight the good fight of faith”. And every believer needs to be in this fight. In the beginning satan method was to attack the Word of God, and it is always with deception in twisting or adding to change the meaning. God spoke of spiritual death satan presented physical but as in sin both died. And Adam and Eve not only needing saving for eternal salvation; their entire physical life changed and not for the good. And so, today your physical life is affected by your fellowship with the LORD. If you are out of fellowship with Christ, you suffer physically and spiritualty, 1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1Co 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world
Today, satan attacks the Word of God, because the Word has power [Heb.4:12]. It is used in cleansing our life, Eph. 5:26-27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Jesus said if I wash thee not you have not part with me, John 13:7-10. Joh 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Joh 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Joh 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
We are motivated by the approaching day, Heb 10:25, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
V26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. If the truth does not affect you there is no other message, no other Saviour, no other sacrifice/
The time is now! the birth pains will get worse, Matt 24: 4-8, What birth pains? The birth pains of the rapture, the tribulation, The day of the LORD, the coming Kingdom
1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Why is how you finish you race so important? Answer: If it is not important then perseverance, overcoming has no meaning. To every church in the Seven Letters there is a promise to the Overcomer, even to Laodicea. If you go into eternity by the rapture or by death it is important to be following Christ, Mar 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Mar 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Mar 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Mar 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
This race is conducted in the arena of life. The race that is set before us has a beginning point and a finish line. You can safely conclude we are supposed to cross the finish line. Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. The believer is to be faithful all the way to the time of death or the rapture.
There is a word of encouragement here. And I am going to use Laodice as an example. I believe we are living in the time of Laodice, Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. The word sup is a word of fellowship. This is an exhortation to the saved, the believer to continue in faithfulness, Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them, =the reward in the kingdom.
V21, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne, v21 gives insight to V20 The overcomer is the one who hears His voice and opens the door of obedience to Christ by taking up his cross and following Christ. The words of Christ, after He restored Peter was to follow Him, 21:19 and 21:22
V22, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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