2 John 1:4
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
Introduction:
The Apostle John, who refers to himself as that Apostle that Jesus loves, remains consistent to the themes of his other writings; seemingly basing all of his epistles on love. I can say that this theme aligns itself with the sentiments of Paul as he writes in first Corinthians chapter 13:5 ”that love seeketh not her own.” John uses love as a launching point for giving proper instructions to those who are new in Christ. And as a result of the love that John holds for the followers of Christ, he makes his motives clear that the words that he speak are designed to lead the new followers (“children”) to a walk that ends up in the safety of the presence of God.
We find John referring with regularity to the neophyte Christians as children. It is easy to imagine why this is so. The similarities to a new Christian and a child are striking. Both are starting a new journey of life; both are still weak and in need of assistance; both must have the example demonstrated before them in order for them to adopt the nature for themselves. Both have the expectations placed upon them that one day they will become full grown and capable of moving forward under their own strength.
Lest we get lost in the generalities of this passage applying to all Christian, I need to inform you that my focus will be specifically on our young people.
I believe that a great conspiracy has been launched against the Church by Satan. I believe that he is trying to create a separation between the generation that is now at hand and the generation that will next rise up to do battle with him. I believe that he is fully aware that if he can destroy that link to the next generation that all subsequent generations will be lost to him by default. I believe that if we fail the upcoming generation then we are sentencing them and those who follow them to eternal condemnation.
About the Scripture:
In 2 John 1:1 and 2, John says, “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; 2: For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.”
The apostle loved this elect lady, “in the truth;” as did also all those who had known the truth, and that for the truth’s sake. He wished her blessing in truth and in love. He rejoiced that he had found some who were her children walking in the truth. He desired that there should be mutual love among Christians, but this was love, that they should keep the commandments; for many deceivers were come into the world. Now whosoever transgressed, and did not abide in the doctrine of Christ, had not God. He ends his epistle, by exhorting this lady, in case anyone should come and not bring this doctrine, not to receive him into her house, nor say to him, “God bless you, or be with you,” or “I salute you.” for to do so would be to make herself a partaker in the evil he was doing.
Allow me, if you will to cast that lady as the church. During these crucial times, as the church was in its infancy, the great fear was that it would not be nourished properly and that it would succumb to starvation for lack of the truth.
Hebrews 5:
12: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13: For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
There is a lack of proper nourishment (Truth) among our young adult and children. The proof of this is established in the answers to a few simple questions: “Do you want to live or die?” “Do you want to go to heaven or hell?” “Do you want to spend eternity with Satan or God?”
If I was to ask each individual in here (especially our young people), the answers that I would get would be: “Yes, I want to live; yes I want to go to heaven; I would choose to spend eternity in heaven.” But look at the situation that they’re in: They are old enough to understand right and wrong; sin and forgiveness; guilt and innocence; yet if they die today having not obeyed the gospel they would be lost; they would be held accountable by God for the things that they have done in their bodies.
Luke writes of a very significant occurrence in the life of Jesus in Luke 2:42-49
42: And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43: And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44: But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45: And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46: And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47: And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48: And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49: And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Now, this does not establish a biblical age upon which one is officially deemed accountable (some understand what is required of God earlier than this and some don’t grasp a proper understanding of this until later.) There is some subjectivity to when this understanding is adequate to make a proper decision; and so one must be diligent when it comes to their children and when it is time to be about their Fathers business. What must not occur is to not let the child know that they must be about their Father’s business.
John says; (2 John 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.”
Who are these deceivers? They are those who would either subliminally or overtly cause our children to disregard the urgency of casting their allegiance with God. The effective mechanisms used today are the technological devices that have seemingly attached themselves to the bodies of most of the people today. These devices of advanced technology lends themselves to the idea that man is self-sufficient and not in need of God. If these devices redirect the thoughts of a person away from what Christ did on the cross and why He did it then they are effectually “antichrist”.
Verse 9 is another evidence of the status of a person: 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.
Clearly stated here is the fact that if a person transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ they hath not Christ. (Are you in Christ? is your spouse in Christ? Are your children in Christ?) Everyone that is outside of Christ is lost. (Jn. 14: 6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.)
What does it mean to be in Christ? Galatians 3:27 says; For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. But that is not the sum total of being in Christ. Being in Christ involves conscious decision to accept a lifestyle that is guided by the desire to please God. It is the recognition of the fact that Satan uses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life to make our choice of following God as difficult as possible.
Verses 10 and 11 Puts us on notice that we must not accept nor condone those things that oppose the cause of Christ. It is God’s will that we are saved. It is the mission of Satan to remove the line that stands between right and wrong. The devil will equate the struggle of human and civil rights with the promotion of the homosexual agenda in order to muddy the water. They are not the same in God’s eyes. God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves; and do good to our fellowman (that includes our homosexual friends.) We are to hate the sin but extend God’s saving compassion to the sinner. But God explicitly states that the act of homosexuality is so wrong in his sight that is sickening.
Lev.20:
13: If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Romans 1:
26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
I am not anti-technology; I am pro-parental supervision. It is the parent’s job to make sure that the things that can be helpful are not turned into tools of apostasy.
Folks, especially young folks; You have a soul. That soul will be saved or lost based on your decisions. (Neither Momma nor Daddy can do it for you.) You should not ignore the danger that you exist in daily. If you know that you have a soul that is exposed to eternal damnation; please understand that Satan’s fondest hope is that you will stay in that condition until death finds you. Then he wins and you lose.
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