"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 9 October 2012"
Today's Blog Title: "The Commandment of Love"
Today's Blog Reading: 2nd John 1-13
Today's Blog Key Verse: 2nd John 7 "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist."
In this brief letter the "chosen lady" John addresses here, may be a church and its members. Like 1st John, this this letter will emphasize the importance of love, and links love to obedience. This letter contains a greeting in verses 1-3, advice and warning in verses 4-11, and a conclusion in verses 12-13.
The elder in verse 1, is the aged John the apostle, who according to ancient tradition lived into his nineties. To "love in truth" means (1) truly, really to love, and (2) to love in a fashion consistent with the Christian meaning of factual knowledge regarding the Word of God and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.
John loved his readers "for the truth's sake" or "because of the truth," which likely has reference to the personal presence of Christ (John 14:6). The cardinal fruit of the Spirit of Christ is "love" (Galatians 5:22).
"Grace," "Mercy," and "Peace" were not common words in John's writings. In this greeting he is likely reflecting common usage in Christian circles of the time and area. God, and Jesus Christ, are placed on virtually the same level here, since "Son of the Father" is a title that implies equality with the Father (John 5:18).
"Of Thy children" means "some of your children," that is, some believers in the fellowship or family, that John is addressing. "Walking" is a Jewish idiom for "living." John is saying we should "live by the truth," or in accordance with God's revealed word and will. Emphasis on "love" is a hallmark of the writings of John. In Luke, for example, the word "love" occurs about a dozen times, but in the Gospel's of John alone, it occurs more than 40 times. For some, "love" has little to do with obedience. Yet John, following Jesus, stresses that to "love" is to "obey." As one of the closest disciples to Jesus, John would have heard the Master raise the question, "And why call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
The deceivers in verse 7, seem to have been Gnostic's, pseudo-Christian individuals who denied that the Son of God had really taken on human flesh. John realizes that to attack the doctrine of the Incarnation (the taking on of human flesh by Jesus) is to strike at the very root of Christianity.
The first and third "we" in verse 8, should probably be "you" according to many ancient manuscripts. It is dangerous for any person, including a believer, to follow teachings that are contrary to Scripture. John make Christology the central doctrine of the Faith.
In the early decades of Christianity, local churches were planted and sustained by itinerant preachers and teachers. For these workers to survive, it was necessary for believers to show hospitality. However, one had to be sure that he was not aiding and abetting false teachers, that is, those with unorthodox views of the person and work of Christ. To take such people in, John says, is to endorse their teachings. John's command forbids "true " Christians to actively support the ministry of false teachers. It is not a prohibition against having non-Christians into one's house--unless, of course, they are spreading anti-Christian doctrine, and seeking to use one's home as a base of operations!
One of the reasons that this letter was so short was because John is planning to speak to his readers in person very soon.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."
JESUS REIGNS!!! May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with all of you.
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "The Commandment of Love"
Today's Blog Reading: 2nd John 1-13
Today's Blog Key Verse: 2nd John 7 "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist."
In this brief letter the "chosen lady" John addresses here, may be a church and its members. Like 1st John, this this letter will emphasize the importance of love, and links love to obedience. This letter contains a greeting in verses 1-3, advice and warning in verses 4-11, and a conclusion in verses 12-13.
The elder in verse 1, is the aged John the apostle, who according to ancient tradition lived into his nineties. To "love in truth" means (1) truly, really to love, and (2) to love in a fashion consistent with the Christian meaning of factual knowledge regarding the Word of God and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.
John loved his readers "for the truth's sake" or "because of the truth," which likely has reference to the personal presence of Christ (John 14:6). The cardinal fruit of the Spirit of Christ is "love" (Galatians 5:22).
"Grace," "Mercy," and "Peace" were not common words in John's writings. In this greeting he is likely reflecting common usage in Christian circles of the time and area. God, and Jesus Christ, are placed on virtually the same level here, since "Son of the Father" is a title that implies equality with the Father (John 5:18).
"Of Thy children" means "some of your children," that is, some believers in the fellowship or family, that John is addressing. "Walking" is a Jewish idiom for "living." John is saying we should "live by the truth," or in accordance with God's revealed word and will. Emphasis on "love" is a hallmark of the writings of John. In Luke, for example, the word "love" occurs about a dozen times, but in the Gospel's of John alone, it occurs more than 40 times. For some, "love" has little to do with obedience. Yet John, following Jesus, stresses that to "love" is to "obey." As one of the closest disciples to Jesus, John would have heard the Master raise the question, "And why call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
The deceivers in verse 7, seem to have been Gnostic's, pseudo-Christian individuals who denied that the Son of God had really taken on human flesh. John realizes that to attack the doctrine of the Incarnation (the taking on of human flesh by Jesus) is to strike at the very root of Christianity.
The first and third "we" in verse 8, should probably be "you" according to many ancient manuscripts. It is dangerous for any person, including a believer, to follow teachings that are contrary to Scripture. John make Christology the central doctrine of the Faith.
In the early decades of Christianity, local churches were planted and sustained by itinerant preachers and teachers. For these workers to survive, it was necessary for believers to show hospitality. However, one had to be sure that he was not aiding and abetting false teachers, that is, those with unorthodox views of the person and work of Christ. To take such people in, John says, is to endorse their teachings. John's command forbids "true " Christians to actively support the ministry of false teachers. It is not a prohibition against having non-Christians into one's house--unless, of course, they are spreading anti-Christian doctrine, and seeking to use one's home as a base of operations!
One of the reasons that this letter was so short was because John is planning to speak to his readers in person very soon.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."
JESUS REIGNS!!! May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with all of you.
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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