The test of our love to God is universal obedience to Him, and we have need to maintain this love, for there are many destroyers of it in the world — those who subvert the faith, denying the person or the work of Jesus Christ. Let such men not be entertained as ministers of Christ, nor given support in any way.
II John 1
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.
3 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.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
5 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.
6 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.
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.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
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.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
II John Intro 1 – J. Vernon McGee
II John Intro 2 – J. Vernon McGee
II John Intro 3 – J. Vernon McGee
II John Intro 4 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1 Intro 5 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1 Intro 6 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:1 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:2 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:3 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:4-5 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:6 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:7 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:8-9 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:10 – J. Vernon McGee
II John 1:11-13 – J. Vernon McGee
2 John 1 – Walking in Truth
This exquisite letter, a model of old-world correspondence, was probably written when the Apostle was the guest of the nephews of the lady addressed. The Epistle revolves around the two words, love and truth, which were the poles of his life. When Christ is in us, not only are we true in judgment and speech, but we recognize truth wherever it is to be found. No horizon bounds the vision of the true and truth-loving soul. Be true and loving, and you will have a rich heritage of grace, mercy, and peace. Love is best shown by obedience. II John 1:8 shows a pastor’s anxiety. Don’t go on without Christ or you will lose God, II John 1:9. Remember that love can be stern, II John 1:10.
The letter reveals the strength, purity, and love of the primitive Church. Let us put into our letters thoughts which will make them worth receiving and keeping. —Through the Bible Day by Day
II John 1:6—This is love, that we walk after his commandments.
Here is a solution to many difficulties, and given so easily and naturally by this beloved elder to the elect lady and her children. He had been laying much emphasis on truth, and combining truth and love in an exquisite unity. Probably we can never love perfectly, till we are perfectly true. If you examine yourself in the feelings of distance and dislike which you have towards some individual, it is almost certain that you will come on some want of transparency and sincerity in your dealings with him. It is also the case that if we put away all insincerity, and want of consecration, as between us and God, we shall come to love God more perfectly.
What deep, sweet rhythm of meaning there is in the first three verses of this letter! One reads them over and over again. Oh that that grace, mercy, and peace, may be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
The difficulty that you feel is that you do not love enough. You would like to love with a strong, undying flame, burning steadily towards Jesus Christ, cleansing you with its heat, constraining you with its love. But perhaps you fail to distinguish between love and the emotion of love. They are not the same. We may love without being directly conscious of love, or being able to estimate its strength and passion. Here is the solution to many of our questionings They love wno obey.
It is recorded of Dr. Chalmers that when a Scotch girl applied to be admitted to the sacrament, her testimony was so halting that it seemed as though she must stand back; but as she was leaving his room she turned back and said, “I canna speak for the Lord Jesus, but I could dee for Him.” —Our Daily Homily
2 John 1:8 – ”I cannot sweep the darkness out, but I can shine it out,” said John Newton. We cannot scourge dead works out of the church, but we can live them out. If we accuse the church with having the pneumonia, let us who are individual air-cells in that church breathe deeply and wait patiently and pray believingly, and one after another of the obstructed cells will open to the Spirit till convalescence is reestablished in every part. (A.J. Gordon)