Jacob Harkey continues in the Real Thing collection teaching through 2 John—identifying what to look out for when it comes to false teachers and sharing biblical insight into how believers should respond to deception.
Key Takeaway
It is essential that we know our core doctrines and be firmly rooted in the truth.
Throughout history, we have seen people manipulate and distort the words of Jesus. It damages the mission of the Church and pulls us away from the truth.
Fighting falsehood is not an impossibility; it’s inevitable. John explicitly writes this letter to warn the Church about false teachers. He writes that, as an elder of the Church, he is in a leadership role. The “elect lady” is the local church, and “her children” is the congregation. John repeatedly uses the word truth throughout the letter. He addresses his love for them and then connects it to truth. This is a loving community bound by the truth.
John is encouraged that some of the people in the church are walking in the truth in the way that they have been taught. Why does John care about that? Because deceptive teachers have been coming and distorting the truth of the gospel. If people adhere to a distorted view of the gospel, it will devastate the individual and the whole Church.
Who are these false teachers? They are people going out into the world carrying something other than the gospel. It’s a willful spreading of lies. These could have been the same people from 1 John that had gone out from them but were not of them. John describes them as deceivers who lead someone to believe something untrue. This is why our thoughts matter so much. What we think about, we will care about. What we care about, we will chase.
John connects the deceiver with the antichrist, who willfully leads people astray from God. While the “deceiver” shows their actions, the “antichrist” shows loyalty. They are loyal to the one who is against God. Verse 9 tells us that these people think they have more advanced thoughts. Beware of abiding by this type of teaching; they’re not just wrong; they’re godless. Christianity isn’t anti-progress; it’s pro-truth. If a message doesn’t properly relate to the person, the works, or the words of Jesus Christ—it’s false.
What are these people doing? They do not confess the coming of Christ in the flesh. This is an essential issue. Christology is a gospel issue. They are saying they don’t believe that Jesus is the center. Who is Jesus? Jesus is part of the triune God, equal in power and glory but distinct in His role. Jesus is the God-man, fully God, fully man. He came to earth, lived the life we could not live, and died the death we deserve. He beat death, rose again, walked around and talked to people, and ascended to the Father. We believe in these essentials about Jesus and will not give them up. Therefore, if they don’t think Christ came in the flesh, they won’t believe the other implications of Christ’s coming.
Why does this matter? There are future and present consequences. Verse 8 isn’t talking about salvation. Salvation cannot be lost; it’s a transformation that God does in us. In the same way, if you don’t earn it, you cannot lose it. So, what is at risk of being lost? It’s a Heavenly matter. Matthew 6:20 tells us to lay up treasures in Heaven. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that we will receive what is due us when we face the judgment of Christ. The treasure symbolizes faithful devotion. Future implications are essential because of present ones. Verse 11 says that when you participate in the world of these false teachers, it’s as if you are driving the getaway car. We are culpable for taking part in the evil that they do. Examples of this today are the prosperity gospel, the teaching of God as a distant and angry being, cheap grace theology, etc. It harms us, but it leads unbelievers further from Jesus.
So what do we do? Practice the truth because how you live matters. John defines how to practice this in verses 4-6. We have been commanded by the Father to walk slowly and consistently in the way of Jesus. Our doctrine and our behavior are connected. Walking in truth means we love one another. Love is walking according to the commands of God. Love is rooted in obedience. We love best when we walk aligned with Scripture. We fight the enemy by showing the world there is a different way. It looks like humility, sacrifice, hospitality, and meeting needs.
The second thing we do is protect the truth. What you believe matters. Verse 8 boldly says, “Watch yourself.” What are you letting into your mind? What you put in will shape you and make its way out. Beware of welcoming false teachers and promoting their lies. The Church has to be careful of what voices it platforms. The individual has to be cautious of who you’re letting into your life through podcasts, sermons, and scrolling. Protect your mind.
Discussion Questions
- What is the purpose of John writing to this local church?
- Read 2 John 1:4, what was John encouraged by? What was the command that was given from the beginning?
- Why does John care that people in the church were following what they have been taught? See 2 John 1:7.
- Why are our thought lives so important? What do they have the power to do?
- How was the deceiver described? How was the antichrist defined?
- According to verse 9, what do false teachers go out and do? What type of false teaching were these people spreading? See 2 John 1:7. How does this emphasize the importance of knowing our doctrine and not swaying from it?
- What are the core beliefs about Jesus that we hold to and make any teaching against it false?
- Teaching has eternal and present implications. According to Matthew 6:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:10, what are our eternal implications? What should mark our lives? What are the present implications?
- What does it mean to practice the truth? See 2 John 1:4-6.
- What are we told to do in verse 8 to help us protect the truth? What are you allowing to come into your mind and shape you?
Scripture References
