Going on Ahead

2 John 1:9 ~ "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."

As John opens this brief letter to the "elect lady" there is a tremendous sense of delight and joy as he writes. Who is this "elect lady?" Some understand it to be a believing woman who has opened her home to the church. Others believe it is a cryptic reference to the church itself, the elect of God--the Bride of the Lord Jesus. Either understanding does not negate the letter's joyful expression toward what John saw as a blessing of faith and love being lived out.

With great approval, John writes about how he is overjoyed to learn about the faithful lives of the children mentioned. 2 John 1:4 states, "I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father." And, like a parent to the church, the apostle finds great satisfaction that the next generation has embraced the gospel of Christ and are walking in the truth of Jesus as commanded by the Father (see Matthew 17:5). How much more joyful is it to know that even today, after hundreds of generations have come and gone, the truth of Christ is known and the church continues to walk in it.

But John warns, also, of those who are deceivers--antichrists--who proclaim a message that is filled with lies and deny the Living Lord Jesus as come in the flesh (see 2 John 1:7). And in our text today, we read the apostle's admonition to those who are going on ahead. John was a living eyewitness to the resurrected Savior and could destroy the arguments of those who denied the Lord. Today, we have the teachings given by God through His apostles so that we have a true road to walk as well.

The first part of his admonition is a warning. For those who go on ahead, that is, those who are going forward into life with the idea that they are somehow united with God, they had better be abiding in the teaching of Christ. Again, read what he said, "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God." Is this even possible? How can one go ahead, believing that they are at peace with God, without abiding in the word of Christ? Simple--they trust their own intellect, intuitions and impressions rather than the Scriptures. I heard one man testify that he was a Christian, yet his very next statement was to deny the resurrection of the LORD. He is self-condemned because he does not abide in the teaching of Christ. 

Dear friends, do not go beyond what is written (see 1 Corinthians 4:6). The Scriptures point us to the Lord Jesus, they teach us how to be saved, how to know we are saved, how to walk in that salvation to glorify the Savior. Anything beyond the written testimony of the Word of God will never truly give you fellowship with the Lord. 

Which brings us to the second part of John's statement, and it is a blessed encouragement. Pause a moment to consider these words again, "Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." What does it mean to "abide in the teaching?" Simply put, you hold fast to the doctrines of Christ. I know that there are some who believe that "doctrine" is a lifeless intellectual approach to gain knowledge of the Word but empty of the Holy Spirit's power. But, beloved, it is the Holy Spirit who brings us into those doctrines, who guides us into all truth and reminds us of all that Jesus our Lord taught us (see John 16:12-15). 

And look at the tremendous promise! If we abide in the teaching of Christ, we have both the Father and the Son. We have confidence to go ahead into life within the full fellowship of God Almighty. Understand that this "abiding" is not merely mental awareness of the truth from Christ, but a loving obedience to that which He has commanded. Let us do as the Father commands in Mark 9:7, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." 

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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