2 John
Second letter/book/epistle from/of John, a very short letter.
Is election a guarantee to eternal safety beyond redemption?
2John -ASV
1. The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;
John addressed/refered to himself as the elder. He did not claim supreme authority authority it is the elder rather than an elder. There was the historical figure of John the Elder, who was a disciple of the Apostle.
Christians are the elect, chosen by God. Not winning over God.
The elect lady is the elect church/assembly. There are many description for the same thing.
The children are the christians born into God through the assembly.
This does give the impression that the assembly must always be right as it bears good fruits, and is the elect of God.
However the elect is relating to the assembly, and not to the building, or manmade organisation/institution.
All of them that know the truth love the elect in truth.
An assembly is no more a Godly one if it does not love the truth and live in truth.
Thus an evil organisation/constitution/institution is in no way an elect lady of Christ.
Elect - Strong's Ref. # 1588
Romanized eklektos
Pronounced ek-lek-tos'
from GSN1586; select; by implication, favorite
There is no mentioning that what is selected by God must be kept for eternity.
Chosen people can loss favor. (eg: King Saul and Judas Iscariot).
There is the assumption and deduction that once saved is forever saved; The elect lady referring to a local church is forever saved. John wrote in the book of Revelation:
Rev 2v5 - Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place - unless you repent.
Rev 2v23 - ..and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
From such verses of the Angel of God(Christ), we see that salvation is not once and for all.
Work out your salvation in fear and trembling.
It is possible to loss light (lampstand taken away after warning) and fall into sin after being elected as a church of Christ/God.
The only safety and guarantee is to walk in Christ and be faithful; persevere and do the work of an evangelist. Hold fast to His Name.
Love does not force and twist. There is limited restrain over a person on choice of doing evil. But righteous judgement is for sure. Love does not twist righteous, for it delights in righteousness (see 1Cor13v6).
2. for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:
We love the the sake of the truth. Like with like. The truth abides/remains in us. The Holy Spirit dwells in us.
The truth, which is God, will not depart from us. God shall be with His elect for ever.
3. Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Not just Grace.
We still sin and need mercy of God. If mercy, then grace as well. Resulting in peace through Christ Jesus.
We are still growing into perfection; so we need the peace/perfection of God.
If truth seems cold and unloving, we have love at the same time.
If love seems intangible and not working its every step into truth, we have truth as well.
That means we have everything. Both emotion and righteousness.
4. I rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
A subjective response.
Not that all those who are in the assembly are walking in truth.
It is worth rejoicing greatly when we find christians walking in truth. This is worth encouragement and support.
5. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
A very strong admonition. To beseech is to beg; not just ask. A very humble request.
In the beginning is love.
John is thus writing and expressing something fundamental, essential.
6. And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.
This verse gives away the relationship of love and righteousness, which is walking after His commandments.
God is righteous.
Love is more than just feelings. It is more than just actions.
Love delights in doing the right stuff/things.
Christians have heard a lot of things concerning love. And they should practice love(walk in it).
7. For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Love is the means to confront deceivers, evil and the anti-christ.
A loving person does not accept the anti-christ.
Love delights in the truth, and does not rejoice in darkness.
What has light with darkness? Christ with anti-christ?
Jesus the Christ was a spirit, before coming into mankind as a man, in the likeness of flesh.
Being man is not being absolutely man. We have Batman, Cyberman, Superman, Ultraman, many of such are regarded as man because of their humanity and not that they must have natural parents of natural ancestry, born naturally, and carnally and grow up in sin, and need redemption.
They are man enough to be regarded as part of humanity, as real men.
Anti-christ is not a new term. It exists wherever there is Christ. It is a counterfeit. having similarities, with subtle differences.
8. Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.
Be self-regulated.
Do not be deceived. Do not give up perseverance.
Contemplate on your full reward. Be faithful.
This message is to the elect lady, the whole assembly/church of God.
9. Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
Merely moving onward is not a proof/sign of spirituality.
Having progressive understandings is not necessarily having Christ.
The important fundamental is to be adiding in the teaching of Christ which was given, heard of, and learned.
10. If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:
Do not associate yourselves with extra-biblical personelle/agents/teaching/organisation.
Keep yourselves true to the original teachings of Christ.
Christians are not blind charity.
Receiving questionable people is not a christian duty. Love is not the same as charity. King James English does not represent the whole truth. Agape is not charity.
11. for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.
Do not confuse the world by extending acceptance/friendship to extra-biblical people.
Do not confuse the world by giving the signal that all are the same from the same source of God, and should be received. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. The devil has no power to destroy you utterly.
12. Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
There is a personal touch speaking face to face. Writing does not convey all feelings and touches.
Be with your brethren personally.
We do have hope in God.
13. The children of thine elect sister salute thee.
Other assemblies are also elect sisters/ladies of God.
Greet each other. Encourage and show love and care.
God is the one who imparts all blessings.
Trust in God for the rest.
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