HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1513
2 John
“ N O B O D Y L O V E S M E ! ” What parent has not heard these words
from a child at one time or another, often after the child has been disciplined. The embracing nature of love is vital to us all, even to the youngest child. To sense that we have lost someone’s love is devastating.
This short letter from the apostle John to a dear
What you will be
reading about
friend is about loving one another. We may say
we have love for our Christian brothers and sis1:1-13
ters, but true love comes only when we are fully
Love one another and
beware of false teachers
committed to the God of love, the creator of love.
When we claim loyalty to him, we learn to love
as he loves—unconditionally and faithfully.
John wrote this letter shortly before he was exiled to the island of Patmos
because of his faith. He addressed it to “the chosen lady and to her children.”
This may be a woman in a particular church, or it may refer to a certain church
congregation. In either case, it is clear John wanted many believers to read
this letter.
Real love, says John, cannot be separated from truth and obedience. First,
we must believe that the principles found in God’s Word are true and that God
himself is Truth. Then, if we believe God’s Word is true, we must follow (obey)
it. God’s Word tells us to love one another. If we are committed to following
the truth, we must love.
John goes on to say that there will be false teachers who will claim that love
has nothing to do with God’s truth and obedience. But their kind of love is
self-centered—it is whatever feels good to you. This is not God’s love, nor is it
really love at all, but rather selfishness.
Commit yourself, then, to obeying God fully. This includes God’s command
to love one another. Be aware of what is being taught in your church. Don’t
encourage those who are opposed to the truth revealed in God’s Word. Be a
person of love.
Key verses in 2 John
1:6 - 8 Love means doing what
God has commanded us, and
he has commanded us to love
one another, just as you heard
from the beginning. I say this
because many deceivers have
gone out into the world. They
deny that Jesus Christ came in
a real body. Such a person is
a deceiver and an antichrist.
Watch out that you do not
lose what we have worked so
hard to achieve. Be diligent
so that you receive your full
reward.
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