From The Second Epistle Of John
But we should always give thanks to GOD for you, Brethren Beloved By The LORD, because GOD Has Chosen you from the beginning for Salvation Through Sanctification By The SPIRIT And faith in The Truth. And it was for this HE Called you Through our Gospel, that you may Gain The Glory Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. So then, Brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or by letter from us... 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15.
This here below was posted on a group in answer to something that arose and was made apparent publicly. It was not written in relation to those who are as yet unbelievers, who have as yet not heard of The Grace Of GOD in Truth, but to those who will profess to believe.
THY Word i have treasured in my heart, That i may not sin against THEE. Psalm 119:11.
...Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may Receive A Full Reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in The Teaching Of CHRIST, does not have GOD; the one who abides in The Teaching, he has both The FATHER And The SON. If anyone comes to you and does not bring This Teaching, do not receive him into house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 2 John :8-11.
To go through these four verses to hear to discern exactly what The GOD Breathed Word Is Speaking. All within the context of what is being Spoken within this short yet Powerful letter;
...Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may Receive A Full Reward. 'Take heed, regard your own conceits, in order you destroy fully not, lose not, perish not that which is gained, to Receive Full Reward.' This is what is being Spoken.
The word translated here from the nasb, 'yoursleves' is the Greek word, 'heautou'. This word appears in Romans 11:25, lest you be wise in your own estimation; nasb, and, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; kjv.
It appears in Romans 12:16, Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.; nasb, and, Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.; kjv.
Conceit: an excessively high opinion of oneself.
Men of low degree are only vanity, and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath. Do not trust in oppression, And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. Once GOD Has Spoken; These two things I have heard; That Power Belongs To GOD; And Lovingkindness Is THINE, O LORD, For THOU Dost Recompense a man according to his work. Psalm 62:9-12.
Taking verse 8 of 2 John in context with the preceding verse, For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge JESUS CHRIST Coming In The Flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. What truly means to acknowledge JESUS CHRIST Coming In The Flesh is to obey HIM in all HE Says, this is The Word of faith,
...If you confess with your mouth JESUS, LORD, and believe in your heart that GOD Raised HIM from the dead, you shall be Saved. For with the heart man believes, resulting in Righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in Salvation. For The Scripture Says, "Whoever believes ( has faith, entrusts ) in HIM will not be disappointed." Romans 10:9-11.
The word translated in the nasb 'acknowledge' in 2 John :7 is translated 'confess' in the kjv. The very same word, in the Greek, 'homologeo', is here 'confess' in Romans 10:9, and 'he confesses' in Romans 10:10. To confess JESUS LORD means to call HIM MASTER, SUPREME AUTHORITY; HE WHOM we 'agree with', 'not to refuse'. This is what means confessing HIM, acknowledging JESUS CHRIST LORD.
2 John :7-8 is stating, those who do not acknowledge, that is, confess, that is, agree with JESUS Has Appeared In The Flesh in that they refuse to obey HIS Words; The Commandment; Given HIM From The FATHER, these are misleaders, impostors, deceivers, indeed an opponent of The MESSIAH ( antichrist ). Take heed, regard your own conceits, in order you destroy fully not, lose not, perish not that which is gained, to Receive Full Reward.
"He who believes in The SON has Eternal Life; but he who does not obey The SON shall not see Life, but The Wrath Of GOD Abides On him." John 3:36.
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us... 1 John 2:18-19.
We have many differing understandings and teachings that conflict with one another as to what means belonging to CHRIST, what is acceptable and truly shows one to be a Disciple Of JESUS CHRIST. All cannot possibly be true. Only one can be true and only one is True. If you truly want to know if what you believe in Is Truth, then you need look no further than JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, HIS Example, HIS Apostles, their conduct; their teaching. Whatever conflicts with these denies JESUS CHRIST; whatever conflicts with these does not acknowledge JESUS CHRIST has Come In The Flesh.
"By this all men will know that you are MY Disciples, if you have Love for one another." John 13:35
"If you love ME, you will keep MY Commandments. "And I Will Ask The FATHER, And HE Will Give you Another HELPER, that HE May Be With you Forever; The SPIRIT Of Truth, WHOM the world cannot Receive, because it does not behold HIM or know HIM, you know HIM Because HE Abides With you, And Will Be In you... John 14:15-17.
...They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us. 'They departed of their own accord away from us, nevertheless were not from us; for if they were from us they would abide, continue, dwell, endure with us; therefore, to the intent to make manifest, render apparent that they are not all from our company.'
It is for us to discern. And By Grace through faith GOD Gives Discernment.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you The Elementary Principles Of The Oracles Of GOD, and you have come to need Milk and not Solid Food. For everyone who partakes of Milk is not accustomed to The Word Of Righteousness, for he is a babe. But Solid Food is for the mature, who because of practice ( by reason of use ) have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving The Elementary Teaching About The CHRIST, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a Foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward GOD, of Instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and Eternal Judgement. And this we shall do, if GOD Permits… Hebrews 5:12 – 6:2.
The commencement of our introduction into The Grace In Which we stand, by faith, when we believed GOD, when we once, at the first, confessed with our mouth JESUS LORD and believed in our heart GOD Raised HIM from the dead, understanding that we are all sinners separated from GOD and now By The Grace Of GOD through faith in HIS Only Begotten SON we Receive The Gift Of Righteousness; that those who believe ( live by faith ) in JESUS CHRIST are then set apart for GOD, Saved from The Wrath to come, beginning The Process of Sanctification By The SPIRIT and faith in The Truth ( For we Through The SPIRIT, by faith, are waiting for The Hope Of Righteousness; Galatians 5:5 ) we then, In and By The Will Of GOD are to grow in respect to Salvation. It is a terrible thing indeed for one to leave his faith laying idle in that he does not grow, he does not seek to know to understand The Way Of GOD In Truth and even proceeds to ‘live’ and ‘learn’ by other means.
…"Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is The Law and the Prophets. "Enter by The Narrow Gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to Destruction, and many are those who enter by it. "For The Gate is small, and The Way is Narrow that Leads to Life, and few are those who find it. "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves ( greedy, grasping, robbing, cruel, destructive men ). "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn, nor figs from thistles, are they?... Matthew 7:12-16.
…For in the case of those who have once been Enlightened and have tasted of The Heavenly Gift and have been Made partakers of The HOLY SPIRIT, and have tasted The Good Word Of GOD and The Powers Of The Age To Come, and have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves The SON Of GOD, and put HIM to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, Receives A Blessing From GOD; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned… Hebrews 6:4-8.
To have fallen away means to apostatize, meaning to be an apostate; one who has abandoned The faith in that they will live believing a way that is contrary to The Way Of GOD In Truth; JESUS CHRIST.
Those who will do so, and have lived so long paying attention to deceitful spirits and the doctrine of demons, by announcing and making widely known erroneous doctrine in their hypocrisy so that what they now believe is as now branded on their moral consciousness that it renders them insensitive to The Truth Of The Gospel. If they have thus turned aside it is impossible to restore them anew towards a change of mind; because they have themselves made ineffective the True Word Of The Cross, and making, by their lies, by their hypocrisy, The SON Of GOD infamous to those who will see and hear their example of their living, and all in using The Glorious Name Of our LORD And SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. How awful a thing!
For The Word Of The Cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being Saved It Is The Power Of GOD. For It Is Written, "I Will Destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I Will Set Aside." 1 Corinthians 1:18-19.
By our words we shall be Justified, and by our words we shall be condemned. And The ONE WHO Justifies Is GOD Alone. GOD Is Just And The Justifier Of the one who has faith in JESUS. No man can stand before any and justify himself. No man can stand before any and commend himself.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them. Proverbs 27:2-3.
…"Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "So then, you will know them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to ME, ‘LORD, LORD’ will enter The Kingdom Of Heaven; but he who does The Will of MY FATHER WHO Is In Heaven. "Many will say to ME on That Day, ‘LORD, LORD, did we not Prophesy in YOUR Name, and in YOUR Name Cast Out demons, and in YOUR Name Perform many Miracles?’ "And then I Will Declare To them, ‘I never knew you; Depart from ME, you who practice lawlessness.’
"Therefore everyone who hears These Words of MINE, and acts upon Them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock… Matthew 7:17-25.
As Love is the fulfillment of The Law, ( Romans 13:8-10 ), and it is only that we may establish The Law through faith ( Romans 3:31 ) then it is to discern who are the ones who practice lawlessness To whom The LORD Says, ‘I never knew you’.
Written in 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul was writing to The Church at Thessalonica, and indeed his words are written to us and for our benefit also, just as is all The GOD Breathed Word, and here Paul is affirming Truth. In 2 Thessalonians 2: 7 Paul states that, ‘the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;’ This is speaking of the spirit of antichrist, though it is to be understood that any title of antichrist is not here given to any one man as belonging to him alone, even though Paul writes of one in particular of the future whom The HOLY SPIRIT Restrains until HE is taken out of the way, but is of any who will oppose The MESSIAH which is already at work.
To say, ‘the spirit of antichrist’ is to mean the vital principle by which a human being thinks, feels, and decides; the rational soul; their mental disposition, that which is opposed to The MESSIAH.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are From GOD; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know The SPIRIT Of GOD: every spirit that confesses that JESUS CHRIST Has Come In The Flesh Is From GOD; and every spirit that does not confess JESUS is not From GOD; and this is ( the spirit ) of the antichrist, of which you have heard that is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are From GOD, little children, and have overcome them; because Greater Is HE WHO Is In you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are From GOD; he who knows GOD listens to us; he who is not from GOD does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.
Beloved, let us love one another, for Love Is From GOD; and everyone who loves is born Of GOD and knows GOD. The one who does not love does not know GOD, for GOD Is Love. By This The Love Of GOD was Manifested in us, that GOD Sent HIS Only Begotten SON Into the world so that we might live Through HIM… 1 John 4:1-9.
‘By this you know The SPIRIT Of GOD:’ …For all who are being Led By The SPIRIT Of GOD, these are sons Of GOD… Romans 8:14.
But you have An Anointing From The HOLY ONE, and you all ( all to whom these words which John, In The SPIRIT, wrote are indeed true of; and not that they apply to any who will themselves merely claim these words are true of themselves ) know. I have not written to you because you do not know The Truth, but because you do know It, and because no lie is Of The Truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that JESUS Is The CHRIST? ( who is the liar but the one who does not obey JESUS CHRIST? ) This is the antichrist, the one who denies The FATHER And The SON. Whoever denies The SON does not have The FATHER; the one who confesses ( acknowledges ) The SON has The FATHER also. As for you, let that abide In you Which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide In The SON and In The FATHER. And This Is The Promise Which HE Has Made To us: Eternal Life... 1 John 2:20-25.
We can so easily forget the parable of the sower ( Matthew 13:18-23 ). We can even fail to hear it. Sometimes, and sadly it is the case with many, that what they heard from the beginning no longer abides in them. Yet they may still stand in The Name of a Christian.
To have a Name will not Save any. And names can be Erased from The Book Of Life ( Revelation 3:1-6 ). Yet it is GOD HIMSELF, GOD Alone, WHO Can Erase, not any mere man ( Revelation 3:5 ), and it is the reapers, who are the angels, who will separate the wicked from among the Righteous, just as The LORD JESUS CHRIST continues to Speak Written for all to hear in Matthew 13:19-30. It is for no man to determine who is and who is not worthy of Eternal Life. To speak in a manner of one’s own opinion to judge any worthy or unworthy is a fleshly judgement; sin ( James 4:11-12 ). To speak Truth, GOD’S Truth into any given situation, appraising all things, yet not the man himself, this is to use Righteous judgement. And this we are Called to do ( John 7:24 ). To speak in Righteous judgement is not to condemn ( the only one who condemns is the unrepentant sinner who condemns himself; Titus 3:10-11 ), but when one is standing in error correction is to be spoken for Conviction, The HOLY SPIRIT Convicts, and this is in the hope, always, that the one in error will hear, repent, and be made right before both GOD and man.
And The LORD’S bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps GOD May Grant them repentance leading to The Knowledge Of The Truth, and they may come to their senses from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will… 2 Timothy 3:24-26.
This is truth. Let no man, let no deceiver tell and mislead you otherwise by means of flattering speech. The Word Of GOD Applies to all. There is not one man living or who has lived who can live above The GOD Breathed Word. Even our LORD JESUS CHRIST; GOD In The Form Of Man humbled HIMSELF in obedience ( John 8:29, John 10:17-18 ), even to the point of death on the cross ( Luke 22:42, Philippians 2:8 ).
The Commandment Which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is Love, that we walk according to HIS Commandments. This Is The Commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in It. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge JESUS CHRIST Coming In The Flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may Receive A Full Reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in The Teaching Of CHRIST, does not have GOD; the one who abides in The Teaching, he has both The FATHER And The SON… 2 John:6-9.
Love ( Agape ) is that we walk according to HIS Commandments; walking In Them. It is not walking in Truth whilst walking apart from HIS Commandments, living contrary to Them, but is walking according to Them. Whoever violates the Commandment, indeed remains not, tarries not, endures not, stands not in The Doctrine. This means, The Teaching, which means The Instruction Of CHRIST, then, in not doing so such a one does not have GOD with him. In all his living, in all his words, in all his actions, such a one does not have GOD. The Scripture is clear. It is only the one who stays, remains, tarries, endures, stands in Sound Doctrine: The Words; The Teaching Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST who does indeed have and is accompanied also by The FATHER And The SON.
…"MY sheep hear MY Voice, and I Know them, and they follow ME; and I Give Eternal Life To them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of MY Hand. "MY FATHER, WHO Has Given To ME, Is Greater Than All; and no one is able to snatch out of The FATHER’S Hand. ( Or, "What MY FATHER Has Given ME Is Greater Than All;…" ). "I And The FATHER Are ONE." John 10:27-30.
"Truly, truly, I Say To you, , unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to Eternal Life. "If anyone serves ME, let him follow ME; and Where I Am, there shall MY servant also be; if anyone serves ME, The FATHER Will Honour him. John 12:24-26.
"He who believes in ME does not believe in ME but in HIM WHO Sent ME. "And he who beholds ME beholds ( discerns, perceives ) The ONE WHO Sent ME. "I Have Come As Light Into the world, that everyone who believes in ME may not remain in darkness. "And if anyone hears MY Sayings, and does not keep Them, I do not Judge him; for I did not Come to Judge the world, but to Save the world. "He who rejects ME, and does not receive MY Sayings, has ONE WHO Judges him; The Word I Spoke Is What Will Judge him At The Last Day. "For I did not Speak on MY Own Initiative, but The FATHER HIMSELF WHO Sent ME Has Given ME Commandment, What To Say, And What To Speak. "And I Know that HIS Commandment Is Eternal Life; therefore The Things I Speak, I Speak Just As The FATHER Has Told ME." John 12:44-50.
…"I Am The Way, And The Truth, And The Life; no one comes to The FATHER, but Through ME. "If you had known ME, you would have known MY FATHER also; from now on you know HIM, and have seen HIM."… John 14:6-7.
At this point in typing all I have typed here, this verse, John 14:7, I felt moved and it caused me to want to cry. I thanked our Heavenly FATHER. Such Grace. Amazing Grace. I could have gone on to type the rest of The Gospel account here written by John In The SPIRIT, that would have Spoken and does Speak into knowing and having The FATHER And The SON.
As our LORD JESUS CHRIST; KING Of Kings LORD Of Lords; The SHEPHERD And GUARDIAN Of our souls Said in reply to Pilate, "…Everyone who is Of The Truth hears MY Voice."
If anyone goes too far, if anyone goes contrary to, that is, violates The Words Of CHRIST, WHO Is The REDEEMER Of all who will hear HIS Voice, then quite simply he does not hear and is not hearing The SHEPHERDS Voice. Scripture Says that it is so. And this would be a reason why such a one cannot feel The Conviction Of The HOLY SPIRIT when in error, even, when spoken to for the purpose of correction.
… If anyone comes to you and does not bring This Teaching, do not receive him into house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 2 John: 10-11.
If anyone, and that means applying to all without exception, will accompany you, comes to you, brings to you, will resort to not what has been taught By JESUS CHRIST, HIS Doctrine, do not accept them into, do not receive them into, do not hold them in regard into your house, never ( qualified negation ) utter ( to ) the same GOD Speed, rejoice, a greeting; for the one which utters GOD Speed, rejoice, a greeting, fellowships, participates, communicates themselves in his hurtful, evil, influence, acts, deeds, works.
This Scripture make abundantly clear. Whoever rejects The GOD Breathed Word is not rejecting man, but GOD WHO Gives HIS SPIRIT To you.
Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11.
Just to finish, a Pastor is a shepherd. One who cares for the sheep Of HIS Pasture in the same manner as The LORD CHRIST HIMSELF. There are Pastors By The Will Of GOD, and there are pastors by the will of men. Nowhere in The New Covenant have I read of a mere man as a ‘chief pastor’. I know The CHIEF SHEPHERD ( 1 Peter 5:4 ) WHO Is also Known as The GREAT SHEPHERD ( Hebrews 13:20-21 ).
There are Pastors By The Will Of GOD ( Ephesians 4:11-16 ), as there is GOD Given Instruction To all who are mature and appointed By GOD to positions of elders within The Church; HIS Body, Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as fellow elder and witness of The Sufferings Of CHRIST, and a partaker also of The Glory That Is To Be Revealed, shepherd the flock Of GOD among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to GOD; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to The Flock. And when The CHIEF SHEPHERD Appears, you will Receive The Unfading Crown Of Glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD Is Opposed To the proud, But Gives Grace To the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under The Mighty Hand Of GOD, that HE May exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon HIM, because HE Cares For you… 1 Peter 5:1-7.
There are pastors according to the flesh, appointed by the will of men, These men are those who are hidden reefs in your Love Feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been Reserved forever. And about these also Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, Prophesied, saying, "Behold, The LORD Came With many thousands of HIS Holy ones, to Execute Judgement upon all, and to Convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against HIM." These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of advantage.
But you, Beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the Apostles Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, that they were saying to you, "In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly minded, devoid of The SPIRIT.
But you, Beloved, building yourselves up on your most Holy faith; praying In The HOLY SPIRIT; keep yourselves In The Love Of GOD, waiting anxiously for The Mercy Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST To Eternal Life. And have mercy on some who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garments polluted by the flesh.
Now to HIM WHO Is Able To Keep you from stumbling, and to Make you Stand in The Presence Of HIS Glory blameless with great joy, to The Only GOD our SAVIOUR, Through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, Glory, Majesty, Dominion And Authority, before all time and now and Forever. Amen. Jude: 12-25.
