Keep Your Good Work

​2 John 7-11 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
 
TO work is to put forth an effort to accomplish some task. We work for a meal. We work for an education. We work to develop and maintain a relationship. When we work for something, we want to keep it.
   Have you thought of your faith in this way? When the Spirit initiated your faith in Jesus, it’s as if God gave you an assignment: “Work to get to know me.” Hopefully you then began a series of work habits such as Bible study, prayer, worship attendance and service in the use of your gifts. If such work has been steady and purposeful, you have come to know God more personally and effectively. This is the work of your salvation. As you’ve seen the results of a Jesus-centered life, you have come to treasure your faith. You want to keep it.
   To do so, John urges you to guard your treasure carefully, so you will be rewarded fully. This is gaining the benefits of a holy life. God’s full reward is his blessings of a full love relationship with him.
   Deceivers can easily steal this reward if you waiver from your work. The early church was threatened with deceivers who did not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the second time John referred to a false doctrine known as Docetism that said Jesus was only a Spirit.
   John warns you to not run ahead of the truth. In other words, stay in the fellowship of the church. Learn from true teachers. Any who teach differently are not of God. The apostles are the authorities. They had personal experience with Jesus. If they say Jesus was a man of flesh, there is no dispute. If they say he died and rose again, this is true teaching. They taught of their personal knowledge of Christ in the Spirit’s power.
   To think someone has had a new revelation of Jesus is to deny God. Running ahead of the truth is leaving the truth behind.
   John also instructs the church to keep the deceivers from the house, which is the church. We must be aware of this in our personal faith walk as well. As Christians we are to be hospitable and have empathy for others. But warning bells should sound in your heart if someone tries to convince you of things that are not in the Bible. Your task is to persuade them to the true Jesus. If they do not listen, you are not to meet with such people.
   Be steady in your work. Continue to build a strong relationship with God, and be willing to work to keep it. Much in the world says, “Come my way.” God says, “Stay with me.”