For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 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. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. (2 John 7–11)
Here is presented the primary burden of this letter. John warns his readers to be on the alert for anyone who in their teaching “does not abide in the teaching of Christ” (v. 9) and who thus teaches in a way that erodes both the content and the effect of the gospel. The doctrinal test for teaching is here the same as is seen in 1 John: whether or not someone confesses “the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh” (2 John 7; cf. 1 John 4:2–3). Any attempt to change or replace the gospel will be tested by the unchanging truths of the gospel of Jesus, the Christ. Failure to detect and guard against false teaching, including refusing all hospitality to the false teachers (2 John 10), will not only open the door to serious compromise in the church (v. 8) but will also render one guilty for participating in opposition to the gospel (v. 11).
We are never called to move past the gospel but rather to abide in it (v. 9). The gospel of God’s great love for us, won by Another, is our daily meat and drink.
Adapted from the ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible
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