The doctrine of Christ as the Criterion

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

(2 John 9-11)

Whoever transgresses and does not abide …

1. The word “transgress” carries the idea of going beyond the boundary
2. The phrase “does not abide in” reinforces the same idea of transgression
3. A person who transgresses
   1. Goes beyond the doctrine of Christ (the teachings of Christ)
   2. Does not abide in the teachings of Christ
4. This person does not have God. He/she is a person without God in the world (Eph.2:12)

He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son

1. He who “abides in” the doctrine of Christ
   1. Is true and faithful to the teachings of Christ
   2. Moves within the boundary of the teachings of Christ
2. This person who remains faithful and loyal to the teachings of Christ has both
   1. The Father
   2. The Son
3. There is no separation of the two
   1. “He who has seen Me has seen My Father” (John 14:9)
   2. “I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:11)
   3. Grace, mercy, and peace come from the Father and the Son (2 John 3)

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine…

1. How do we judge people who teach and preach in the name of Christ Jesus

(Cf. Matt.7:7)?

1. Do they bring this doctrine – the doctrine of Christ?
   1. The incarnation of Christ Jesus
   2. The eternal sonship of Christ Jesus

• The inseparability of the Father and the Son

1. The teachings of Jesus Christ (as is recorded in the Gospels)

2. “do not receive him into your house nor greet him”
   1. Those who teach and preach other than this doctrine must not be received nor must they by greeted
   2. A similar warning is given by Paul the Apostle to his readers in Galatia

(Gal.1:8-9)

3. Let us be more discerning as to the teachers/preachers we follow on social media, lest we end up sharing their evil deeds