Guarding the truth

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. 2 John 7-8 NLT

What we believe determines how we behave. The truth we have known will impact how we live our lives. John continues to admonish the believers to remain steadfast in holding on to the truth they have known from God and His Word for “many deceivers have gone out into the world.” These deceivers are out to destroy Christians. “They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body.” This is why we have to be spiritually vigilant and be aware of the false teachers and their teachings. “And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered” (2 Peter 2:2). The deceiver will lure those who are spiritually imprudent and irresponsible. The threat to our spiritual welfare is real and serious. Once a person buys into the notion that dehumanizes God, it will lead to deification of man. People will look for a substitute Christ who is not the Christ of the Bible. John once again uses the term “antichrist” referring to the person who is promoting deceptive teachings. The Lord Jesus Christ warned His disciples when He was teaching them about the signs of the end of the age, to not “let anyone mislead [them]” (Mark 13:5). In the same way, John tells the readers to keep their eyes on their spiritual possessions so that they will not lose them. He commands each believer: “Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve.” John tells believers to “be diligent,” constantly on guard and not be complacent. You might fall into having false security and think that you are beyond deception from the false teachers. The Lord Jesus Christ warned His disciples not to let down their guard that they will be tempted to give in to the things of the world. Instead, each one should “Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). God will reward our faithfulness for we remained steadfast in guarding the truth. “Fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

Blessings,