Based on 2 John 1 (New King James Version)
“The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 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. Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.”
In this passage, we read that the Apostle John writes to an elect lady and that she has some children that walk in the truth. It doesn’t say who this lady is, but some think that it may be Mary, the mother of Jesus, and others think that it could be another woman, because John is much older when he writes the letter (it is believed that this epistle was written during his long stay in Ephesus, between 70-100AD). Nonetheless, whether it is Mary or not, it was a woman that not only knew how to walk and abide in the Lord herself, in this doctrine of Christ, but also, she knew how to raise children in this same doctrine. And it should be clear that effective teaching is only possible when there is teaching by example. The “do as I say, not as I do” thing does not work very much, least of all now in the time we are living in. But what is this doctrine of Christ John talking about, and that we need to abide and work on to be able to receive reward?
The first indication that he gives us is that he is talking about a commandment that has to do with love, and that it is necessary to walk in this love. And well, if he mentions it as the “doctrine of Christ”, it must mean that either this is based on the Lord, or that it must follow the way the Lord lived, or also that it could be both points. To define this doctrine, it is necessary to see what the Lord said, and this is what we read in the Scriptures: “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31. So then, it is clear that this is the doctrine of Christ. And as it was established before, the Lord taught this with His own example, because He loved (and still loves) God above all things, and with all of His Holy Being. And also, He loved His neighbor as Himself. The Lord is the perfection of the example that is necessary to follow. We read this: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:9-10. There are many that believe this: “Well, that was the Lord, and no one can be perfect like He is.” And yes, that’s true, but, nonetheless, He is the example, and it is necessary to follow the example in order to please God. There is no other way if a person truly desires to attain God’s salvation. Faith is not about words, but rather, about actions, about demonstrating to both God and man of being capable of following this doctrine of Christ. True faith has works, fruits that demonstrate a true and real faith.
For example, this is what the Word teaches: “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:17-19. When a person truly loves God, they don’t fear anything, because they know they are doing His will, and whatever happens, they know that they are safe in His hands. They don’t even fear death, because they know that the fruit of their life in Christ will render for them eternal life in the future. And how can a person know this? It is written: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21. The person that loves the Lord and that follows His lead will be able to know God exists because God will manifest Himself to them.
Now then, how can we live out the doctrine of Christ? We read this: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:18-25. There are people that think that they need to abandon everything, and not have anything, but that is not necessarily God’s will. Each person has their own path with the Lord, and that’s why it is necessary to follow the Lord as the Lord, and for Him to say what needs to be done. But the foundation that must exist for everything to count towards eternity, is that the Lord needs to be the reason for our existence, because we love Him. That must be the root for everything in our life. If I love my loved ones, it’s because I want to please Him. If I do my job well, or embark in anything in my life, it’s because I do it for Him. If God is not the reason for why we do everything in our life, even though it may be something “good” per se, it will not count for God. What matters most is the reason or the why of the work, as it is written: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. Our love for God should be the foundation of everything and for everything in our life, without exceptions. So then, are you following the doctrine of Christ so that you can have eternal life? Lord bless! John