Shabbat Shalom. Today we are going to look into the second epistle that Yohanan John wrote. And so I would like you to turn to 2 John, and the second letter that Yohanan wrote is rather a short letter, and it is very much linked with the very same theme that he has had in his first letter. So we are reading today the second epistle of John, and let's see what the Lord has for us in those 13 verses of 2 John. So I'm reading, please follow me, verse 1. The elder unto the elect lady, and her children whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth.

For the truth's sake which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever. Grace be with you, mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of the Father in truth and love. I rejoice greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment that as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

For many deceivers have entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God's speed. For he that bideth him God's speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come unto you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. This is the reading of the second letter of the epistle of Yohanan that he wrote, And I would like to suggest, beloved brothers and sisters, in light of the first verse, that this letter that he wrote, he wrote to, as it says here, to an elect lady. And it says here, and her children. Many Bible teachers who look at this letter that was written by Yohanan have two ways in which they look at this letter, this short epistle.

Some suggest that it was written to a single woman who was living in a home and had children. Perhaps we don't hear of her husband at all, we just hear of the elect lady and her children in an ordinary home. and he specifically wrote to her because of the danger that existed in those days that false teachers were walking around already at that time seeking to influence believers to follow after their false teachings. Others take this epistle and apply it to a local assembly, a local church, In which the believers in this body of the Messiah are really looked upon as a sister, as a woman who have children, who have believers in her midst of this local assembly.

And John is writing to a collective assembly in a certain locality and encouraging them to follow the truth of the word of God. So whichever way we will take it, it's applied in any rate to a single individual who live in a home life or to a local church, a local assembly, a local congregation. We definitely can take it and apply this in our days to a local assembly as well into a family in their home. In fact, what we really learn that it is our family actually making a congregation, an assembly.

and when we have the truth of the word of God in our homes we will also bring it to the local assembly to the local church and we'll enjoy it together among the people of God but now beloved brothers and sisters just remember Yohanan this fisherman who have accepted Yeshua the Messiah from the Galil from the north of Israel the reason that he wrote this letter is to give warnings to the people of God because at that time in which John was writing there was false teaching already risen and specifically in connection with the humanity of Yeshua from Nazareth many already in those days have rejected the humanity of the messiah they rejected the fact

that he was a real man spirit soul and body and by rejecting his humanity they were really saying that jesus yeshua was merely a phantom was not a real man some believe that when he walked on the sand he walked about an inch or so above the sand that he didn't see the footstep of yeshua the messiah in fact some believe if they touch him their hand went through in other words he was really only a spirit being not a spirit soul and body a real human being and john is writing this and giving warning to believers to the local assembly or to individuals in their home to be careful because itinerant preachers were already

at that time going from place to place claiming to be servants of the Lord but they were teaching false doctrine now to remind you that in the early days of the assembly of the church they didn't have a building such as this they didn't have this huge building where many people gathered together and called this building the church what they do in those days they were meeting in homes somebody in a home was hosting the believers that they were gathering together to meet around the lord yeshua the messiah to enjoy fellowship with each other but the so-called church building was not in existence because they were meeting in homes let me just show you for

a moment in romans chapter 16 and verse 5 Paul wrote to the believers likewise greet the church that is in their house the assembly the believers were meeting in the houses Paul also write in 1st Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 19 the churches of Asia salute you Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord with the church that is in their house what does he mean with the assembly the believers meet together in the house of aquila and priscilla you see if you and i would have lived 2000 years ago we would meet in some people's home in fact today there are many believers who are no longer going to those big buildings with

stained glass windows and huge crosses on top they simply gather together in someone's home because they want to be gathered unto the name of Yeshua the Messiah with a sound teaching with the word of God is being simply open and understood with the help of Ruach HaKodesh the Holy Spirit of God so in those days some 2,000 years ago Yohanan was seeking to influence the believers to be encouraged to continue in the truth which they have already learned because false teachers were already roaming around going from home to home and teaching false doctrine now notice in this letter how many times the word truth is mentioned for example In verse 1, it says, whom I

love in the truth.

In verse 1b, it says, that have known the truth. In verse 2a, for the truth's sake. In verse 3, it says, the Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. In verse 4, walking in truth. And he continues on again and again, and he's emphasizing the importance of truth. In Hebrew, the word is emet. Paul said in Romans 3, 4, let God be true and every man a liar. The truth is very important. The truth must be accepted. The truth ought to change the lives of the people of God. And when a person knows the truth, it helps him or it helps her in their walk in a world that is full of lies.

And you see, beloved brothers and sisters, the truth is what John trying to emphasize in this whole second epistle that he's writing now to this elect lady. So I want to say in the dividing of this letter, there are three major points that Yohanan is communicating with this lady. The first one is in verses 1 to 3, and there John is emphasizing that God's people need to know God's truth. Why do we meet together every week? We study the Bible in the morning on Friday. We study the Bible in the evening of Friday. we study the bible on saturday that is shabbat in the afternoon regularly we meet together we open the bible we don't come here for any other reason than to study the word and to have fellowship with believers because we want to learn what is the truth of the word of god what god is telling us from his word so god's people need to know the truth you know brothers and sisters there's so much fallacy today in the world.

Everyone has his ways to God. Many religious groups here in this world. Everyone has his or her way and everybody seems to know and to say that their way is the right thing. What we need to do is to open God's Word and to find out the truth that is found in the Word of God. And so John is saying all the people of God need to know the truth. This is verses 1 to 3. Secondly, in verses 4, 5, and 6, God's people need to walk in the truth. You know, at time, to our shame, we don't live up to what we know in our head. Had we put down what we know in our heads into our hearts and ultimately down to our feet, we will also be able, by the grace of God, of course, to walk in the light of the truth that we know.

Thirdly, from verses 7 to the end God's people need also to abide to stay to remain in the truth which they have already learned and so he writes this letter emphasizing the theme of this letter the truth of God so the importance of this truth is found here in this letter you remember what Yeshua said in John chapter 8 and verse 32 and ye shall know the truth it i admit and the truth shall set you free it's better to take the truth of the word of god than what any human being is telling unto us because the truth of the word of god will remain standing firm never changes so please let's go over those verses together the first thing that we want to talk about is that god's people need to know the truth.

John Yochanan's message is really being sent to a lady that says here, the elder unto the elect lady and her children whom I love in the truth and not I only but also all they that have known the truth. So he's apparently writing to a woman who have accepted Yeshua the Messiah. Perhaps her husband haven't accepted the Messiah, because apparently we don't find her husband mentioned, but it is a lady and her children. How many of us, beloved brothers and sisters, can say honestly that not every member of our family is a believer? We wish for that. But you know, when Yeshua was here on earth, he already said that the Word of God will separates even families why not because he doesn't want all the family will be saved but what happened is when we take side with Yeshua the Messiah immediately what happened it become like a sword between us and our own family who reject Yeshua the Messiah here's a lady and her children who came to faith in christ in the mashiach in the messiah perhaps she was a widow perhaps her husband was not a believer but she had accepted yeshua the messiah and according to him he called her an elect lady she was elected every one of us have been chosen in the messiah ephesians chapter one before the foundation of the world if yohanan is speaking to the local church local assembly every believer in that assembly had been elected in the Messiah before the foundation of the world.

If he's speaking to a single individual in her home and her children, because they believe in Yeshua, the Messiah, they were elected. They were chosen in the Mashiach, in the Messiah, long before the foundation of the world. He's not only writing to her, but he's writing to her children. Apparently, her children also have accepted the Messiah. Now, notice, who is writing? He's saying the elder, unto the elect lady. He's calling himself the elder. In Hebrew we call it Zaken, an older man. By this time, Yohanan had been at least at his 90. This letter was written about 90 AD. Yohanan was the last apostle to die, and he didn't die out of persecution and killing, though he suffered persecution a lot.

He's the only one who died natural death at a very old age. And he's writing to the people whom he loved so much, to the family of God, to minister to them. And notice he began to use the word emet, truth. He says, whom I love in the truth. And not I only, but also all they that have known the truth. Apparently this lady and her children were hosting itinerant creatures in their home and perhaps she was using her home for the assembly, for the church to gather together and Yohanan is writing to her, but he's writing to her as an elder. In twofold, he was an elder in a local assembly at Ephesus, but he was also an older man.

That expression here for elder, it comes from the Greek Presbyterian. It simply means zaken, an elder. He was older, but he was an elder at the same time. because he loved her and her children but not only he loved her but also all the other believers with whom he was who loved her appreciated this elect lady in verse 2 he is telling her that the truth of god dwells in her it dwells in a believer and it will ever dwell every person that have acknowledged the truth of the word of god verse 2 he said for the truth sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us forever.

In other words, here, elect lady, I'm writing to you this letter. It is for the truth's sake. I want to tell you something because I want to present for you the truth which you already know it is in us, it dwells in us, and it will always remain in us. People may come, people may go, people will give us all sorts of ideas of their own. False teachers always come and go, and not necessarily staying, because when they stop to get success with their influence upon others, they leave so they can go somewhere else. And they influence somewhere else someone. And you see what he's really saying to this elect lady, the truth of God is dwelling in you, and not only this, it will remain in you, because you are a child of God, it will remain in you forever.

And then he's telling her now, in verse 3, he's giving her the greetings. I think it's so beautiful. Notice he's using three words that are mentioned here together. Number one, grace be unto you. Number two, mercy. Number three, peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the Father, in truth and in love. You notice those three expressions mentioned in the beginning. Grace, in Hebrew, it's chesed. Mercy, in Hebrew, it's rachamim. And peace is the Hebrew shalom. Now again, I would like to remind you that John knows this expression from what he had already understood from the Hebrew scripture. Because after all, when he was writing the epistles of John, he only had the Tanakh in his hands.

And he was writing from the Hebrew text in Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 4, where Moshe was pointing to the grace of God, to the mercy of God, to the peace of God. He's saying in verse 4, he is the rock. His work is perfect. All his ways are judgment, a God of truth. And without iniquity, just and right is he. Moshe, Moses, was already singing the praises of God. He is a God of truth. Look what Moses said about God. Exodus chapter 34 and verse 6. And the Lord passed before him and he proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious. The same words that Yohanan is mentioning here.

Long-suffering and abundance in goodness and in truth. He is again speaking about the grace of God, the truth of God, the mercy of God. And here, Yohanan is writing to this elect lady, and he is greeting her in verse 3. He says, grace be unto you, and mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. Now, don't you think this lady, just like you and I, needed the grace of God? The chesed. You remember the verse in Ephesians chapter 2. By grace are ye saved. We have been saved by grace. The word mercy.

Rachamim is God did not give us punishment that we deserve. Grace is God gave us what we don't deserve. And then he added the word shalom, peace. We have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah. Romans chapter 5 and verse 1. And so really now it's not a matter here of salvation, but it's a matter that we needed and she needed ongoing grace, ongoing mercy, ongoing peace of God. Shalom im Elohim. That's what we need every day of our lives. We are facing conflict, friction, challenges, opposition, all sort of things such as this the believer is experiencing in his or her life.

john is introducing himself writing to this elect lady telling him the importance of truth and so far beloved brothers and sisters in these three verses he used four times the word truth and i would like to mention this to all of us it is very important that god's people will know the truth if somebody tell you something check it with god's word don't allow everyone to tell you all sort of things that are not found on the basis of the word of god but remember 2 000 years ago she couldn't go to 2nd john she simply heard the truth of the word of god from the apostles and from those who were preaching the message

of the gospel they knew what they knew at that time in the early church so they needed constantly to be aware of the fact that maybe another preacher going to come and he's going to start to tell us things that are not the truth of the word of God and we don't have to go far even though we have the word of God in our hands today there are those who are walking about today who are teaching us things that are not found in God's word they are teaching us false teaching and that's where Yohanan is warning this elect lady and he's warning you and I today so God's people need to know god's truth

ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free yeshua the messiah said before he have gone to the cross now you notice he linked the name of jesus the messiah in the end of verse 3 it's from god the father but he adds and from the lord yeshua the messiah the son of the father in truth and his love why does he add this because he knew very well that already in those days people rejected the fact that yeshua was the son of god that he was the son of the father and that he became a man just like you and i in order to finish the work of redemption and it

was necessary for God to enter humanity and to take the form of man to become literally a man so he can take the punishment for sin upon himself and had he not became a man he would not be able to identify with men and women such as you and I and therefore your salvation my salvation will never be accomplished because we cannot get saved and receive forgiveness of sins unless God dealt with it in his own person when he took humanity union with divine nature and went all the way to the cross to the tree where he laid down his life for the sin of this world.

And that's why here it's very strongly connected not only greeting grace, mercy, peace from God the Father but also grace, mercy and peace from Yeshua the Messiah. Jesus the Mashiach, the Messiah. Notice he adds the Son of the Father in truth and in love. So really what we have here Five words in 2 John 3, grace, mercy, peace, truth, love. Chesed, rachamim, shalom, emet, and ahava in Hebrew. Beautiful, because for us, those of us who are coming from a Jewish background, it's so important for us to grasp this because John, Yochanan, is really linking this with what he had already heard a long time ago through reading the Hebrew text from what Moses have already provided for the people of Israel.

So, God's people need to know God's truth in our head. Secondly, in verses 4, 5, and 6, we need to walk in God's truth every day of our lives. He is pointing to the necessity of walking in the truth and look at how much joy Yochanan John had in his heart when he knew that a believer walking in the truth he says in verse 4 I rejoice greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth as we have received the commandment from the father now again remember that john was writing to the family of god every believer is become part of the mishpacha and like children are part of the family it's so wonderful to see them walking in the truth you ask any bible teacher who teach the word sincerely what gives you joy and he will say It would give me joy to see those that I've been teaching now growing and walking in the truth that they have been taught from the Word of God.

It would give him joy to see that this is happening in the life of the people of God. So here John, he said, listen, I rejoice. I have joy in my heart greatly, he says. In other words, he's writing to this elect lady, to this mother who had children of her own. He said, it gives me such a joy to see that your very own children are walking in the light of the truth that they have learned. That there is a result to all the lessons that you have heard from the Word of God. You know, Paul also in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 19 said, for what is our hope or what is our joy or a crown of rejoicing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah at his coming for ye are our glory and joy you know Shaul Paul also was right into the Thessalonians it was a young church young assembly young believers there not many years walking with the Lord but he says what a joy he says you are my joy you are our crown when we're going to get to heaven we're going to get the crown the rewards those crowns is the fact that you gave me joy when you walked with the Lord it gives joy to the servant of the Lord it gives joy to anyone who see others have been influenced by their teaching and walking with the Lord so now John Yohanan beseech this elect lady and her children to love one another, to continue in this.

Notice now in verse 5 and 6, he says, and now I beseech thee lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment that as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. Now what does it mean? Notice he used this expression from the beginning. Every time we read this expression, it takes us back to the incarnation of the messiah when god became a man first john chapter 1 and verse 1 that which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life he's speaking about the incarnation of the messiah when god became a man in the person of yeshua from nazareth yeshua gave instruction to his disciples in john 13 verses 35 by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if you have love one towards another that is the commandment that yeshua had given from the beginning of his incarnation of course god always wanted our people of all the people of god to love one another but this expression from the beginning in the context of first john takes us not to creation genesis chapter 1 not to eternity john chapter 1 but he takes us to the incarnation first john chapter 1 where the messiah yeshua was born in bethlehem and there as men he taught his disciples now this is wonderful to understand the truth in our mind and our hearts in the way which we relate to the people of God.

And by the way, he called her lady. It's Kyria, K-Y-R-I-A in Greek, in Hebrew, Giveret. He's really giving her respect. And he's saying to her that we have to love one another. And again, if he's applying this to a local assembly, can you imagine how beautiful when the brothers and sisters have an unconditional love towards one another? Not only emotion, but sacrificial love. It's wonderful to experience in a local assembly, in a local church. And then he continued in verse 6, And this is love, that we walk after his commandment. This is the commandment that ye have heard from the beginning. Again, he's taking us to the commandment of Yeshua in the upper room in John chapter 13, that ye should walk in it, in love.

Wonderful, what Yohanan is challenging the believers and this elect lady, walking in love. You know, there are many expressions in the New Testament that has to do with walk. You know, every time you read the word walk, it has to do with practical walk with the Lord. Let me give you an example. In Romans chapter 6 and verse 4, Paul says, walk in newness of life. In Galatians chapter 5 and verse 16, Paul says, walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. In Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 2 is, walk in love. In 3 John is, walk in truth. And then in 1 John chapter 1 and verse 7 is, walk in the light.

What does that mean? he means that your life are to be characterized by love by light by the influence of the Holy Spirit of God by newness of way not like in the old way we used to live but in a new way and ultimately as we have this here walk in love that means that it's got to be practical it's not something that we only talk about it but it's got to be practical walking in light walking in love walking in truth walking under the influence of the holy spirit of god which is producing walking in new type of life imagine when a believer accepted yeshua and received forgiveness of sins and then he says thank you now i can go back to live the way i used to live imagine how it grieves the heart of the Lord.

When we receive love and transfer not love to others, we receive light and walk in darkness. We receive the Holy Spirit of God indwelling us and walking in the flesh. It's not pleasing to the Lord. That's why he's saying to this elect lady and her children, it's not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, you know, that which we had from the beginning. It's the same old truth that we have already received from Yeshua. I don't tell you something new. It's the same truth that we love one another and this is love that we walk after his commandment. This is his commandment that ye have heard from the beginning ye should walk in love among the people of God.

The important to understand is that the truth will never change. Generation change, people change, time changes, events changing, but God's word remains the same. God's never going to change. We read in scripture, for example, in the book of Malachi, when he wrote to our people he says to Israel I change not that's why Jacob you are not consumed because if I will change I will judge you but because I love you and I have a purpose for you Israel Jacob I change is not in Hebrews chapter 13 in verse 8 we read Yeshua the Messiah the same yesterday today and forever he changes not we change i hope that when we become believers we change to be walking in this newness of life but at times brothers and sisters because we are human being we still have the same nature one day we are on the mountain the next day we are in the valley one day we love the world the next day we don't like it as much one day we want to follow the lord the next day we're influenced by other things we change but he remains the same his love for us changes not and his desire for us to walk in love does not change at all walking in love it is so important because the truth known in our hearts and our mind will produce the necessity of loving the brothers and sisters.

So now in the last part of this letter, he's emphasized to this elect lady, not only that you need to know the truth, not only you should walk in the truth, but to remain in the truth, to abide and to stay true to that which is given to us in the word of God. And so he's giving her a warning in verse 7 of the fact that many deceivers have already entered into the world in which they are seeking to influence the people of God. And he says in verse 7, for many deceivers enter into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, is come in the flesh.

This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ, anti-Mashiach. Now, notice he's giving us additional warning in this letter. I already talked about those Gnostics. They have taught that this Jesus, this Yeshua, that when he was baptized, the spirit of the Messiah came upon him in his baptism. And when he died, the spirit of Christ, the spirit of Messiah was removed from him. And that he was what you call a temporary type of a person, was really a phantom just for the season he was here. They did not believe in the fact that Yeshua the Messiah was a real man. That's the problem that existed at that time, and that's why John addressing it.

And so apparently, already in the first century, there was those who were traveling around and going from place to place, and they were coming to their homes, knocking on the door and saying, I am coming to teach the word of God. And because hospitality was very important and it was commended by the Lord Yeshua and by the early apostles, so to open your door to a guest speaker and to host him and listen to what he had to say was a privilege and a responsibility. In the book of Hebrews, in chapter 13, verse 1 and 2, it says here, Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.

for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hospitality was very important. So now when somebody comes to your home and says, I'm an itinerant preacher, I'm coming to teach the Word of God, it was a privilege to have that person come into your home and host him until he goes to the next place. And so here what Yohanan is saying, listen, many deceivers have entered into the world who confesses not that Yeshua is the Messiah. In other words, he is giving this elect lady and her children a warning. That word for deceivers, in Hebrew we call it mat'im. In verse 7, it's really those that divert you from the truth.

The purpose of their coming to your home is to divert you from what you know already from the Word of God. See, Satan is a counterfeit. He always does exactly that which is against God and against his people. We read of him in 2 Corinthians at the end of the letter to the Corinthians that he is appearing and sending his messengers to appear as angels of light. As if they are sharing the truth, but in reality they are really diverting you from the truth of the word of God. And you see, it's amazing. When God's work began, Satan is seeking to copy what God is doing.

Except instead of leading mankind to God, he's really seeking to divert them from the knowledge of the truth of the Word of God. And you know, brothers and sisters, we have these deceivers who are still today. You hear them in various ways. You can read about them from the internet, certain magazine. They would come even to your door and they would knock on the door. And they are not coming there to ask what you think. But they are coming there to teach you what they know and the purpose of their coming in order to divert you from what you already know from the truth of the Word of God.

And by the way, what he does is very similar to other brethren of John. warned the elders at Ephesus in Acts chapter 20, verse 29. Paul said, For I know that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Verse 30, Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. You see that? And he said, therefore, watch and remember that by the space of three years, I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears. You know, Paul, Shaul was weeping. He wanted so badly that the people at Ephesus would be built up and not allowed false doctrine to enter in their midst.

He said, for three years I labored and I sought to build you up. I know, he said, that after my departure, grievous wolves will enter among you. And you know what, beloved, he said to them, they will not spare the flock. See, Satan and those that follow him don't care for the flock. They don't care for the people of God. They just want to have disciples after themselves. And you see, this is the danger that Paul warned, like Yohanan here, who tells us many deceivers enter into this world not confessing that Yeshua is the Messiah who came in the flesh. This is a deceiver and he's anti-Christ against the Mashiach, against the Messiah.

Let me read one more verse in 2 Peter chapter 2. Not only that Yohanan wrote about it, not only that Shaul Paul wrote about it, but also Shimon Petros wrote about this. And he says in verse 1 of 2 Peter chapter 2, But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction, and many shall follow their pernicious ways By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. What we really learn here, beloved brothers and sisters, the three towering Hebrew believers, apostles, gave warning to the body of Messiah, to the early church, the early assembly.

And in the case of what John was speaking about, those were people who denied the humanity of Yeshua, that he was indeed the son of God. And that's why he's mentioned, they confess not that Yeshua the Messiah is come in the flesh. Now, brothers and sisters, what would happen to us or to anyone if Yeshua was not a real man? What are we doing here? We are really playing games. We are playing church or we are playing synagogue or whatever we called it. Because if Yeshua hasn't come as a real man who was born into this world, there is no sense for us really going through this religiosity.

It's a religion. Oh, it's very nice that God loves us and so on, but how can God forgive yours and my sin? How can he do that? He can't do that unless he has to judge sin. So he made it possible to judge sin by virtue of the fact that he entered humanity. And this is not only New Testament truth. This was given to our forefathers already in the Tanakh, in the Old Testament. The seed of the woman, Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15, is the first prophecy that is given to our forefathers in the scripture. And then the prophet Isaiah who wrote, Unto us a child is born.

Unto us a son is given. As a child, he was born in his humanity. As the eternal son, he was given because he pre-existing as the eternal son. And what about Isaiah 7, 14? And she shall bring forth a son. And she called his name Emmanuel, God with us. Isaiah already predicted this, sharing this with our people of all, the people of Israel. 750 years before Yeshua was even born. It is necessary for God and for the truth to be understood that he had to become a man. And you notice again and again the scripture emphasizing the humanity of the Messiah for as much that as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same.

He became flesh and blood. Hebrews 2 verse 14. Why? That through death he will destroy him that has the power of death that is the devil he had to become a man so through his death he will destroy the power of death and the one that had the power of this the devil so how can people say that he was not a man he was only a phantom how otherwise we are not saved we have no forgiveness of sins this is very important that's why john now look at this what he does here in the next verses eight and nine and ten he's really emphasizing this so strong he's saying to them beware not to be influenced lest you will lose rewards he's saying in verse eight look to yourselves that we lose not the things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward you notice how the bible is very careful he didn't say beware lest you're going to lose your salvation but what he's saying look to yourself that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward you see when we're going to get to glory Every believer is going to be at the judgment seat of the Messiah.

And at the judgment seat of the Messiah, 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 10, 1 Corinthians chapter 3, where we read all the things that we have done for the Messiah will remain. And the things that we have done for the flesh will be burned. And we are going to receive reward. Now, he wants them to receive many rewards because of faithfulness, obedience, living in a light of the truth. But he's telling them, if you're going to get entangled by those preachers and you're going to allow them to influence you, it's not that you're going to lose your salvation, but you're surely going to lose the full reward that God is intending for everyone that belongs to Yeshua.

That's why he's saying to them in verse 8, it is a responsibility that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. This is the first warning in verse 8, do not lose what you already have. You understand the truth that God became a man, you shall call his name Yeshua, for he will save his people from their sin.

you understand that he became a man you have accepted him as your messiah and savior don't entangle yourself with these kind of things you know a person came to me actually last night and asked me this question said brother gideon what do you think about the jehovah witnesses now you know what they teach they would come to your door and they will tell you that jesus yeshua of the new testament is not the jehovah of the old testament they will tell you that this person was a god not god so when you read in john chapter 1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word was god they

say no he was a god he was a creature he was not the creator now which creature can save a sinner no angels can save us no great man can save us no great leader can save us only god can save us but how can he save us unless he dealt with the question of sin that's why john is so strong he's telling to these lady and her children and if it's applied to a local assembly to this local assembly listen brothers and sisters you have to understand the importance of the humanity of the messiah now notice what he's saying to them in verse 9 he gives the second warning he says do not move

from the doctrine of the messiah whosoever transgresses and abides not in the doctrine of christ hath not god he that abides in the doctrine of christ the doctrine of the mashiach he has both the father and the son you see brothers and sisters what is the doctrine of christ in hebrew torat hamashiach the teaching of the messiah well you remember when the messiah came when yeshua the messiah was living among our people in the land of Israel in Galilee, you remember in Matthew chapter 16, he came to the disciples and he said to them, who do men say that I, the son of man, am?

And you remember what they said. Some of them say that you are Yirmiyahu. Some say that you are one of the prophets. Some say that you are Yohanan Amatbil. But then he asked him, he says, but who do you say? And he was very specific. He was saying, notice, I the son of men am. Ani ha ben adam, I the son of men. Shimon Petrus come with an answer. And he says, you are the Messiah, the son of the living God. And then Yeshua said to him, flesh and blood have not revealed this unto you, but my Father which is in heaven. In other words, Peter, you received this revelation from the Father.

This revelation that you and I know today about the divine nature and the human nature of Yeshua the Messiah. We only know it on the basis of the word, but by divine revelation. The Holy Spirit of God help us to understand it. Because another person, your neighbor, does not understand it. And another one from your family do not understand it. Well, how come you understand it? How come I understand it? we are smarter than them no it is truly divine revelation that god had given to us and john is simply saying if a person do not believe in the humanity of yeshua the messiah he doesn't have god whatsoever in other words those that would come to us and tell us that yeshua was not really God who became a man really are not belonging to God whatsoever.

I didn't say it. Yochanan is saying it. And he's saying it very clearly. If one does not abide in the doctrine of the Messiah, he or she do not have God. He that abides in the doctrine of the Messiah he has both. The Father and also the Son. Look in the Gospel of John when Yeshua before his death he said in john chapter 5 verse 21 for as the father raises up the dead and quickeneth them even so the son quickeneth whom he will verse 22 for the father judges all men but he committed all judgment unto the son that all men should honor the son even as they honor the father he that honors not the son honors not the father which hath sent him in other words when a person does not honor the son he doesn't honor the father when a person do not recognize God the son he do not recognize God the father a person can be religious he can say that he believe in God but if he doesn't recognize and acknowledge the Messiahship of Yeshua he does not belong to him now verse 10 and 11 is the third warning do not go along with false teachers and false teaching look at this verse 10 if there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him god's speed for he that bideth him god's speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Is somebody going to come to you and knock on the door of your house and he will bring not this teaching, this doctrine? Say, hey, I'm coming to you and I'm going to teach you something. I'm going to tell you the better way, the right way. And he doesn't bring this teaching, this doctrine that is found in the Word of God, the doctrine that is found in scripture the doctrine concerning the person and the work of Yeshua the Messiah look what he says don't allow him into your house don't even bid him God's speed in other words don't say hey God bless you you know why because imagine if somebody come to your house and he bringing false teaching and you say well I can't receive you here but God bless you in other words go somewhere else and teach somebody else this false doctrine what you do you are participating you are wishing him blessing and success in his false doctrine elsewhere maybe he didn't do it in your own home you were perhaps strong enough and wise enough not to allow him to teach you in your own home but if you allow him to go somewhere else and you say hey god bless you you're really saying I wish you well and success somewhere else, wherever you go.

And that's why he says he that biddeth him God's speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Now you see, there is a difference between hosting believers and even unbelievers but it is another thing to host those whose purpose and plan is to come to your home and bring you this false doctrine. They don't come to learn. They come to teach. They are not interested in any booklet you're going to take here from the table. They are not interested. They want to give you their booklet and their material so you can get influenced by their material. And then you're probably going to ask you to support them so you can help them with promoting their material.

And you see how dangerous it is? And John says, don't. Don't do that. He says, he that bideth him, Godspeed, partakers of his evil deed. And as he says here, don't even bid them God's speed. Now we can pray for them. We should pray. We should appeal to them and seek to tell them, listen, I'm going to tell you what I understand from Scripture, but it is another thing to bring them in knowingly that they are going to come to teach you their teaching and ultimately influence you to follow after in the wrong direction. Now, you cannot lose your salvation if you belong to Yeshua.

Any one of us, we all belong to Yeshua the Messiah. salvation does not depend upon any of our performance. But Yeshua, what it does to a believer, it hinder us from spiritual growth and it begins to sow all sort of things in our mind that are not healthy for a believer in Yeshua the Messiah. And so, brothers and sisters, John, Yohanan, is saying God's people need to know the truth. God's people need to walk in God's truth, but God's people need to remain, to abide in God's truth, and to be simply firm, not to deviate from these fundamentals that we know in the scripture. So here's the conclusion.

In verses 12 and 13, John's hope was to come and visit and see this person, this elect lady, face to face and speak to her mouth to mouth as it says here in verse 12 having many things to write unto you i would not write with paper and ink but i trust to come unto you and speak face to face that our joy may be full you see he could write a lot more because there were a lot of other things that he could write about but he says listen i'm not going to write anymore i really wish and trust to be able to come to you and speak with you not so much face

to face but mouth to mouth the way it is written in the greek that our joy may be full you know we want to have a joy of the lord together as believers and then he continued he says the children of thy elect sister greet thee amen that's how he closing his epistle and he says listen other believers are greeting you and by the way that's why some bible teachers take this letter to say that it was written not necessarily to a single lady but to the assembly the church the ecclesia looked upon or called a sister a lady a woman because he says in verse 13 the children of thy elect sister another local

church from another area another city perhaps they also greet you and then he closed the letter with the word amen and so brothers and sisters it is important to know the truth it is also important to walk in the truth but it is very important to abide in the truth we live in the loudest sea and days there's all sort of things you hear it on the radio the television, the internet, wherever you are, you hear all kind of opinion of man.

How do we relate to it? We have to be very careful to hold on that which is sound and to know how to remove and to set aside that which is unbiblical, that which is not from the Word of God. Well, may the Lord help us and encourage us and lead us on to follow the truth of the Word of God.