Abiding In The Doctrine
By Elder Dale E. Magers
The Apostle John in his second letter addresses the church (the Elect Lady and her
Children). The first thing he tells them is that he loves them in the truth, "The Elder unto
the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth". He goes on to say that he is not
the only one that loves them, but that they are loved by all them that know the truth.
We can see by this statement that all true believers love the people of the church. When
we find a person that has known the truth as it is in Christ Jesus we know that person loves
the church. In the second verse we are told why: "For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us
and shall be with us forever." What is this truth? It basically consists in knowing that we all
died in Adam in sin and that God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to redeem us
from sin.
He came as the son of man, kept the law that we have never kept, and died for us on the
cross taking our sins away. He brought us out from under the judgment of sin forever. He
became our resurrection and life by dying in our place. Through this work upon the cross all
of his people will live with him in glory. (John 6:37-39) When we meet another person that
believes this truth there is a fellowship that arises through grace that brings a mutual love
and rejoicing. Our greatest rejoicing is that God's love for us is with us for ever. John starts
this short letter speaking of love. Remember that he is the disciple that leaned on Jesus
breast who often is spoken of as the apostle of love. He has so much to say about love, it
seems to be the principle grace that he thinks about. In his first letter chapter three, verse
one he says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the Sons of God." In verse 14 of this same chapter John says, "We know
that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.
He that loved not his brother abideth in death." Where there are divisions, strife, anger,
and hatred there is no evidence of life, but when every brother sees that he is an
undeserving sinner saved by the grace of Christ he rejoicing when he meets another
believer in Christ. There a mutual fellowship in this experience for he knows that the person
he has met that also loves Christ is a better person than he is. In chapter 4, verse 8 John
tells us, "He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love."
God has not only loved us with an everlasting love and drawn us with loving kindness, but
his very nature is love. In verse 9 of chapter 4 John tells us, "In this was manifested the
love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world." No wonder
in verse 19 of the 4th chapter he says, "We love him, because he first loved us." What a
great God of love to have loved us when we were his enemy and hated him! No wonder Paul
would say, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came
into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief." When we truly feel to be the worst of
sinners and thank God for having saved us, we are truly embraced in God's love.
In my own experience, on the day of my gospel conversion, I felt that I was looking at a
holy group of brothers, wondering if a sinner like me could ever be worthy to live with such
a great people. Since then through the years I have discovered that their greatness does
not lie in their personal righteousness, but in that one who hath bestowed his love upon us
all! How glorious to know that this great truth of salvation in Christ shall always abide with
me, as John told us and shall be with us for ever. Yet through the years we have seen many
departing from this truth. How can this be? There are two ways that people come to this
knowledge.
Some pick up the bible and read it and grasp the fact that these things happened
intellectually. This is knowledge that they obtained through their natural abilities and
strengths. What we acquire through our own ability we can change our minds and get rid of
it, but what God reveals through the Spirit of God abides with us forever. A study of the 8th
chapter of the gospel of John will reveal this, for Christ says, "Ye shall know the truth and
the truth shall make you free" (John 8:33).
What has truly been revealed can never be lost, but what we acquire through the gospel
can be lost, for John tells us in verse 9 of this second letter, "Whosoever transgresseth, and
abideth not in the doctrine (teachings) of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." When John uses the word
(transgresseth) he is saying whoever goes on and does not walk in the teachings of Christ
does not have God. Can you remember how joyfully and powerfully when the truth came to
you the day you took up your cross to follow Christ? How we thought that we would walk
more and more with him.
As time passed we placed our affections on other things drifting from the truth. Reading
God's word less and less, in afflictions realizing that we have departed from God when we
call upon him and he seemingly does not answer! But he is always there, he dwells in our
hearts through the Spirit. When we draw near to him, he draws near to us. It is a terrible
place to be walking in God's truth when God does not seem to be there.
He has not walked away from us, but we have walked away from him. AMEN:
By Elder Dale E. Magers
