2 John 1:6 - "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
When I was a kid, my dad made it clear that obedience involved something I needed to do, such as take out the garbage, mow the grass, or be nice to my little sister. But I also remember my dad saying things that made it clear that obedience involved believing, namely, believing that my father had the power to show us the consequences of disobedience.
In the same way, in today's Bible verse from 2 John 1:6, God tells us that "love [is to] walk in obedience to his commands." And in the verses that follow, God makes it clear that obedience involves believing, specifically, a belief in "Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh." So important is this belief in "Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" that anyone who does not believe it is said to be a "deceiver and the antichrist." Furthermore, not believing in "Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" is associated with "running ahead," but believing in "Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" is celebrated as having "both the Father and the Son." Finally, God says that what we believe about "Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" is so critical that it determines whether or not we take people "into your house or welcome them" because welcoming one who does not acknowledge "Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" shares in their "wicked work."
Wow! So is there a simple way to sum up all this? Yes! In sum, God is teaching us that it is impossible for us to love if we don't believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The reasons are simple. One, if Jesus Christ didn't come in the flesh, then God in Christ didn't die for our sin, so we're all still dead in our sin, which makes it impossible for us to love. And two, if Jesus Christ didn't come in the flesh, then God in Christ cannot live in our flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit, so we cannot possibly love because we have no strength from Christ to be able to love.
There were many people in Bible days who believed that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh. They were known as Gnostics and, in essence, believed that Jesus was an idea in your mind but not a real person to have a relationship with. Because they believed this way, they were stuck in sin and could not truly love as God commands in today's Bible verse.
Today, there are many people who believe that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh. They are known as religious people who go to church but, in essence, believe that Jesus is an idea in your mind but not a real person to have a relationship with. Because they believe this way, they are stuck in sin and cannot truly love as God commands in today's Bible verse.
How can you know then if you're a true believer? A few simple questions help us.
Do you daily call on the name of the Lord believing that he's not an idea but he's a Living God who is with us? A believer does.
Do you believe that God in Christ personally died on that cross for our sin? A believer does.
Do you ask Jesus to come personally into your heart anew each day? A believer does.
Do you believe that Jesus personally lives in you to give you strength and guidance and wisdom? A believer does.
In the end, Jesus is a real being with God the Father and the Holy Spirit through whom we have a relationship with God and others. Jesus is not just a name in a religion or an idea in your mind.
Believe in Jesus personally. Call on him personally. Invite Him personally into your heart. Trust, follow, and obey him personally. (Obedience is trust in action; it is faith active in love.) Your life and relationships are counting on it because apart from a personal relationship with Jesus, it is impossible for you to love.
God is personally here in Jesus to be your salvation and your strength to love so that others can know, receive, follow, and share him personally too! Glory to God; abundant life in Him to the world!
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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