The Doctrine of Christ

The older disciple of Christ or John wrote this letter to the elect lady and her children. We could arrive at various opinions about the elect lady because the church is the bride of Christ. The church is indeed the elect bride. Therefore, this could be written to the church in general or it could be specific individuals. We just aren’t sure but I like to think it is addressed to the church. (2nd John)

2nd John verse 4, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.” Walking in truth is avoiding the sins of the flesh and adding to our lives those activities that we have received by example from the scriptures. We can determine how we should walk but we will not avoid sin. John also realizes this fact as he writes 1st John chapter two: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation [merciful sacrifice of Jesus Christ] for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

If we look at the commandments they are love based. We do not kill because we love. We do not commit adultery because we love. Just living by the commandments encourage us to love. Love is the foundation of the law that was fulfilled in the form of Jesus Christ.

2nd John verse 7 considers the antichrist as does 1st John 2:22: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” I suppose there are various ways that we could deny Jesus as the Christ.  However, we find these words in John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” 2nd John verse 7: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” Note, this says “many” deceivers and not just one. There are many that deny Jesus as the Christ.

2nd John verse 9, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” The doctrine is that Jesus is the Christ and that he came in the flesh. Also, we can include walking in the commandments of love.

2nd John verses 10-11,“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

This doesn’t necessarily relate to the commandments of love. We can know people by their fruit but sometimes we are deceived. However, if someone denies that Jesus came in the flesh as the savior of the world (brings not the doctrine of Christ) we should avoid that person. This person is teaching a false doctrine.

How do we worship with people that do not agree with us? How did the first century Christians do this? We find out how they did this in the book of Acts. We can also determine from history how they worshiped. Here is just an example from an early Christian named Justin Martyr.

“And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.” (Justin Martyr. The First Apology of Justin, app. 150 A.D.)

The book of Acts takes us from Jewish Christians to a new form of Christians (the Gentile Christians). Jewish Christians considered themselves Jews that believed in Jesus Christ so they were very different from Gentile Christians. The Jewish Christians added to their faith. What did they add? Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:41-42)

They normally did this in their homes on Sunday the eighth day. I suspect that on the Sabbath day you would find them in the Synagogue with their family and friends. I suspect that their communion service was closed to those Jews that did not believe. Why would Jews attend their communion service in their home on Sunday if they did not believe in Christ as the son of God? This is why they did not fellowship with Jews in worship on the eighth day or those that brought not the doctrine. “He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” Why would you have communion with the antichrist?

“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)

Why did they have a relationship with nonbelievers? They had favor with the people so they could bring them to Jesus Christ. That was their major objective was to convince their family and friends that Jesus was the Christ. They didn’t have to train them in the commandments because they had been trained in that from their youth up as a Jew.

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” (Acts 3:1) Why did Peter and John go into the temple at the hour of prayer? Because they were Jews so they went to the temple. If they were Gentiles they certainly would not have done that.

The Apostle Paul was a Christian but he was also a Jew. “And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?” (Acts 9:19-21)

Wouldn’t Paul want to have a relationship with those he loved and knew? He couldn’t wait to tell his Jewish brethren in the Synagogue what he knew about Christ. They didn’t always react the way he hoped.

“Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1st Corinthians 1:20-24)

Why was Christianity just a stumblingblock to the Jews and not foolishness? Because Christ was a Jew and they preached the coming of the Messiah. They were well versed in Christianity if they would just receive Christ as the Messiah. Therefore, he was a stumblingblock and not just pure foolishness. They witnessed his miracles and his message during his ministry. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42-43)

Interestingly, one of the most powerful miracles that Jesus did greatly concerned the leaders of the Jews. “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.” (John 12:10-11) Think about that and consider how evil these leaders were. What would be a greater testimony to Jesus than Lazarus walking the streets and entering the market place? Christ raised him from the dead and they knew it. They consulted about how to get rid of the evidence that Jesus was the Christ. That evidence was Lazarus. Do you think people won’t be extremely evil to support the status quo and their sheltered beliefs? They were very evil!

What we are witnessing in scripture is the gradual separation between Judaism and Christianity. They continued in their Jewish traditions but came to understand that they too were a royal priesthood so their focus began to turn to Jesus Christ instead of their corrupt leaders. Jews that did not believe, or didn’t want to believe, in Christ reinforced this gradual separation. As is always the case with those that do not believe there is a separation (sometimes violent).

What often separated the Jews from Christianity? It wasn’t miraculous but what we read in Acts 17 beginning at verse 10: “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.”

What scriptures did they search? They searched the same scriptures that the Jews searched. It took some time for the apostolic letters to be written (mostly by Paul to the Gentiles). When you think of the NT the first person you often think of is the Apostle Paul. Of course, Gentiles received some of these same OT scriptures as a proof text for Christ but I suspect their understanding was not the understanding of a studied Jew. They had their faith and the Jews had their scriptures. And so, we see the natural conflict develop between Jews and Gentiles in Acts 15. Not only between Jews but between the Apostles too.

As you can see, we can search the scriptures and we are not required to receive the Holy Spirit in some miraculous way. The word is perfect (complete). “For we know in part, and we prophesy [publicly expound] in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1st Corinthians 13:9-11)