The true Church

Are You Ready to Meet the Lord

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Ready for the Day of the Lord

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5

Our last lesson was about the return of the Lord Jesus so we know for sure that He will return.

So, we should ask ourselves, are we ready for the return of the Lord?

We must not be confused about death and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus died in our place so, in a real sense we will never die.

A true death is, to live forever without God in our lives, in suffering and despair.

Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

This place of suffering is the same place where the Devil will spend his eternity.

Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

It is a fact there will be degrees of punishment in Hell.

Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

In Hell there will be a total absence of favor with God.
In Hell there will be an endless disturbance of life as a result of the complete domination of sin.
In Hell there will be endless pain and suffering in body and soul.
In Hell there will be pangs of conscience, there will be anguish, there will be despair, there will be weeping, and there will be gnashing of teeth.

A true life is living throughout eternity with God in our lives.

Believers will enjoy an eternal fellowship in the company of Jesus Christ.

Believers will live in fellowship, relaxation, joy, and happiness throughout eternity.

There will be a New Heaven and a New Earth!

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The New Jerusalem will be a literal city because God has given us the measurements.

It is in the New Jerusalem where God will dwell in fellowship with mankind forever and ever!

How could anyone choose a place called Hell over a place called Heaven?

*1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

We will never know the exact day or the exact time of the return of the Lord but the Lord told us Himself that we should be able to tell when that time gets close.

Mat_16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Mat_16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

The signs point to the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The day and the time of the return of Christ is not up for discussion the Lord has already said.

Those that set dates on the return of Jesus Christ cannot know what they are talking about!

Times can extend over many years but the seasons, the things that happen in critical periods of time can be looked at and observed such as Israel returning to the Promised Land and the things that are happening today, in Israel and all over the world.

Only God knows when the details of His return will be fulfilled!

The Lord is coming just as a thief in the night has planned his dirty deed. Suddenly and unexpectedly!

We know that the Lord Jesus will first come to meet His Church in the clouds.

Then at least seven days later, this “Day of the Lord” is that period of time in which the Lord will return to deal with wicked men directly and dramatically in judgment.

There is a day coming when God will punish those who have followed the ways of Satan, the Devil.

Every soul will come under judgment.

We can know that this will be the day when the earth has reached such a depraved condition that it is hopefully lost forever and sits ripe for the “judgment” of God!

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Isa 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Isa 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

The day of the Lord will be on that day when the world of unbelievers feel that they are so secure that even a God cannot stop them.

Suddenly out of nowhere God will strike this earth!

It will be on a scale as it was in the days of Noah and the time of Lot.

Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

The “day of the Lord” will be a day of catastrophic destruction.

The “day of the Lord” will be a day of no escape for all those who have always been above the law and ignored the Word of God.

Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

The “day of the Lord” will be a dark and miserable day for all those who are left upon this earth.

*1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

A believers we live in the Light of Jesus Christ now, just as we will when we get to Heaven!

Rev_22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

The “day of the Lord” will not be a surprise to the Church because we know the Lord does not ever break a promise.

That word “overtake” means the Lord will return to this earth when He is least expected.

2Pe_3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The true Church will not be caught off guard.

1) By studying the Word of God we are not in spiritual darkness of ignorance.

Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

What we do know is that we will welcome the “day of the Lord” as we would welcome the morning hours of a beautiful day full of light and full of joy.

To the unbeliever it will be a terrible day!

Amo 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
Amo 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
Amo 5:20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

2) Being a child of God is being a child of the Light.

Joh_8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Joh_11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

As the Lord Jesus returned to Heaven, the Church has now become the light of this world.

Mat_5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

We are not only the children of the Light.

3) We are the children of the Day.

We will escape the Judgment of God!

We are the receivers of God’s glorious salvation and His deliverance.

We are looking forward to the return of our Savior to take us home to be with Him.

We should be always praying and thinking about the things of God and our responsibility to reach people for Christ.

The “Day of the Lord” is so close that we can almost see it.

*1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

In this verse this sleep refers to spiritual sleep. When we are asleep, we are not aware of what is going on around us. When we are asleep spiritually, we are not alert to the things of God and are not aware of what God is doing.

When we are asleep spiritually, we will be caught off guard when the Lord returns to take us home.

We must be alert to the things of God.
We must continue to worship.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We must anticipate the return of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat_16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

We are to live sober lives with discipline and control in righteousness and godliness.

It is certainly not time to quit on God!

We all know that the night refers to evil behavior.

We just need to stay away from those who are asleep to the truth of God other than to witness to them and this should be done in the daytime when no one should be sleeping.

We must stay away from those who indulge in sin and immorality and those who are worldly in their ways.

If a person carouses around in the darkness of the night, then he shows himself to be of the night.

When the Lord Jesus warns us of these things then we need pay attention to Him.

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

*1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

We must remain mentally awake to the truth of God to protect ourselves from this deceitful world.

We must put on the armor of God because we are certainly involved in the war for our souls!

There is the breast plate of faith and love. The breastplate protects the heart of each soldier.

We must focus upon Jesus and His cause with all our heart.

Our faith will protect our heart when we really believe that it is the Lord Jesus who saves us from sin!

Love also protects our heart when we can see the love that Christ Jesus has for us!

We must focus on the truth of Jesus that we never have to die because Jesus died in our place on that cross.
We must know that we will never bear the punishment for our sin because Jesus took our punishment for us.

That helmet is the hope of our salvation.

Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Without the Lord Jesus Christ there is no hope in the world!

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

The fact that Jesus Christ died in our place is the reason we can now have that hope that we will never die!

The reality of this hope is:

1) God has not appointed us to see His wrath on this unbelieving world!
2) God has appointed us to receive salvation from sin, death, and the judgment that is coming to this world!

There is now no excuse for us to fall asleep and return to this world of darkness when we have been saved out of it!

*1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

If we have received the Word of God as the truth then how can we deny what the Lord is saying here in these passages.

One of the greatest jobs of each believer is to comfort one another.

To edify is to build upon and not to pull down!

To edify is to preserve the unity of the Church.

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Every part of the Church and every ministry of the Church must work together to become One Body of Christ!

What is the greatest problem in the Church today? The Church refuses to unite together around the truth of God, the complete truth.

Today, much of the church has descended into rules and religion that have nothing to do to the truth of a Holy God and have forgotten about faith and love!

*1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

We have seen many times that our own Pastor comes to us completely worn out from his labors and yet he still does his very best to give us the message that God has given him for us.

This is what that word labor means.

It means to labor to the point of exhaustion, then to keep laboring even if we have become weary.

It means to work beyond what we are capable of doing.

When we are doing a work for the Lord Jesus, this is the labor that is expected from God.

When we are doing a work for the Church, this is the labor that it takes to succeed in this world of today.

We are to know our church leaders, which means we are to acknowledge and appreciate each and every one of them and show them respect.

We have seen the evidence that few people labor as much as our Pastor and our church leaders especially our Pastor.

At the end of a tiresome day our Pastor still has to handle the business side of the church.

This is also the way of the Apostle Paul and I am sure the other apostles worked as hard to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ by word and by example.

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
1Ti 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

In order for us to acknowledge our church elders we must be at peace with ourselves.

We should not criticize, murmur, grumble, envy and nor oppose our church leaders who are following the will of God.

We may at times have differences of opinion, but we are not to dispute those among ourselves as the Word of God will settle all disputes.

Leaders are not to act as lords over God’s children as we already have the perfect Lord who is Jesus Christ!

But we are to question anyone that acts contrary to Scripture!

Our Church only works when each believer is at peace with themselves and both that leader and that member are at peace with each other all according to the truth of the Gospel.

How did the early Church thrive and succeed?

Act 2:46 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,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

We are to warn those that are in the Church but are against the truth of the Gospel yet, we are to help those babes in Christ to understand.

*1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

We are never to allow unruly church members to destroy the peace of the church family!

We must warn those who are out of line in their disturbances of the church.

Anyone who is causing damage to their own soul must be warned just as any unbeliever.

The Lord will not tolerate unruly behavior in the Church!

Those who come to the church but who leave, going out into the world to do their own thing, should also be warned.

At the same time we are to comfort and assure those who are babes in Christ until they come to the knowledge of the truth.

We need to try to help all those who yield so easily to temptation, and are easily discouraged or defeated.

We need to cling to them as we cling to Jesus never turning loose of either one.

We are to be patient with babes in Christ and patient with each other as the coming of the Lord draws nearer.

It is certainly not a time to quit on the Lord!

We must never render evil for evil to anyone.

When we mistreat someone our testimony with that person is over!

With these things under control there are important things that every church member needs to be doing to make our church a true Church for Jesus Christ.

*1Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
1Th 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

We need to be always rejoicing because our names are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Our prayers are the main way for us to receive things from God. We need to live our lives so that we can always know that God will hear our prayers for if he hears them, He will certainly answer them in one way or another.

We should wake each day giving thanks to God for another day to serve Him.

If we are having a wonderful day then we need to thank God for it.

If we are having a dreadful day then we need to thank Him for helping us through that day.

We need to thank God for His presence and His power as we walk through our trials and tribulations.

All these things are in the will of God for our lives.

If we quench the Holy Spirit then we have lost the power of God in our lives.

If we ignore the Holy Spirit and go our own way then we have neglected Him.

If we allow sinful things into our lives, we will quench the Holy Spirit.

If we behave immorally, we quench the Holy Spirit.

If we do anything contrary to the Holy Spirit, we will quench the Spirit.

We certainly should not ever lie to the Holy Spirit!

If we quench the Holy Spirit, it is a sin that requires God’s forgiveness!

We must never despise the preaching of the truth of God.

This is what the world does and we are to come out from the world.

Neither are we to just blindly accept any preacher or what they say.

Every person is to be tested and proven by measuring the things they say by the Scriptures.

The Scriptures, the Received Text of the early Church are never wrong but some translations can contain errors unintentionally or intentionally.

We must know the Scriptures ourselves to know if we are hearing the truth of God.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

When we know we are hearing the truth of God, then we need to latch on to that person and keep that person as part of the Church of Jesus Christ.

We are also to abstain from all appearances of doing evil!

If we are near anything that has the appearance of evil, we need to flee from it!

If there is even the smallest suggestion that what we are doing could be seen as wrong then we are to flee from it!

Being a Christian has its own responsibilities!

Amen

Living With the Truth

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

A Life Lived in the Truth

Book of 2 John

We already know that “truth” is things that are facts! Things that have been and things that will be and only Jehovah can teach us about those things because He is the truth!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

We also know that the entire Bible is written to the believer and the New Testament teaches us of the early church and the commandments of our Savior.

I say these things so we can move on and not worry if there is some special lady that John was writing to, because in every case we know that John wrote to the Church.

So let’s just get our subjects listed and we can move on.

By the time the Apostle John wrote this epistle, all the other Apostles had been murdered and he was the only remaining Apostle.

All the Apostles but John were murdered because they would not reject our Savior, the true Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the Apostle John who is the “Elder” in this passage.

The “Elect Lady” would then be the “Bride of Christ”.

“Her Children” would be the individual Churches all around the world.

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

These are of the true Church, because they only abide in the complete truth of the Scriptures.

Those who deviate from the truth or use some twisted, perverted version of the truth, cannot be part of the “Bride of Christ”!

It is only the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ that can make us free from the bondage of sin of this world!

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

As we go through this passage let’s keep in mind the subject matter and the persons John is speaking to.

*2Jn 1:1 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;
2Jn 1:2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

We already know that this “Elder” is the Apostle John who may have been nearing the age of 100 years old by this time. We already know that Jesus had given us an indication that John would outlive all the Apostles.

Joh 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Joh 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Joh 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

The Lord has not yet returned, but John did out live all the original Apostles and He was the last Apostle as there can be no more.

We know that to be a true Apostle one had to see Jesus after His resurrection!

That word “elect” means to be chosen!

Not just any chosen, but those chosen by God Himself and those who have elected to serve with the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We can see the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter both used some of the same language, when referring to the Church of the Living God.

We also know that no one can come to the Lord unless, they are called by the Holy Spirit.

It is those who are called that have chosen to believe the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, that then become the elect of God!

Mat_22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1Th 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

You see, as the “elect of God”. we have chosen to accept all the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ without wavering.

We live by the truth of Christ Jesus.
We are saved by the truth of Christ Jesus.
We will walk by the truth of Christ Jesus.
We will die by the truth of Christ Jesus because it takes all these things to “live eternal” with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Only the truth of God can survive throughout eternity!

Psa 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

It is by the truth of God that comes the “Grace of God”!

*2Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

What does the “Body of Christ” do? We are to live in truth and love, with all other believers!

Jesus Christ died and rose again for “One Church”!

It is different men of the Church who divided the Church that Christ died for, into all these denominations because so many reject the complete truth of God.

There is only one God, His name is Jehovah!

There is only one “Word of God” given to us by only One Holy Spirit!

God has said Himself that His will not ever change!

God’s Word is settled in Heaved and it needs to be settled on earth, and all the Church need to stand on the truth of God and stop some of the wickedness that is going on in our world today!

Grace means the undeserved favor of God, but so many in the Church have placed themselves above the “Grace” of God, and think that they are already worthy to be called of God, when none of us are.

Mercy means feelings of pity, compassion, affection and kindness.

Many of these things in the modern church are now used as an excuse to allow the world inside the Church.

We truly are to meet the needs of those we see who have a need, but we are never to forget that salvation must come first, and the commandments of God are not suggestions but true commandments. Commandments that will never change!

God provides the means of our salvation because of His mercy!

That “mercy” comes in the form of God’s “Grace”!

Jesus took upon Himself all the sin of the world!

God will pour out His “Mercy” and His “Grace” only upon those who accept the truth of His Son.

You cannot be a part of God’s “Mercy” by changing the Words that God has said!

You cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit, if you reject any part of the Word of God that was given to us by the Holy Spirit!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Peace means we all, the children of God, are securely bound together by assurance, confidence, and in the love and care of God.

God has shared His knowledge with us, and it is not for us to change!

Why would we want to do something so foolish as the change God’s Word that is true and believe men who are full of lies?

The truth cannot be changed!

Our peace comes in knowing that our God will never change, and He will certainly keep every promise to us He has made!

Jesus is the Son of the Father so therefore He is God! Why do so many question this truth?

Jesus Christ possesses all the character of God because He is God!

Grace is all the richness of the heart and mind of God!

God’s “Grace” is the reason behind our life!

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

No one can “earn” the favor of God as so many try to do!

We will never “be worthy” enough to receive the gifts of God!

“Grace” brings to us all the good and perfect gifts of God!

There is no evil in God’s Grace, because there is no wickedness in God at all!

There is only one way to walk and be a part of God’s Church!

*2Jn 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

You see, it is a commandment to walk in the truth of God, which will never change.

You cannot see the roots of plants, but you know they are doing their job by looking at that plant.

It is the same with the Christian. We can see the true Christian by seeing how they are obedient to the Word of God!

Remember to be more like Jesus, is our goal and Jesus kept all the Word of God.

God said His commandments are not grievous, so He gives us the ten commandments to start with, and then we are to grow in all the Word of God.

We are commanded to walk as Jesus walked and this is to be our daily walk!

If the church has the truth and teaches the truth, then her children will know the truth and walk in the truth!

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

The very first commandment of the Church is to walk in love!

*2Jn 1:5 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.
2Jn 1:6 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.

That word “beseech” means, “it is urgent”, “it is necessary” that we all of the Church “love one another”.

There are no rewards for this love because it is a commandment!

How does this love come about? We walk after commandments!

To love is not a new commandment! It goes all the way back to the laws of Moses and the very first one is to love our Heavenly Father and the next one is to love each other with that same love of God.

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

We cannot walk with God, unless we walk first in these two commandments!

We are not walking with God, unless we walk in these two commandments!

Where is the proof that the Church follows all the Word of God?

It is by the way each child of God walks outside the Church in the commandments of God!

It is by the way the children of God walk when no one is watching them!

You see, our love for the Lord is seen in our obedience to His commandments.

Our love for each other is seen, in our actions toward all the Church.

Our love for our enemies is also seen in our walk with the Lord!

*2Jn 1:7 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.

A deceiver is anyone who would lead you away from the truth of God!

This includes any portion of the Word of God.

Mat_5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Luk_16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

They will make wander away from your walk with God.

They lead you astray from the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

They are charlatans!

They are imposters!

Some have always been near the Church, but there are far more today than there have been in the past. At least here in America, which was at one time the key to foreign missions, but now as many missionaries come to America as there are that leave America to go to foreign nations.

In fact America has fallen so far into sin, that there is a great need for missionaries to stay home rather than go to foreign lands.

Deceivers are everywhere!

They have found a home in our politicians.
They have found a home in our colleges and universities.
They have found a home in our schools.
They are doing their very best to get inside our homes!

The fact is, any of us can be a deceiver if we do not take the time to study the Scriptures ourselves.

There are more deceivers inside the church than there are outside the church!

They reject the “Gospel”.

They reject the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

They reject that Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ).

They reject major portions of the Scriptures, and choose only certain ones they will use to prove their point therefore deceiving the Church.

We cannot reject any part of the “Gospel” and still be saved!

We cannot reject that Jesus is the Messiah, come down from Heaven and be saved!

We cannot reject that the Lord Jesus followed all the Word of God and was never disobedient, He is a sinless Savior!

We cannot reject that the Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross to die for all our sins!

If we deny any part of the truth of Jesus, then we have denied that there is a God.

We absolutely cannot allow any deceiver to poison the truth of Heaven!

We must be on guard for deceivers who are waiting on the opportunity to be alone with a group of babes in Christ and to get an opportunity to get behind some pulpit, to slander the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our Holy God!

Eze 33:4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
Eze 33:5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
Eze 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

We have been warned!

*2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

We must be prepared to warn the church if we see any deceiver, but we must also prepare ourselves so we will know a deceiver when we see them or better, hear them.

When we meet Jesus in the air at the “Judgment Seat of Christ” we will not have to worry about our salvation because we have been “Justified” and “Pardoned” and neither of these two things will ever change!

Another truth is, that this is the time when we will receive or not receive rewards we have earned.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, “and that he is a rewarder” of them that diligently seek him.

I use this Scripture a lot about “faith”, but another truth is that God is a Rewarder!

God does not give rewards and then take them away! This is not the purpose of the “Judgment Seat of Christ”!

This is when the Lord will let us know the rewards we could have had, had we not done things against His Word!

God has all these rewards that He wants to give to us, and it is really in our own hands as to how many rewards we can receive!

*2Jn 1:9 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.

What is this “Doctrine of Christ”?

There are the teachings about Christ that we are to believe!
There are the teachings of Christ that we are to follow!

Our standard in life must be the Lord Jesus Christ! We must look at our Savior and see how we measure up!

Those who go beyond the teaching of Jesus Christ, are adding to the Word of God.

Those who fall short in their teachings of Christ, are subtracting from the Word of God and both of these are false teachers!

The “Doctrine of Jesus Christ” then is all the truth revealed to us by Jesus Himself and that was passed down to those twelve Apostles when we add the Apostle Paul and that was taught to the early Church and this same Doctrine is still in full force today.

It is not to be added to and it is not to be subtracted from!

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

The basis of the Church is now, has always been, and will remain, until His return, the “Doctrine of Jesus Christ”!

It is by Jesus Christ that is the foundation of the Church!

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

It is by Jesus Christ that gives the Church direction as He is the Head of the Church.

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

It is by Jesus Christ that nourishment is given to the Church.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

It is by Jesus Christ who cleanses the Church.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

It is by Jesus Christ that physical and spiritual gifts come into the believers of the Church.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

When you kick Jesus out of the Church, then you have no Church!

Because it is Jesus who intercedes for the Church!

Jesus will never intercede for a deceiver!

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Jesus is the Advocate for each believer.
Jesus is preparing a home for each believer.
Jesus is producing fruit in the life of each believer.

The Church cannot operate without the Church teaching all the “Doctrine of Jesus Christ”!

*2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Again we see that the Apostle John does not beat around the bush, but comes straight to the point. Anyone who does not teach the full “Doctrine of Christ” then they should be sent out the doors of the Church, because they do not belong in the Church.

Of course they should be offered a chance to repent after someone points out the truth to them!

Anyone who comes into the Church that preaches some other doctrine than the “Doctrine of Jesus Christ”, then they to need to be shown the door and once again offering to them the truth and a chance to repent, but not many will because they came in with Satan’s purpose.

If we cannot remain loyal to Christ, how can we say we are Christian!

We must not receive a false teacher!

How many of us have hade that visit from a Jehovah Witness and after we have been nice and rejected their teaching, wish them a good day.

We are wrong for this, we need only send them on their way, wishing them a bad day!

False teachers are not to be allowed in our Church!
False teachers are not to be allowed in our homes!

We are never to listen what false teachers are teaching, because in the end their intention is to cause confusion!

We must disciple our own babes in Christ so they to, will follow the “Doctrine of Jesus Christ”, the truth of the Church!

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

If we have come out from them, why would we ever want to hear what they have to say?

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

There is no other “Doctrine” for the Church that the “Doctrine of Jesus Christ”!

Then John closes out this small book of the Bible.

*2Jn 1:12 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.
2Jn 1:13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

This is a very short letter written to the early Church. We know that each letter was passed to every Church until they all had read what John had to say and remember the Holy Spirit inspired all the Word of God.

All who want to know the truth today, can now have a copy of the completed Word of God.

John had made the point that it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the truth of the Church and therefore a body of people where the Gospel is not preached are not part of the true Church, no matter what they call themselves.

Any preacher who will not take a stand on the truth of God, is not then a man of God!

2Co 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

I can say I am Christian and if I do then I’m saying I have given my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ because I know the truth!

I can truly say lead me Lord and I will follow!

Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

There is no other path for these things to remain true!

Amen

Let’s Pray!