For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 2 John 1:7-10 NASB

We normally think of cults when we read this passage, because surely it is the cults who do not recognize Jesus’ coming in the flesh. But this passage goes on way beyond recognizing Jesus Coming in the flesh.

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God;

Today as I read WordPress and watch u-Tube messages recommended to us by some on WordPress, I find many who believe that Jesus came in the flesh, yet do not abide in His teachings. These try to make Jesus a part of the dispensation that came before the giving of the Holy Spirit, and thus they build a case for not following the teachings of Jesus, because He is still teaching under the dispensation of law. So who did John write these words to? Was it to just Israel as some say?

The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. 2 John 1:1-6 NASB

The belief is that since the elect lady whom John is addressing here is Israel, that this message is not to us, but we are one with the saints. One in the commonwealth

Of Israel, and we are certainly of those John speaks of here:

“but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace will be with us,”

We are these people, and if you can overlook verse 6 in this message to you from John, then you become one who he is telling us not to associate with.

So what did Paul mean when he was dealing with men of faith who had termed back to the law, for Paul said if you’ve done this; then you have abandoned this Jesus who taught you to love Him by keeping His commandments for another Jesus, one who did not teach you to keep the Jewish laws but His commandments.

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3 NASB

How does one start with faith? Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Hearing the word and believing it produces faith. Faith produces a changed heart, a heart circumcision.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6-7 NASB

These men were saying it’s the circumcision of the flesh that matters, but Christ came to circumcise the heart.

9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” Mark 10:9 NASB

When you receive Christ you in effect are married to Him. Don’t let a man tell you to go back into the flesh. Into the laws pertaining to the flesh. The laws Christ brought to your heart through heart circumcision are Spirit and truth, not flesh.

Romans 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (KJV)

Do you not see what Jesus is telling us?

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 NASB

The entire Ten Commandments and everything that God wants of mankind are contained in our love for God and our love for our fellow man. If we love we will not use others in adultery, in the coveting of their things, in the theft of their things, in telling hurtful things about them, in Lying, we will not dishonor our father and mother. This is the law that Jesus has brought to our hearts in the New Covenant in His blood. This is His righteousness in us.

Yet there are those who say no, there is no way that we can keep these. But John says that we can, but that we have Jesus as our advocate with the Father should we fail.

So which Jesus should we serve?