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It has been many years since I have heard teaching of heavenly
rewards for spiritual service. I know some of this failure has
come out of teaching we must serve the LORD because we love Him
and not for selfish reasons. It is essential that our service to
the Lord is based in our love for Him, however that is not a
reason to neglect teaching about the rewards God has promised us.
I believe that since God told us there would be rewards He must
have wanted us to desire the rewards. Consider an Olympic
athlete, he trains for his sport and he knows that he is good…perhaps
the best but just winning is not enough. The athlete wants to
stand on the platform and receive the prize he has won. Most
athletes would be able to excel in any of several sports. They
have the physical attributes and athletic ability that is needed
so why do they participate in the sport they have chosen? They
love their particular sport. As Christians we need to strive to
win…to keep God’s commandment…to run the race and
seek the reward. We just need to remember that we are running
because we love our Saviour.
Verses 9-11. Here John is emphasizing the need for discretion. If
the elect lady were to invite someone who is unsaved into her
home, treat them graciously and bless them as they leave she
would be encouraging them in the sinfulness. The problem is not
in being gracious but in blessing those who teach anything other
than the deity and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
as the method of attaining heaven. Any religion that denies the
deity of Jesus Christ is directing people to an eternity in Hell.
They may be nice people by societies standards…they may be
good neighbors but the only way to heaven is through the shed
blood of God’s only Son, Jesus. John 14:22-27 “Judas
saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt
manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep
my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which
ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with
you.
But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.”
John 3:18-19 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but
he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.”
Verses 12-13. John simple wrote of his desire to once again see
this beloved friend. And he told her that her nieces and nephews
sent their regards.
To close this study I would like for each of you to take the
first 6 verses of 2 John and substitute Jesus or Holy Spirit in
place of the word truth.
2 John 1-6
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love (in a
social or moral sense) in ___________; and not I only, but also
all they that have known _____________;
For the ________ ___________'s sake, which dwelleth in us, and
shall be with us for ever.
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. (affection or benevolence)
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in
____________, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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 (in a social or moral sense) one another.
And this is love, (affection or benevolence) that we walk after
his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard
from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
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