Page 1260 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_12_MacArthur_Bible_Dec.qxd 8/8/03 17:33 Page 1241

DECEMBER 9
commandment to you, but that which we have
had from the beginning: that we love one
6
another. This is love, that we walk according
to His commandments. This is the command- 10 do not receive him into your house nor
ment, that as you have heard from the begin- greet him. John’s prohibition is not a case of
ning, you should walk in it. entertaining people who disagree on minor
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the matters.These false teachers were carrying on
world who do not confess Jesus Christ as com- a regular campaign to destroy the basic, fun-
ing in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an damental truths of Christianity. Complete dis-
8
antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not association from such heretics is the only
lose those things we worked for, but that we appropriate course of action for genuine
may receive a full reward. believers. No benefit or aid of any type (not
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in even a greeting) is permissible.Believers should
the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He aid only those who proclaim the truth (vv.5–8).
who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both
10
the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope
you and does not bring this doctrine, do not to come to you and speak face to face, that our
11
receive him into your house nor greet him; for joy may be full.
he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
12 Having many things to write to you, I did Amen.

DAY 8:Why is it so important to John to “confess Jesus Christ as coming
in the flesh”(2 John 7)?

John’s purpose was to strengthen Christians to resist the tide of heresy that was rising against
the church. Much of this false teaching was an early form of Gnosticism.
The gnostic idea that matter was evil and only spirit was good led to the idea that either the
body should be treated harshly, a form of asceticism (Col. 2:21–23), or that sin committed in the
body had no connection or effect on one’s spirit. In other words, the false teaching sought to drive
a wedge between body and soul. This is why it often maintained that Jesus could not have been
God and man at the same time.
The result of this error in teaching was compounded when some,including John’s opponents,
concluded that sins committed in the physical body did not matter. Absolute indulgence in
immorality was permissible. One could deny sin even existed (1 John 1:8–10) and disregard God’s
law (1 John 3:4).
As a bulwark against this heresy, John lifted the confession that “Jesus Christ [came] in the
flesh”(v. 7).What Christians do in their physical life is directly connected with what they do in their
spiritual life.John emphasized the need for obedience to God’s laws,for he defined the true love for
God as obedience to His commandments (1 John 5:3). Jesus, in His human living, offered the per-
fect example of that kind of love.

And the new wine shall fail in her.
December 9 3 They shall not dwell in the LORD’s land,
But Ephraim shall return to Egypt,
And shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
4 They shall not offer wine offerings
Hosea 9:1–10:15
to the LORD,
9 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy Nor shall their sacrifices be pleasing
like other peoples,
to Him.
For you have played the harlot against It shall be like bread of mourners to them;
your God. All who eat it shall be defiled.
You have made love for hire on every For their bread shall be for their own
threshing floor. life;
The threshing floor and the winepress It shall not come into the house
2
Shall not feed them, of the LORD.

1241