Stay In-Bounds!

2 John 9 (NIV),

⁹ Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

John provides 3 scenarios whereby the local Christian fellowship ought to be concerned.   The first one is found in verses 7-8.  Verse 9 provides another situation that the Church ought to beware of.  I think the first case includes those who have left the Church and are preaching a Gnostic heresy.  The Church is not to capitulate to them, nor silence their true proclamation of the Gospel.  This verse describes another type of person -- a person who goes beyond the limits of the Gospel. 

"Goes on ahead probably refers to “new” teaching that amounted to rejection of the apostolic faith." [1].  This seems to be more a threat in the Church than outside.  We are not to "add to" the message of Christ. The question is, "What message is that?"  "Now the standard by which the false teachers are to be tested is called the “teaching,” which is another technical term to denote the message or preaching of the apostles." [2]  Or as MacArthur states, "A failure to be faithful to the fundamental, sound doctrines of the faith (a proper view of the person and work of Christ, love, obedience) marks a person as having never been born again (1 John 2:23; 3:6–10; 4:20, 21; 5:1–3)." [3] 

The person that adheres to this body of instruction has "both the Father and the Son," ergo, they are true believers. 

When Paul wrote his first letter to Corinth, he suggested a similar issue.  He wrote, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.” (1 Corinthians 4:6, NIV). We are to stay "in-bounds", namely within the prescribed apostolic tradition.  As soon as we add to this by prescription we endanger ourselves and others. Someone who lives outside of the message of Christ is not his.

Father, I sure get the concern of Paul.  I know what it feels like to think that you know more than the New Testament -- to think that I have insight others don't.  What abominable pride.  How weird it is that we struggle to remain in the clear boundaries of Scripture.  There really is a lot that You don't teach us about.  There really is a lot left unsaid.  But Father there is so much within The Teaching of Your Word that is ignored by me.   There is so much I pay little attention to.  Yes, it is sinful, hell-deserving pride that ignores what You do write in order to embrace what You don't address.  Keep me "in bounds" Father.  There is more in the fence than I can handle without moving outside the fence.  For the sake of Christ and the eternal health of Your Church.  Amen.

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1.  Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2441). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2643). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. The MacArthur Study Bible. 1997 (J. MacArthur, Jr., Ed.) (electronic ed.) (1977). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.