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.

God Hears The Cry Of His Child, Because It Is He Who Cries!

Galatians 4:4–7 (NIV),

⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

"God sent his Son at the right moment in human history, when God’s providential oversight of the events of the world had directed and prepared peoples and nations for the incarnation and ministry of Christ, and for the proclamation of the gospel." [1]  "In these words he comprehendeth both the person of Christ and the office of Christ. His person consisteth of his divine and human nature. This he sheweth plainly when he saith, “God sent his own son, born of a woman.” Christ therefore is very God and very man. His office he setteth forth in these words: 'Being made under the law to redeem them that were under the law.'” [2]

Luther then asks this important question, "How did Christ redeem us?"  "Although he be the Lord of the law, and therefore the law hath no authority or power over him (for he is the Son of God), yet of his own accord he made himself subject to the law . . . For it accused him as a blasphemer and a seditious person: it made him guilty before God of the sins of the whole world: it so terrified and oppressed him with heaviness and anguish of spirit, that he sweat blood, and briefly, it condemned him to death, yea even to the death of the cross (Luke xxii. 44)." [2]  

Yes, the Lord of glory who was completely sinless came and lived under the very Law He established that in our place it might condemn Him.  As our sins were placed upon Him, He suffered the consequence of the Law.  “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12, NIV).  

"So Christ, a divine and human person, begotten of God without beginning, and born of the Virgin in the time appointed, came not to make a law, but to feel and suffer and terrors of the law with all extremity, and to overcome the same, that so he might utterly abolish the law." [2]  We all deserved death -- "everlasting death" but instead have received the blessings of adoption.  Are we recipients of this grace because of what we have done?  Absolutely not.  He was made a curse for us.  He redeemed us.  To God be the glory!

Not only that, we are given the gift of the indwelling Spirit of God.  "Every child of God is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19–20). He is the earnest of our inheritance (Eph 1:13–14). All guardians and stewards have been discharged; their supervision is no longer needed because believers are full-grown sons indwelt by the Holy Spirit." [3]  "And although it appear not before the world, that we be renewed in mind and have the Holy Ghost, yet notwithstanding our judgment, our speech, and our confession do declare sufficiently, that the Holy Ghost with his gifts is in us." [4]

And as Luther writes, "When we are in terrors and in the conflict of conscience, we take hold of Christ, and believe that he is our Savior."  It is then we cry, "Abba, Father."  "“Abba” is the intimate Aramaic word for “father,” being equivalent to the English “Daddy,” or “Papa.” Thus, the intimacy of the relationship between God the Father and men, His sons through Christ, is emphasized." [5] 

And it is not just the difficulties of life, but the terrors and torments of the Law that trouble us.  To this too we cry to our Savior. "Wherefore, in the midst of thy temptation and infirmity, cleave only unto Christ, and groan unto him. He giveth the Holy Ghost which crieth, “Abba Father.” And this feeble groaning is a mighty cry in the ears of God, and so filleth heaven and earth, that God heareth nothing else: and moreover, it stoppeth the cries of all other things whatsoever." [6]  It is this cry that confirms that we are sons of God and not merely slaves.  And we must remember that "there is no work or merit that bringeth to him the inheritance, but his birth only." [6]

Father, we as Your children are still in a daze as we ride this rocket of a passage.  In a flash we move from incarnation to glorification, from slave to heir, from fear to firmly grasping Your hand.  I have often struggled with how to help others in the assurance and affirmation of their faith in You.  Today I see that the assurance is in the Gospel.  The essence of the Gospel itself gives us the confidence that we are children of God.  The Gospel is self-authenticating.  What joy! What amazing joy comes from the Gospel.  And oh the depth of the riches of Your grace. Thank you Father for sending Your Son to take the lashes of the Law for my sake.  Thank you for sending Your Spirit to cry into my soul, 'Abba, Father.'   Thank You for Your everlasting peace and infinite love that takes a rebel like me and makes me an heir of Your kingdom.   What amazing, amazing, yes, amazing truth!  May the whole world see it.   To God be the glory!

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1.  Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2251). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:4). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2390). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:6). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

5. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Ga 4:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

6.  Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:6). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.