“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
(2 John 1:9)
As John tells us plainly in this epistle, the doctrine of Christ is integral to knowing God. There is no middle ground; communion with God is inseparably tied to the truth about Christ. God is not known, possessed, or enjoyed apart from the Son as He truly is.
Those who deny the divine essence and person of Christ undermine the very ground of salvation. If Christ is not truly God, His satisfaction of our sin debt cannot be sufficient because a finite being cannot reconcile sinners to an infinite God. So to strip Christ of His divine nature is to empty the cross of its saving power. It also removes Him from His rightful heavenly kingdom, the kingdom He possesses by nature as the eternal Son, and renders Him incapable of exercising that mediatorial kingdom entrusted to Him by the eternal decree of the co-essential Trinity.[1]
John also instructs us how to respond to those who reject the doctrine of Christ: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” Because to offer approval to one who denies the doctrine of Christ is to share in the damage done by that denial.
To prevent confusion or misuse of this command, careful distinctions are required. The Scriptures clearly set forth those foundational truths that are necessary for saving fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So when a person who has lived blamelessly is drawn into error that contradicts these foundations, the church is not called to immediate rejection, but to patient instruction.
Such a person is to be admonished faithfully, not once, but again and again if necessary. The aim is recovery. The hope is repentance. The danger of the error must be explained. The weight of what is being denied must be made clear.
But when a person persists in error after repeated admonition, when truth is rejected and reviled, when grace is treated as ineffective, then such a one is opposing the foundation of faith, hope, love, and justification by faith. He is denying the very crux of Christian worship and obedience.
The language used is severe because the reality is severe. To deny the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is to deny the only true God. When such persons resist the clear witness of Scripture, they condemn themselves because they persist in sinning against known truth.
Against this dark backdrop, the promise of the text shines. “He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” To remain in the truth about Christ is to live in fellowship with the living God. It is to have God as Father and Son in saving communion.
Contemplations:
- Having God through truth. This verse shows me that truth is not an academic exercise but the path of true communion with God and with Christ. God has spoken clearly, and by that clarity He has given me Himself.
- The cost of denying Christ. I feel sobered when I consider how much is lost when Christ’s divine person is denied; it is the loss of God Himself. I am thankful that the gospel I have received provides a Savior able to save completely.
- Patience with seriousness. I am thankful that God dealt patiently with me when my understanding was weak and my heart slow. At the same time, I see that patience does not erase boundaries. So I’m also thankful that His Word is both tender and firm and does not leave the church confused about either.
- Abiding, not advancing beyond. This passage reminds me that life is found in remaining and abiding in Christ. I am thankful that abiding brings life, stability, and joy because it is where God has promised Himself to me.
Prayer (Thanksgiving)
O faithful and gracious God, I thank You that You have not hidden Yourself from us. You have made Yourself known in Your Son, and You have spoken plainly about who He is. I thank You that Your truth gives life. By the doctrine of Christ, You have given me Yourself. That is more than I can measure.
I thank You that Christ is God the Son, equal in glory with the Father, sufficient in His sacrifice, victorious in His resurrection. Because He is who He is, His cross truly saves. Because He is who He is, His kingdom stands firm. I thank You that my hope rests in a Savior who cannot fail.
I thank You for the clarity of Your Word. In a world crowded with voices, You have not left Your church uncertain about the foundation of faith. You have told us plainly that to abide in Christ is to have You, and to abandon Him is to lose everything. This truth protects me, steadies me, and keeps me from chasing hollow substitutes.
I thank You for the patience You show toward those who err. You are not quick to cast off, but call us to instruct, to warn, to plead, and to hope for repentance. I thank You that You dealt with me in that same patience, bearing with my ignorance and correcting me gently.
I also thank You for the firmness of Your truth. You do not ask Your people to pretend that lies are harmless or that denial of Christ is small. You love Your church too much to allow that confusion.
I thank You for the gift of abiding. That I do not need to search for something new to have You, but to remain where You have promised Yourself. Teach me to stay. Teach me to love the truth I have received.
Above all, I thank You that in Christ I have both the Father and the Son. This is more than doctrine. It is life. It is peace. It is hope. Keep me in this truth until the end, and receive my heartfelt gratitude as sincere praise.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for 2 John 1:9:
1 John 2:23; John 7:16; John 8:31; Luke 10:22
[1] Francis Cheynell, The Divine Trinunity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, (London: T.R. and E.M. for Samuel Gellibrand .., 1650), 435–439.
