Saturday, 20 June 2020
…because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 2 John -2
In this verse, John gives the reason for his statements made in verse 1. These statements were that 1) he loves the elect lady and her children, and 2) all those who have known the truth also love her. He now completes that thought with, “because of the truth which abides in us.”
In other words, this isn’t because of some magnetic personality that makes everyone fawn over her, but because truth resides in her, and indeed in all believers. The word “abides” is a present participle. Right now, not at some unknown point in the future, the truth resides in us. As the Greek more literally reads, “because of the truth, the abiding in us.”
It isn’t that the truth is out there, and we can seek it out when needed. It isn’t that it is available to us when times get tough. It is a truth which we possess, and it has taken up residence in us. This is a concept confirmed by Paul’s statement in Ephesians 1:13, 14 –
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
The word of truth is the gospel message. When that word of truth is accepted, the Holy Spirit –the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:19)/the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17) – abides in us once and forever. Paul states this is a “guarantee of our inheritance,” and John next says in this verse that this truth “will be with us forever.”
Of this, the words “with us” are in the emphatic position – “and with us that shall be.” The verb is future indicative. It shall be; it is a certainty. In other words, and as has been consistently revealed in Scripture, we have the doctrine of eternal salvation. John makes no qualifiers and he states no other conditions. He simply puts forth his words as a definite and certain proposition. The truth is in us, and with us it shall be “forever.”
The term in Greek translated as “forever” is literally “to the age.” It is a way of saying that this state will continue on, unabated, for all time.
Life application: Paul’s word consistently proclaims eternal salvation for the believer. John’s words do the same. And their words simply reflect what Jesus taught concerning those who come to Him. Salvation is a gift, it is given with a promise and guarantee, and it is forever. What part of that process is so hard for people to accept and then proclaim?
Instead, the term “Once Saved Always Saved” is tossed out by doctrinally unsound teachers as if it is a heretical proclamation. And yet, it is exactly what Jesus and the apostles consistently proclaim.
If you are in a Methodist Church, Church of God, or some other denomination which bases its teachings on the doctrine of Jacob Arminius, you are being led by people trained in a theology which says that you can lose your salvation. But the Bible teaches otherwise.
If God, who knows the end from the beginning, seals you with His Holy Spirit (as a guarantee) and then removes it, it would show that God has erred; an impossibility. Therefore, such doctrine is not only unsound; it is contrary to both reason and the surety of God’s word.
Talk to your pastor about these things. Find out where his doctrine is failing, and courteously ask him to consider his stand. Pray that he will see reason and come to stand on the purity of the gospel which teaches eternal salvation – despite ourselves. If he is unwilling to accept the truth of God’s word, it is probably time for you to find another church.
Oh God, one thing we know for certain is that You are perfectly truthful and that what You do can never be thwarted by man or devil. Rather, Your decisions are eternal and they carry the weight and authority of the Creator of all things. Because we know this, we know that we can never be taken from Your strong grasp once we have called out to You through Jesus. In Him, we are saved, saved, saved! Hallelujah, we are saved! Amen.