2 John 1:1-13 NKJV
1 The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. 6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
“And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another” (5). The apostle reminds the church—the elect lady and her children—to love one another. Because Christians still have the sinful flesh, the exhortation to love one another always needs to be heard. And lest the saints think of love as the world thinks of it, the apostle adds, “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments” (6). God’s commandments show us how we love God and how we love our neighbor. We love our neighbor by obeying lawful ordinances, protecting our neighbor in his body, his marriage, possessions, and his reputation. We love God by looking to Him for every good thing, fleeing to Him for refuge in distress, using His name to pray, praise, and give thanks to Him. We love Him by hearing His word and abiding in the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Love for neighbor also means setting boundaries against those who transgresses God’s word and refuse to abide in Christ’s doctrine. John writes, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (10-11). This boundary—like all godly boundaries—is established out of love. If a Christian transgresses, then defends his sin and continues to live in it, he denies the doctrine of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the new life. Excommunication shows him the severity of his impenitence so that he hopefully repents of it, amends his ways, and is restored by the forgiveness of sins.
This boundary also protects others from being influenced by the impenitence of the excommunicated, lest they fall to the temptation to tolerate sin. That only weakens their own faith in God’s Word and their love for the neighbor according to God’s commandments. Supporting those who excuse and defend their sin is not loving. Love desires the sinner’s repentance and restoration by their return to the doctrine of Christ and the forgiveness of sins.
Let us pray: Grant, O Lord, that we abide in the doctrine of Christ and increase our love for You and the brethren. Amen.