“Watch Out!” – 2 John 8-9

2 John 8-9 – “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 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.”

Have you ever been in a church service or been watching a television preacher and just felt like something was “off”? You felt like something was missing. The message just seemed a little off or perhaps something in the preacher’s style or personality made you ill at ease. Perhaps there was a large crowd there in person or watching on television, so there must be something redeeming and worthwhile about what is going on there, right?

I once heard a man tell about teaching a seminary class. He told the class he was going to talk about the basics of Christianity, but intentionally leave something very important out. He wanted them to try to guess at the end what he had left out. He got to the end of his description of the basics of Christianity and asked the class what was missing. No one could come up with the correct answer despite the fact that the thing that was missing was Jesus Christ! He never mentioned Jesus and this class full of Christian seminary students never caught it.

Some of the teaching that is out there today sounds really good, but is missing one very key ingredient. The message may be helpful. It may sound nice and have good stories. It may be delivered with passion, entertainment, and eloquence, but be missing what matters most – Jesus.

John warns “the chosen lady” and us to “watch out” for those who run ahead and do not continue in the teaching of Christ. Such a person “does not have God.” They may have the form and appearance of one who has authority and knowledge, but if they don’t have Christ, they have nothing. False teachers and deceivers are out there. We must be discerning. It’s all about Jesus. Let’s not ever forget that.