Christ in 2 John

~ Jesus Christ Is The Source of Truth—The One Who Is Truth ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

Jesus Christ in John’s Three Letters  ~   He is everlasting love in all three epistles.  He is the Great Lover coming for His Bride (His true Church).  But also note that the Apostle John wrote many familiar words in his account of the life of Jesus Christ.  One of the more familiar verses is amplified in these three epistles.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way [3 John], the truth [2 John], and the life [1 John].  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).

Jesus Christ in the Epistle of 2 John  ~  He is the Son of God who has come in the flesh to earth.  He is the manifestation of the One who is True.  As we step back and look at the big picture of the Bible a key part woven throughout the Old and New Testaments is The Messiah coming in human flesh.  Interestingly, a common characteristics of many cults, false religions, and false teachers is the denial of God’s Son coming to earth in bodily flesh.  “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.  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.  Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward” (2 John 6-8). 

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in 2 John.  The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

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~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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Fact Check, 50

~ Cleanliness—Godliness ~    

Bible Quotation?  ~  “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”

The Bible Says  ~  Cleanliness is certainly an admirable and necessary trait.  But that quotation is not from the Bible. 

The Significance  ~  Certainly physical cleanliness is important for physical health.  In similar fashion spiritual cleanliness is important for spiritual health.  “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7a). 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Learn From Gideon, 14

~ God Is A God of Patience ~

The Biblical account of the life of Gideon provides for one of the most interesting character studies in all of Scripture.  In this series we will discover practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Scripture  ~  “Then the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.  Have I not sent you?’  So Gideon said to Him, ‘O my Lord, how can I save Israel?  Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.’  And the Lord said to him, ‘Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.’  Then he said to Him, ‘If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me.  Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.’  And He said, ‘I will wait until you come back’” (Judges 6:14-18). 

Learn From Gideon  ~  While God is a God of patience.  But that does not mean that He will not eventually act and bring judgement to the world and all who are in it.

1. God is a patient God.  “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).
2. God knows our heart and our minds: “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
3. There will come an end to God’s patience.  “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

concluding comment  ~  We learn about Gideon primarily from Judges 6-8, but also Isaiah 9:1-7, and Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-34.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .