Volume 5
Colossians - The Revelation
By John Nelson Darby
The second and third epistles of
John insist on the truth. The
second warns the faithful
against the reception of those
who do not teach the doctrine of
Christ, especially the truth
respecting the Person of Christ.
The third encourages believers
to receive and help those who
teach it. Accordingly they both
(and the second especially) lay
stress on "the truth."
The apostle loved this elect
lady, "in the truth"; as did
also all those who had known the
truth, and that for the truth's
sake. He wished her blessing in
truth and in love. He rejoiced
that he had found some who were
her children walking in the
truth. He desired that there
should be mutual love among
Christians, but this was love,
that they should keep the
commandments; for many deceivers
were come into the world. Now
whosoever transgressed, and did
not abide in the doctrine of
Christ, had not God. He ends his
epistle, of which we have given
an almost complete summary, by
exhorting this lady, in case any
one should come and not bring
this doctrine, not to receive
him into our house, nor say to
him, "God bless you, or be with
you," or "I salute you." For to
do so would be to make herself a
partaker in the evil he was
doing.
The false doctrine which was
abroad at that moment was the
denial of the truth of Christ
come in the flesh; but the
apostle says in a general way
that, if any one transgressed
and did not abide in the
doctrine of Christ, he had not
God.
We learn several important
things in this little epistle.
The mission of a man who went
about preaching was never
brought into question, but the
doctrine which he brought; if he
brought sound doctrine he was
welcome.
A woman having the word — as
this epistle, for example — was
capable of judging his doctrine,
and responsible to do so.
Inexorable rigour was to be
maintained, if the doctrine as
to the Person of Christ was
touched. The door was to be shut
against whoever falsified it.
They were not even to say to
him, "I salute you"; for they
who did so became partakers of
his evil work. It would be to
help on the deceits of Satan.
Moreover the semblance of love
which does not maintain the
truth, but accommodates itself
to that which is not the truth,
is not love according to God. It
is the taking advantage of the
name of love in order to help on
the seductions of Satan. In the
last days the test of true love
is the maintenance of the truth.
God would have us love one
another; but the Holy Ghost, by
whose power we receive this
divine nature, and who pours the
love of God into our hearts is
the Spirit of truth; and His
office is to glorify Christ.
Therefore it is impossible that
a love which can put up with a
doctrine that falsifies Christ,
and which is indifferent to it,
can be of the Holy Ghost — still
less so, if such indifference be
set up as the proof of that
love.
The doctrine of the reward and
crown of glory, which the
labourer possesses in the fruits
of his ministry, is presented in
a very strong light in verse 8.
This second epistle puts
Christians on their guard
against all that is equivocal
with respect to the Person of
Christ; and exhorts to an
unwavering firmness on this
point.
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