"On every page of the God-breathed writings are many thoughts that stretch out like long, clear arms of light across the darkness, discovering things otherwise hidden and illuminating wider areas than those of the immediate context. They are searchlights. I have selected one in each chapter of Scripture, for at least one central thought in every chapter should arrest the mind and affect the life," wrote G. Campbell Morgan, a skilled, wise, warm-hearted Bible teacher who conducted a classic 3-year study called Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible. Here is the fruit of that research—summarized, illustrated, and amplified with useful details—on all 66 books of the Bible.
DEUTERONOMY, JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH,
1 JOHN, 2 JOHN, 3 JOHN, JUDE, REVELATION
2 John 1:9 "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God." Second John and Third John are two short letters by the apostle John on the practical matter of hospitality. This one focuses on the persons to whom no Christian hospitality is to be extended. They are described as deceivers who have gone out into the world to promote a particular brand of false teaching that denies "the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh" (verse 7). As verse 9 makes clear, those deceivers knew better but decided to depart from apostolic doctrine about Christ, thus demonstrating they never knew God in the first place. These persons claimed to be leaders, advanced thinkers, and true progressives. The Gnostic teachers of that time, like progressives today, were claiming that while the Gospel of the historic Jesus might be sufficient for unenlightened people, they possessed knowledge that was far more profound. The apostle John, who knew the historic Jesus, refuted this false teaching in all his writings. Here he says whoever abides in biblical teaching about Christ "has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works" (verses 9-10). In this warning we find a principle of perpetual application. There is always room for advanced thinking and progressive interpretation, for the things of Christ are as profound as God and life. We never ought to be content to remain with only the first principles of truth, but to seek to grow in our knowledge. There is one infallible test for any thinking that claims to be advanced or progressive: does it contradict first principles? Thinking that denies the fundamental facts of the Christian faith, including the reality that Jesus is God in human flesh, is not progressive but is in fact retrogression and apostasy.
No comments:
Post a Comment