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Deceivers Denying Christ

Category: Failure of truth

Could endure: Continue in the teaching of Christ.
“As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 6)
Cross-Refs: John 15:10; 1 John 2:24.

Chose wrongly: Denied that Jesus came in the flesh.
“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world.” (2 John 7)
Cross-Refs: 1 John 4:2–3; 1 Timothy 4:1–2.

Endured (negatively): Marked as the deceiver and the antichrist.
“Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 7)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 24:24; Revelation 13:14.

Why (wrong motive): Spirit of deception, rebellion against truth.
“This is the spirit of the antichrist.” (1 John 4:3)
Cross-Refs: 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10; Jude 4.

Result: Condemned, exposed as enemies of Christ.
“Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for.” (2 John 8)
Cross-Refs: Hebrews 10:26–27; Revelation 22:19.

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Not Abiding in Christ’s Teaching

Category: Failure of perseverance

Could endure: Remain in Christ’s doctrine to have the Father and Son.
“Anyone who continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9b)
Cross-Refs: John 14:23; Colossians 2:6.

Chose wrongly: Ran ahead and went beyond Christ’s teaching.
“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God.” (2 John 9a)
Cross-Refs: Galatians 1:6–9; 1 Timothy 6:3–4.

Endured (negatively): Lost fellowship with God.
“…does not have God.” (2 John 9a)
Cross-Refs: John 15:6; 1 John 2:23.

Why (wrong motive): Pride, desire for novelty, rejection of apostolic authority.
“They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about.” (1 Timothy 1:7, parallel)
Cross-Refs: 2 Peter 2:18; Jude 16.

Result: Excluded from true fellowship.
“Do not take them into your house or welcome them.” (2 John 10)
Cross-Refs: Romans 16:17; Titus 3:10.