2 John 1:7, 9-10
" 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ... 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. "
It is a difficult thing to comprehend that as a Christian we are not to receive anyone nor greet anyone with “God speed” who does not bring the doctrine that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. The phrase “God speed” is a phrase of rejoicing it means that if you saw this person, you would say something like “Oh thank God, it’s wonderful to be with a believer!” Furthermore, notice it says that these deceivers say that Jesus Christ has not come in the flesh. Not just Jesus. This is a huge caveat. To say that Jesus came in the flesh yet deny that He is the Christ is, in effect, what they are doing here. In particular, I can think of two religions that believe that Jesus came as a prophet but not as the Messiah -or Christ-. Those are Islam and Judaism. Both of these religions teach that Jesus was alive and then was crucified but that He was merely a prophet -not the Messiah. Then there are those who, as individuals believe that Jesus came, and was crucified but, by their actions do not believe that He is the Messiah. Although they do not, for the most part, overtly speak this belief, they stubbornly resist humbling themselves to follow Him. It is imperative to note a difference, however. Jesus ate with and received sinners and yet was without out sin so how does that square with this passage? The difference is that the sinners Jesus received were willing to receive Him. In other words, they had been told who He was (or was claiming to be as it were) and they did not reject that notion because of their natural understanding. Instead, they followed after Him or welcomed Him in their homes, or gladly accepted invitations to eat with Him in an honest effort to believe Him. Their hearts were soft and therefore their hearts were changed. This attitude sits in stark contrast to the hard heartedness of those who have been told that Jesus Christ did come in the flesh and as such is the Messiah and yet deny the pricks in their own hearts. This type of person should not be greeted nor received into the house of a redeemed one.
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