II John
II John 1:
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; |
The elder — An appellation suited to a familiar letter, but upon a weighty subject.
To the elect — That is, Christian. Kuria is undoubtedly a proper name, both here and in 2 John 1:5; for it was not then usual to apply the title of lady to any but the Roman empress; neither would such a manner of speaking have been suitable to the simplicity and dignity of the apostle. Whom — Both her and her children. I love in the truth — With unfeigned and holy love. --John Wesley's Explanatory Notes |
II John 6:
"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard it from the beginning, ye should walk in it." |
Just as in a hearty, protracted marital relationship, love between spouses consists less in the euphoric feelings of dating and engagement than in the security of commitment and quiet confidence of companionship, so spirituality of the Christian life should be measured not in terms of intense feeling but in certain commitment to Christ evidenced by obedience to His word. If you love Him, you will want to obey Him.
Knowing God's truth and practicing it to become holy will protect us from the rampant antinomianism of this world, this age that is soon to end. Still to come are the Beast and his False Prophet, who will exemplify this anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-law spirit. To endure to the end, to survive the mystery of lawlessness that will mark the end time, we must hold fast to God's Word and seek His righteousness. "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the [New Jerusalem]" (Revelation 22:14). |