There are limits to the Word

Scripture Read: 2 Jn 8-11 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Application: In our desire to get out of the Word of God all that we can, we must be careful to not become so zealous that we actually become disobedient. How can that happen? Is it really a big deal? Some take the teaching of Christ and go even further with it. 

Consider -  proago προάγω - to go beyond established bounds of teaching or instruction, with the implication of failure to obey properly—‘to go beyond bounds, to fail to obey.’ πᾶς ὁ προάγων καὶ μὴ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ‘anyone who does not remain in the teaching of Christ but goes beyond it’ 

This is used to warn about becoming so arrogant that you think you can move ahead of what the Lord has taught and in reality you are moving away from truth and disobeying. There were those during this time that considered themselves “more enlightened” than others. They were quite self-adsorbed and in love with themselves, sadly this is still true today.  The higher critics that take from the Word what they desire and then add, twist, change the truth. Any of us could do that if we are not careful. I believe many believers do this without realizing it – though it usually has to do with liberty issues. John was warning about going beyond scripture, but he was speaking directly about the doctrine of Christ which is far more dangerous than liberty issues. Teaching Who Christ is wrongly will leave the soul in condemnation. Clear doctrine is non-negotiable and non-debatable – but liberty issues are between God and the individual – yet many try and make their personal conviction solid doctrine. Liberty issues wrongly taught may divide and bring bondage. A lot of damage can be done in the Body through this mistake. The Word teaches that each of us should have a conviction on all we do, but that conviction is between us and the Lord when it comes to issues that are not black & white commands.  Lord thank You for Your Word, please help us to not go beyond what it teaches.

* Meditation Questions: Can you allow the plain sense of scripture make common sense? Are you ever trying to find something in scripture or just allowing it to say what it says? Can you see that when it comes to liberty issues each person can hold a different conviction?