2023-08-08 “transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ”

II John 1:9  “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

It is both our duty and the yearning of our God-given heart to learn more and more of “the doctrine of Christ” and to both live it and declare it.  But, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ” are those who hear of and are aware of “the doctrine of Christ”; but they outrightly reject it.  In the course of their life, when they are exposed to “the doctrine of Christ”, they ignore it and dismissively pass right on by it.  When presented with the opportunity, they refuse to abide “in the doctrine of Christ”.  We are astonished at how completely they reject “the doctrine of Christ”, for we are most lovingly drawn to it, and we hunger for it.  But, we understand, for those who summarily dismiss and reject “the doctrine of Christ” “hath not God” within them.  Our Lord put it this way: “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23) and “ye therefore hear them [His Teachings] not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47).  But, “He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”; that is, “the Father and the Son” have permanently indwelled them (Romans 8:8-11).  So, there is an inherent divide amongst all of humanity; those who “hath not God” and those who “hath both the Father and the Son”.  Those who “hath not God” are exclusively motivated and guided by their carnal lusts.  Furthermore, they have no will nor desire to change course; for our Lord plainly declared that “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44) and “no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (John 6:65).  But, those who “hath both the Father and the Son” are those who have been given Spiritual Life (John 3:1-8) and they strive to subdue their carnal lusts and joyfully cleave to “the Father and the Son” and “the doctrine of Christ”.