2 John 9

Memory Verse

Everyone who steps beyond and does not abide in the doctrine of the Christ; he does not have God. The one abiding in the doctrine of the Christ, this one also has the Father and the Son (2 John 9).

The doctrine of the Christ is the instructions for the grace believer’s conduct as a saint. The Christ is the new creation in which God made Christ, the resurrected, glorified one, the head and the Church His body (Ephesians 1:22–23; 2 Corinthians 5:14—the believer is not a new creation or creature, he is in a new creation). In the Christ, we are all equally a part of one body.

It is important for a Pastor to hold fast according to the doctrine of the faithful word, in order that he is able to encourage with healthy teaching (Titus 1:9). Healthy teaching is information that is to be known but not put into practice, where doctrine is to be put into practice. A pastor must have healthy teaching, or he will mix up Old Testament information with New Testament requirements, resulting in unhealthy teaching.

The doctrine of the Christ is to be taught in and out of season. The pastor is to convince, rebuke, and exhort with long–suffering and doctrine, for the time is now that men do not endure sound teaching, but according to their own desires they heap up teachers and turn their ears from the truth (2 Timothy 4:2–3).

Those who teach another doctrine, which goes beyond, or literally transgresses, the doctrine of the Christ, do not have God. These are the ones who teach the doctrine of the Nicolaitans; the separation of the clergy from the congregation (Revelation 2:6, 15). In Christ, we are all equal (1 Corinthians 12:13). We each have a position, and each position holds value to the whole body (1 Corinthians 12:19).