Title: Real and Fake (2 John 1:7-13)
Contents
In today's world, it is very difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.
Not long ago, a Rolls-roid car made in China became a hot topic on the Internet. It's called a 'fake Rolls-roid'. On the surface, however, it was really difficult to tell which was real and which was fake.
Even just looking at the flowers around us, butterflies and bees come to see how well they make harmony like a real flower these days.
It is difficult to distinguish the real from the fake, even in our religious life.
Among first-century Christians, there were many who hid the true truth.
The Bible says, "Many deceivers have gone out into the world." These were specifically "those who deny the coming of Christ in the flesh."
They did not believe in the fact that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in order to accomplish the work of redemption for mankind, and they deceived people by saying that such a fact was a lie.
In verse 7 of the text, such people are called “antichrists”.
There are many such antichrists around us today. There are many who deny the series of events related to Jesus, such as the virgin birth, bodily resurrection, and second coming of Jesus Christ, and all these are, according to the Bible, antichrists. The Bible teaches us to be firm with these people.
"If anyone comes to you without this teaching, do not bring him into your house or greet him, for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."
In order to be wary of those who preach false teachings and to stay away from them, we must first put ourselves in the right teachings and right faith. To do this, we must be faithful to our worship life, the life of the Word, and the life of prayer.
Today too, we must meditate on the Word of God and stay awake in prayer in order to live in the right faith. I hope that you will be able to live in the right faith and be wary of those who spread false teachings around us.