Matthew Henry

7-8

The warning against deception comes because of love, for deception tries to move us from the solid ground of faith, which is the basis of love. The deception being addressed involves those who in any way deny that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God come in the flesh of man to redeem mankind. To deny this is to teach that the Messiah has not yet come. In teaching such deceptions, they willfully oppose Christ, for He has given sufficient evidence of His truth. Given that such deceivers were about even in the times of the apostles, it should not be surprising to us to find them active now. In the presence of such deceivers, greater personal diligence is required. Many before have proceeded well in Christianity - gaining solid reputation and having solid understanding - and yet lost it all in the end for lack of diligence. The rich young man stands as an example of such a one - known for his keeping of the commandments, yet at a loss to love God more than the world. We must be careful to lose none of what is potentially ours, no smallest part of our final reward. We must hold fast to Christ and to Christ's religion that we not only allow no man to take our crown (Rev 3:11), but that not even a single jewel of it be lost.

 

 

Adam Clarke

7

As in the previous letter (1Jn 4:1 - the presence of false prophets requiring our diligent testing of every spirit), John warns of those who teach the Gnostic doctrine denying Jesus as having come in the flesh, for our salvation depends on His having done so. The sacrifice could not have been made were He not really here.

8

We must be on guard, watching and praying that we not fall prey to deception. The apostle is particularly sensitive to this for the loss of one of his converts would be a personal loss to himself, as well as to them. Alternatively, and perhaps more probably, the intent is that we ought to be diligent so that we will not lose our own reward, for salvation itself would be lost in the fallacy of Gnosticism.

 

 

Barnes

7

The 'because' or 'for' of this verse should be taken as looking forward to the next. It's not that we ought to love because deceivers are about, but that we should take care because of them. Many are these deceivers, and so much greater is the need for watchfulness because this is so. Such deceivers will tell you that Christ only seemed to be a real man. (1Jn 4:2-3 - such as confess this are not sent from God, but are driven by the spirit of antichrist.) Anyone who holds an incorrect view of Jesus as man and Christ is a deceiver. (1Jn 2:18 - many are those driven by the antichrist spirit, which shows us to be near the end. 1Jn 4:3 - they are clearly not of God.)

8

We are reminded to first and foremost guard our own hearts. "When error abounds in the world, our first duty is not to attack it..., it is to look to the citadel of our own souls, and see that all is well guarded there." John includes himself amongst those in danger, so 'we' might not lose some portion of our reward. Note well that this teaches us that we are all in danger of losing a degree of the glorious reward we could potentially receive in the final days. Heaven's rewards are in accordance with services rendered, and many will not attain to even half of what they might have had, because they have stumbled into some crippling error. None can calculate what that full reward might be for such a one as lives consistently faithful to God. But all certainly feel that this reward ought always to be the goal we work toward.

 

 

Wycliffe

7

Heresy consists in denying the truth of Christ's commandments, and comes of denying His Incarnation. Were he not truly human, ethics would have no basis (1Jn 2:6 - for it is His abiding in us that gives us to walk as He did), nor is there the example of love as it ought to be. They lead astray who do not affirm (deny) not only Christ's having been human, but His remaining so, and His future manifestation once more as Son of man. He came in the flesh, not into. The denial of these things shows the one so speaking to be antichrist. (1Jn 2:28 - whereas we ought to abide in Him such that we have no cause for shame at His return.)

8

When such heresy is present, self-examination is called for. (Mk 13:9 - we are to be on our guard, for many oppose us) in teaching, as well as physically. We should carefully guard the truth that has been planted in us by the teachers of truth, so that our losing of that seed not cause them to lose of their reward, nor we to lose ours.

 

 

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

7

The warning is given, because love and truth must accompany each other. The reason that truth and the love which leads to obedience have been dwelt on is that there is so much deception about. That the deceivers deny Christ's manhood is a token of Antichrist in their teaching. To deny Christ's having come in the flesh, is to deny the Incarnation, is to deny His reality, is to deny the possibility of His return. (Mt 11:3 - He is the Expected One, Heb 10:37 - the Coming One.) To turn away from Christ is the common lot of fallen man, but to actively oppose Him is the work of Satan. Those who teach such deceptions fulfill in some degree the character of Antichrist.

8

In the presence of so much deception, we must watch ourselves (Mt 24:4-5 - for many will claim to be the returning Christ in hopes of leading us astray. Mt 24:24 - These will come with signs and wonders, but even these signs and wonders will be falsehoods.) We must take care not to lose the truth and love of belief which has been taught us by God's workmen. (2Co 6:1 - They work together with God. 2Ti 2:15 - We, too, ought be approved as workmen of God.) The reward we seek comes not as a debt paid for our services, but as a fuller act of grace on God's part. "Each vessel of glory hanging on Jesus shall be full. But the larger the vessel, the greater will be its capacity for heavenly bliss." (Isa 22:24 - All of the glory shall hang on him, from the least bowl to the greatest jar.) The reward will match the capacity of the recipient. (Lk 19:15-19 - Each slave in the parable was placed over a number of cities as they had shown themselves to be capable of. 1Co 15:41 - Glory differs in each object it is found in.)

 

 

New Thoughts

Going back to my question of falling away: I have to admit that it would seem from this that there is the possibility of a true Christian falling away completely. The deceivers went out from within the church. It's possible that they were never true, but it's equally possible that they were. Those whom they deceived may have been Christ's in earnest, might still have thought themselves so as they left. But I cannot convince myself that such as embraced the Gnostic error, and denied the Christ His Christhood would find themselves welcomed into His courts even with some minimal crown. I cannot believe that such as have actively opposed Him to the end will be joining Him in glory. That's just not how it reads. Why all the warnings if we get in anyway? The stakes are higher than we like to believe.

"When error abounds in the world, our first duty is not to attack it..., it is to look to the citadel of our own souls, and see that all is well guarded there." This is something we must bear in mind. God doesn't send us into the battle unequipped, but we seem all to willing to do so ourselves! Of course, there's a corollary. Once we have assured ourselves that our own defenses our strong, that our God is with us, then it is our duty to go forth in His service; to bring down the forces of error by the power of His truth. When we're not jumping out ahead of Him, there's that strong pull to stay in the fort where it's safe. God help us! Most of us have never seen a battle, and know little of the ways of warfare, spiritual or otherwise. It strikes me that the rules of engagement are much the same in many ways. As our commander, I pray You would help us to hear Your orders, and act on them with alacrity. Whether those orders be to stand or to attack, whether they be to guard the fort, or go forth in victory. Your word abounds with examples of the victorious successes that come of obedience to Your command, as well as the ignominious defeats that come of going out without You. Help us to obey.

"Each vessel of glory hanging on Jesus shall be full. But the larger the vessel, the greater will be its capacity for heavenly bliss." This just blew me away. Especially with the attachment from Isaiah. I'd just never seen that before. Each to his own capacity. Part of what we ought to be about here is increasing our capacity. That's the purpose of works, to exercise and increase our ability, our stamina. What an awesome God! It's as though He's put us here in a spiritual gymnasium, so that when the time comes, and we're called back home, we'll be in the best possible shape to receive Him and behold Him. He's prepared good works in advance for us to do, that He may reward us the more when we come home to Him! That's just so cool! Oh, to be a Daddy like You, God. What an example You are - quietly providing the means for Your child to succeed fully! Oh, God. At times like this very moment - when it all seems like we're getting it so wrong, bringing pain without gain, help me. If it's all wrong, then correct me, and give me the strength to correct us all. If it's me that's wrong, then break me and change me, Lord, that I can help the situation instead of simply seething over it. I feel surrounded by anger, some mine, some others. It all just gets into this hideous feedback loop. How do I break it rather than join it, God? How can I be the peacemaker and the disciplinarian? HELP!