John is addressing Christians when he writes "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."
Whosoever means any Christian that does not continue to abide (present tense) in Christ's doctrine hath not God. The phrase "hath not God" is a lost state. Hence those Christians that do not continue in Christ's doctrine do become lost no longer having God.
Both verbs "transgresseth" and "abideth" are present tense show an ongoing, sustained action. John is talking about apostates. An apostate is one whose position has changed, one who has fallen, going from a saved state (continuing to abide in Christ's doctrine) but changed, fallen to a lost state (continuing in transgressing against God).
Look, sorry Ernest I think you did not understand my responses...maybe you need to reread them and then you could have saved time and writing as you did here.. I think we are not connecting for some unknown reason...
Ok, let me write the entire passage so we can both go through this for the last time. It is addressed to a Christian WOMAN..this is important to know and understand the CONTEXT as women can sometimes be easily be swayed without spiritual support or a spouse....into compromising their beliefs by deceivers...
THE KJV.....
(2Jn 1:1) The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
(2Jn 1:2) For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
(2Jn 1:3) Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
(2Jn 1:4) I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
(2Jn 1:5) And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
(2Jn 1:6) And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
(2Jn 1:7)
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an
antichrist.
(2Jn 1:8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a
full reward.
(2Jn 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.
(2Jn 1:10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
(2Jn 1:11) For he that biddeth him God speed is
partaker of his evil deeds.
1. The audience is a Christian woman...(verses 1-6). It is understood she is a Christian that has the doctrine of Christ and is abiding in it.
3. He is warning her not to be deceived by, and invite false teachings into her home or wish evil people well, and God be with them. This evil person does not have God with him at all, as verse 9 says.
4. If she wishes this evil person, 'God be with him' (verse 11), she shall lose her FULL REWARD at her salvation..NOT that she loses SALVATION.
3. Verses 9 and 10 are to be read as one passage TOGETHER.....He is saying that these deceivers come with false doctrine, they do not have the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST and therefore these deceivers DO NOT ABIDE......BUT this woman does
.....he is not warning this woman she is not abiding in the doctrine of Christ as she is a Christian already That would be nonsense.. The warning is that she can compromise her abidance in Christ's teaching...
These verses have ZERO to do with this Christian woman losing her salvation.
I think you might believe that if this woman is deceived and greets this person, by believing God is with him, she herself is now a deceiver and therefore loses her salvation.
With this type of thinking you yourself may then be in jeopardy of losing your salvation with some false doctrines you have adopted and hidden away, even though you still are abiding and have the doctrines of Christ. You might want to do some soul searching yourself before accusing this woman she would become lost, based on a short-sighted reading of this scripture.
I think I've beaten this passage to death.
In Love,
APAK