What Would Jesus Not Do! Part #7,

Jesus Would Not Receive Deceivers & False Teachers 2 Jno. 9,10

By Warren E. Berkley

Jesus came to seek and save the lost, so He met people, talked to people and took advantage of every opportunity to tell people what they needed to hear about life, God and eternity. In doing this holy work, He encountered opposition and criticism from the religious establishment. One charge they made against the Lord was, He received and ate with sinners (see Luke 15:1-2).

He did, but not in the way they implied. Jesus never condoned sin. He never engaged in any kind of association that involved any favor, endorsement or encouragement of any sin or error. In His association with sinners, He was trying to reach them, teach them and change their lives into what God would have them be. You will not find, in the New Testament account of His life, any occasion where Jesus associated with anybody in such a fashion as to convey any approval of sin or any tolerance of error.

We, His followers, should learn from this and live as He lived. We must seek opportunities to talk to lost people, teach them and influence them away from the arms of Satan. We have friends, neighbors and relatives we associate with daily. In that association we must be guard against any participation in sin, or any expression of approval of sin, and we must use the association to teach and show the lost the way to heaven.

Sometimes, we must cease association with someone - because a continued association could corrupt us and could also convey approval of sin. There are some very plain statements about this in the New Testament:

"From such withdraw yourself," 1 Tim. 6:5
"And from such people turn away," 2 Tim. 3:5
"And avoid them," Rom. 16:17

In each of these cases, we must study the contexts and that study will enable us to see what kind of behavior requires such a reaction. These are principles of God Jesus did not ignore and would not ignore today. While it may be extremely difficult in some cases, these passages demand our attention and obedience.

Jesus would not receive and embrace deceivers, rebels against God's will and false teachers. I know this, because of what His apostles wrote:

"Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds," (2 John 8-11).

Jesus would not receive, greet and share with one not bringing "this doctrine." We must react in the same way.

Return to the WWJND index page

Return to the General Articles page

Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /