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John told his readers to refuse hospitality to the false teachers because the readers could be led astray by hearing the false teaching of these false teachers. From what I have learnt from Dr. Raph, John directives were meant for congregations of Christians to refuse giving the false teachers hospitality. This was to avoid a situation where they would poison the mind of the Christian. I also feel that individual Christians should also refuse giving such hospitality because of the same risk. I do not think the division of denominationalism is justified here. Many denominations are still abinding by the teaching of the Lord Jesus and therefore are not false teachers.

Running ahead of Christ teaching as it was in the case John was discussing in 2nd John is the deviation from the true teaching of the Lord Jesus. The false teachers were teaching that the Devine Christ could not have died and thus did not die on the cross. This was misleading the true Christians away from the the truth that Jesus the Son of God came in the flesh and had to die to save sinners. Jesus was and is the Christ. This is the central message and belief of true Christians. To continue to believe this is abiding or continuing in the Lord's teaching.

John advised the children of God to keep themselves away from idols because idols compete with God for attention. God is the only true God that should be worshiped. Anything that distracts our attention from God is an idol. Money, our jobs, etc can become an idol if any one of them becomes the center of attention or is worshiped.

The two conditions for answered prayers are: 1. Obedience to God. 2. Praying according to his will. We can determine God's will through his Word, the Bible. Another way though rare, is when we ask him to speak to us directly in person. We can also find God's will through the counsel of experienced true Christians. Our prayers that are not according to his will may not be answered.

The phrase "this life is in his Son" means that eternal life can be found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus if any one does not believe in him and accept him as his personal saviour, he does not have life. The life is not found by just being a member of church denomination. Eternal life is through the faith of every indivdual of the church.

In a defeatist mentality, one has no confidence in his ability to be victorious over the overwhelming evil of this world. The reason for this is that one does not recognise the tremendous power available to win and overcome evil, sin and any demonice attack. However, as children of God who believe in the victory of the Lord Jesus over sin and evil, we have confidence in His ability to deliver us from evil. Our belief in the overcoming victory of Jesus boosts our own faith and gingers us to stand firm knowing that we will overcome too. Unbelief leads to a defeatist mentality because any one who does not believe that the Lord Jesus has overcome and can also help us to overcome will live a defeatist life.

The kind of fear we should have at the presence of God is that of reverence, respect and should be overwhelmed by His awesomeness. The type of fear that has been extinguished by His love for us is the type that cause us to be alarmed, anxious and frightened of impending punishment that may be given to us. Knowing that God loves us and we love Him, we should have the attitute of hope toward future judgement and fear.

The statement that God is love is important beacause it empasises that His nature is love and all His attributes are associated with love. Because love is the essence of God's nature, we should also love as He does beacuse we are His children, born to be like him. our love should make us to forgive.

The Spirit of God in us is greater than the spirit of false prophets/ teachers and indeed greater than Satan. This Awsome Being in us gives victory by strenghtening us (enpowering us) to overcome our enemies and satan. This should remove fear from us. God says in many verses in the Bible that we should not fear because: a) He is with us. He is our Helper. c) Our battles are His own. d) He will NEVER leave us nor forsake. My faith is now renewed as I meditate in these thoghts. Praise God.

Believing that Jesus was God is important because that was basis for distinguishiong betwin the Spirit of God and of satan. False teachers taught that Jesus as God could not carry our sin to cross. John is however teaching us that Jesus was God from conception, birth, the cross up to resurrection.

Although we are saved by grace and God's grace abound for us, He expects us to live lives of obedience to Him as a demosntration of our true love for Him. This not withstanding, we cannot bribe God by obedience in order to gain favour from Him. His favour pours better to us when He sees deep and true love that has motivated us to obey Him.

The meaning of 'lay down your life for your brother' is that we should love sacrificially through practical demonstration of love. For instance, when we see a brother/ sister in need, we should assist if we have the means to. In a large congregation, there is need for formaation of smaller fellowship groups where people can have contact with one another and thereby know oneanother better and thus know who have needs.

Anger can turn into hatred in our hearts when we fail to forgive, but hold on to hanger for long time. This turns into hatred eventully. Anger can turn into hatred when we do not forgive. The spirit that controls anger is the same spirit that influences or causes murder. This explains why Cain murdered Abel. He was angry that his offering was not accepte by God while that of Abel was accepted. This anger turned into hatred and eventually turned into murder. We can get rid of strong anger from our hearts by asking the Lord God to help us to forgive the person we are holding the grudge agaisnt. Only by the enabling of the Holy Spirit of God can we forgive from our hearts and then love the person who offended us.

Cain resented Abel because God was pleased wih Abel's offering but rejeced Cain's. Cain's anger and jealousy agaist his brother led him to commit murder. The world hates us because our acts of righeousness expose their unrighteousness. This makes them angry and jealous of us.

False teaching minimises sin and its importance. Consequently those that believe such false teaching live lives of unrighteouness, disobeying the commands of the Lord. John tells them that such acts are evidence of lawlessness. He tells them that sin should be acknowledged and dealt with by every true Christian. It is encouraging to note that even though true Christian do fall into sin, they are not lawless because the Holy Spirit in them battles against sinful tendencies and lead them to repentance.

'God seed'in us refers to the Holy Spirit who is given at conversion. He wars against sin in us and thereby helps us to fight sin. Thus the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, by helping us to remain righteous.

Lawlessness show up in a person's attitude through either active rebellion or passive indifference to God, His commands. In either case, it is sin.

Our expectation of the second coming of the lord Jesus Christ should make us to be prepared to receive Him- the Holy and Righteous Lord. Because He is Holy, we have to be holy by confessioon of our sin and repenting ie turning from the unrighteous way of life to the the rghteous life style. We have continously do this since we do not know when He will appear- like a thief in the night, un announced. We are saved by grace, unmerited favour. However, we are expected to take the decision to obey and live holy lives. God will not force us, it is our choice to obey or not.

We are children of God in the spiritual sense and not the physical. The Holy Spirit comes into believers at the new birth (at the point they accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour)to give thhe new life. The new birth then makes us do the right things (live righteous lives)through the leading and power of the Holy Spirit.

We are children of God in the spiritual sense and not the physical. The Holy Spirit comes into believers at the new birth (at the point they accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour)to give thhe new life. The new birth then makes us do the right things (live righteous lives)through the leading and power of the Holy Spirit.

Although we have the Holy Spirit living in us, teaching and guiding us, we still need the teaching of someone who God has given them special abilities and knowledge by the power of the same Spirit of God. We should however not depend entirely on these teachers to avoid being starved spiritually. The Holy Spirit's presence in us is for our personal benefit as He teaches and guides us to all truth in the Word. He also helps us to identify false teaching. On the other hand, God's gift of teaching to some people is to help them to teach others. The gifts of the Holy spirit of God are for the buiding of the members of the house of God- the church.

To abide, remain, continue in Christ means to continue to believe the true word of God and live by that belief. Thus obeying the Lord's command and walking according to His word is a demonstration that we abide in Him. The Christian who does not abide in will be evidenced acts are contrary to the word of God.

The Holy Spirit living in us is an internal guide because He directs us by giving us ideas/ clues on issues that we do not understand. I personally have taken certain decisions that were defintelly from the leading of the Holy Spirit. He has also given me deeper understanding of the scripture at the moments of needs. This is what Jesus promised before his departure from this world. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, guide,conselloe as well as our comforter.

Annointing here refers to the presence of the Holy Spirit in believers of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is given to us to teach, lead, guide, and empower us to understand the Word, and to walk the Christian life. Every Christian who trully accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord is given the Holy Spirit as a gift as promissed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. I have annointing (the presence) of the Holy Spirit in me. I believe this.

The Antichrist John said will come is Satan who will come, rule the wold and lead many to his kingdom of darkness. It is believed that he is not yet here but his spirit is working already in the world and is responsible for false teaching and all activities aimed at leading people lell- wards.