Stacy Abrams insists that she was rightfully elected Governor of Georgia. Donald Trump insists that he only lost the Presidential election in 2020 because of widespread fraud. At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Dr. Fauci told us we didn’t need to wear masks, only to reverse himself and insist that they were absolutely necessary. Who should we believe?

This is not just a problem for the 21st century. Back in the 1st when John wrote this letter, he observed that “Many deceivers have gone out into the world” (v. 7). Yes, even while eyewitnesses to Jesus’ death and resurrection were still alive, eyewitnesses like John, people had already started telling all sorts of lies about Jesus: that He hadn’t really been the Messiah, or that His body hadn’t risen from the dead, or that He had only appeared to be a human being but really wasn’t. And all these lies, and many more, can still be heard, proclaimed in mosques and synagogues and even in many congregations that claim to be Christian.
So, how are we to respond to such lies? Of course we must walk in the truth (v. 4), measuring every assertion by the incontrovertible gospel John and the rest of the apostles have given to us. And of course we should close our ears to those who try to deceive us by teaching anything that contradicts the clear word of the Scriptures (vv. 10-11).

But there’s something else we need to do that may be even more important. For in verse 8, John tells us not only to watch out for the false teachers but also to watch ourselves. In other words, we need to make sure we are not believing the lies that the liars are telling us. Instead, we must “abide in the teaching of Christ” (v. 9).

But this means more than just giving intellectual assent to what Jesus says and to the facts of His life, death, and resurrection. No, “abiding” in His teaching means living in it, putting it into practice in everything we think and feel and say and do. That’s why John reminds us once again that true faith in Christ always involves obedience to Christ’s commandments (v. 6), especially the command to love one another (v. 5).

So yes, let’s measure the truth of what we hear according to the inerrant, infallible Word of God. But let’s measure our hearts and lives by the same standard. For that’s the only way we can be sure that we are truly in step with the Father and the Son (v. 9)

II John (ESV)

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
5 And now I ask you, dear lady– not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning– that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you.