ke Him, we shall be a perfect
reflection of Himself.

The Doctrine of Christ.

2 John 9-11.

"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. If there come any unto you, and bring
not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him
God speed. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil
deeds" (2 John 9-11). What then is the doctrine of Christ? It is the
revealed truth concerning the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
He is the Son of God, whom the Father sent into the world. "God so
loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This
is the doctrine of Christ. Anyone who does not hold the doctrine of
Christ that He is absolutely God, one with the Father come into the
world, hath not God. He is without God and hope in the world. He is
an Anti-christ. "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is
that spirit of Anti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it should
come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John iv:2-3). Such
a denier of the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ is no christian at
all and all fellowship even to the greeting must be denied to him.
This seems severe and intolerant. But it is not if we consider what
the denial of the Person of our holy and blessed Lord means. God
grant unto us, who hold the doctrine of Christ, a divine jealousy
for His honor and glory, manifested by separation from all who in
any way deny the doctrine upon which all Christianity rests.

But how blessed to faith to see in the first Epistle of John the
doctrine of Christ revealed and the blessings and comforts brought
forth, which are for those who abide in this doctrine. In the Gospel
of John the beloved disciple writes by the Holy Spirit about the Son
of God, how He came from the Father and was in the world and how He
left the world to go back to the Father. The Son of God is also the
theme of the Holy Spirit in the first Epistle of John. "Our
fellowship is with the Father, and with His _Son_ Jesus Christ"
(i:3). This fellowship means that we share the Father's thoughts
about His Son and to enjoy with the Son His own blessed and eternal
relationship with