”Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God“ (2 John 9).

Notice John does not say, “Anyone who doesn’t believe in a literal seven day creation does not have God.”

He does not say, “Anyone who doesn’t believe in post-millenial eschatology does not have God.” (And you could replace post-millenial with pre- or amillenial).

John doesn’t say we must believe predestination to have God, or that we must accept dispensationalism.

We are not required to believe infant baptism, immersion, or sprinkling to have God.

John doesn’t say, “Anyone who believes miracles happen today does not have God.”

John specifies no rapture theology (pre-, post-, or mid-tribulation).

What else does John leave out? Many, many things we require.

I say nothing against any of these teachings. I merely observe that we have God by one teaching, and that is the teaching of Christ.

John’s focus makes me think. I hope it makes others think as well 🙂

No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well (1 John 2:23).

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5:11-12).