2 John 1:7-9

Beware of Deceivers

John warned the elect lady that "many deceivers have gone out into the world." The word "deceivers" comes from the Greek word for wandering or roving, according to Thayer. They traveled in packs preying on the gullible and leading them into error. Particularly, they denied the incarnation of Jesus, thus denying His Deity and making them be in the spirit of the anti-Christ. John's warning was particularly important because it is possible to work hard for salvation and yet to lose it (1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Peter 2:12). His hope was that he and all other Christians might receive a full wage for their labors in service to the King (2 John 1:7-8).

The only way for a Christian to be sure he receives a full reward for his works in the gospel cause is through strictly adhering to the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 7:21-23). When one does not remain in that doctrine, he loses fellowship with God. The word translated "transgresses" literally means goes onward. Evidently, these false teachers said they were progressive and ahead in their thinking, but they had gone too far since they went beyond God (2 John 1:9).