The disciples of Jesus Christ served Him joyfully and with a confidence that only developed after His death and resurrection. They were battling things within themselves right up to the end. They disagreed about the expensive oil used to anoint Jesus, they argued who among them would be the greatest and no doubt it was not only John and James who felt they were qualified to sit on the right and left side of Jesus in the Kingdom (Matt. 20:21,22,24). They all struggled with deep beliefs that had been given to them as children, such as to avoid the Gentiles. Like everyone else, they were simply human beings who had caught sight of something quite wonderful and amazing and were anxious to become a part of the future Kingdom of God that Jesus frequently spoke about (Matt. 4:23). Jesus taught using signs, wonders and an understanding of Scripture that nobody could equal. His impact was so great that when His followers truly understood, they were happy to suffer and die for His name.
Among the multitudes that followed Jesus and later the disciples, there always seemed to be a number who became problematic. Some, like Judas Iscariot, carried a flaw in their character that was not addressed. Judas was a thief and therefore a liar and uncaring about others (John 12:6). Those flaws led to him betraying Jesus in spite of the miracles and wonders he saw. Early in the history of the church some baptized members simply did not fully live within the program. It seems some did not realize the seriousness of being honest and truthful. Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter and the whole church began to fear the power God had given to the apostles (Acts 5:51.4.11). Simon Magus saw an opportunity to gain power, fame and no doubt money and he offered to buy this power from the disciples (Acts 8:13,18-20). Simon had been baptized as were others. Perhaps in the large numbers of early baptisms his true heart and attitude was missed. Paul wrote that Demas had deserted him and perhaps some others also (2 Tim. 4:10,11). It seems Demas was travelling with Paul and Luke and was well known to the churches. Paul was constantly accosted by men who came out of the headquarters in Jerusalem and who tried to bring the converted people back into the dictates of Judaism. These men undermined the work Paul was doing (Acts 15:1). His practise was to appoint elders in every church (Act. 12:23). Authority and responsibility was given to these men and God continued to do miracles.
Titus seems to have been a strong man who Paul could send to any church in which there was unrest - and that problem existed in almost all of the churches. Some who had been baptized acted as though they were not converted and their baptism was counted as a non-baptism to God. Paul wrote about the visible evidence of a circumcised person as being seen by his works (Rom. 2:29). In a similar understanding, a person may have been baptized, but their deeds and words will reflect what lies in the heart. Paul shed many tears when members stumbled about, made themselves easy prey for Satan or went back to their old ways of this world. Greed, lust for power, love of the self were all parts of the character of many that needed to be changed and corrected. That is still true today and every one of us has some inner parts that need to be replaced with godliness (Acts 6:17,18). Paul had been inspired and chosen by God to reveal the new covenant doctrines to the members of the church.
John was a loving disciple who outlived all of the rest. It seems John had a special relationship with Christ and it was he who Jesus said would outlive many (John 21:20-22). It seems all of the disciples had travelled far away from Jerusalem on missions from God and those who remained were martyred before Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. John was writing nearly 30 years later when he wrote his last little books and the book of Revelation. As the churches were going through good and bad times, some attitudes changed. Some in leadership roles became enamoured with themselves and spoke words that ought not to come from the mouth of converted people. John wrote that an elder named Diotrephes, who loved the pre-eminence, was speaking malicious words against John and others (3 John 9). He wrote about the conditions he found in the churches almost 60 years after the death of Jesus Christ. John saw people leaving the church and he saw the attitudes. John knew that these people were not deeply converted and were only putting on a show for their own reasons. He said that if they had been of us, they would never have left us (I John 2:18,19). John's statements were serious because He attributed the wrongful actions to the Antichrist. John thought Christ would be returning soon, so these actions he felt indicated that it was the last hour. There seems to have been a belief that John would be alive when Christ returned, but that was not what Jesus said.
It is not an easy thing to contemplate that people who came into the church, were baptized and for a time walked joyfully with the assembly could be considered "not of us." Jesus Christ and God the Father are the ultimate judges of us all, but John was inspired to write the words. The history of the believers in the Body of Christ has not been one of continual harmony and love as Jesus commanded. It has been a messy history of people who started off very well, but other factors arose that led some astray. The Bible tells us that many were called by God, but few were chosen (Matt. 20:16). God is careful about bringing a person to the point of accepting the precious blood of Jesus Christ, having their sins forgiven and names written in the book of life. John was inspired to write in what we believe was his last book, about churches and church members who had things to fight against and overcome. His words are words of warning and caution. He warns that some are in danger of the second death and removal from the book of life into which their names were placed (Rev. 2:2,5,11). John knew that members of the church had to guard against some who claimed to be apostles but were found to be liars.
Titus was like a trained problem solver for Paul. He was often sent to churches in which there were big problems. He was given authority and control so that those who did not have a converted mind would be confronted. Titus was allowed to appoint elders in every city as Paul commanded (Titus 1:5). He was also to be watchful for those who were not living examples of a converted person. Paul said there were many who were insubordinate, idle talkers and deceivers and he was especially concerned about the Jews who were the first large group of members in the church. Jews often felt they were closer to God than the Gentiles. One would have thought that the Jews would be the strongest since they had learned the Scriptures from childhood whereas the Gentiles were new in the faith.
Since the time the New Testament church began, it seems there were people who said one thing and did another. Their hearts were not fully committed. There were some who strove for higher positions and some who always had something to say. These are "not of us" James would have said. It has always been the responsibility of the ministry to guard the church and remove that which endangers the little ones. We are slow to react to what we know is wrong because we often believe we can help a person. Paul clearly told the Corinthians they were terribly wrong by allowing sin to remain in the church (I Cor. 5:2,5). He was told of contentions among them as some chose favourite ministers (I Cor. 1:11,12). Envy, strife and division are signs of an unconverted person or persons (I Cor. 3:3). In all we do, we are to remain merciful and compassionate. Evil will be present as long as humans are in the development stage of godliness. It must not be tolerated and it ought to be clear to see. Those who are "with us" will not leave or cause disturbances. They will practise the love for one another that Jesus commanded. God does leave room for change, improvement and spiritual growth which is found within the church - the body of Christ. When we follow Christ in our hearts, we will be like Him and therefore like one another. Rather than being "not of us" all will be "of us".