No Greater Joy Series

NO GREATER JOY

3 JOHN 1-4

(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday, November 9th, 2025)

You will find the word “joy” in over one hundred and fifty verses in the Holy Scriptures. The Psalmist “shouted to God with loud songs of joy” (Psalm 47:1). Isaiah spoke of “everlasting joy” (Isaiah 51:11). Even in the womb, John the Baptist “leaped for joy” when Mary greeted Elisabeth (Luke 1:44). After the birth of Christ, when the Angels confronted the shepherds they said, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). Then, when the Magi “saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matthew 2:10). Jesus said that there is “joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents…” (Luke 15:10). In His High Priestly Prayer the Savior prayed that His disciples would have His “joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13). Early on Resurrection morning, when the women saw the empty tomb, they were filled with “fear and great joy” (Matthew 28:8).

In our selected text, the Apostle John declares, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Reflecting on this verse, D.A. Carson says: “In a world where many Christians derive their deepest joy from advancement, ease, promotions, financial security, good health, popularity, and a host of other things, it is delightful, not to say challenging, to hear an apostle testify that nothing stirs his joy more than to hear that his children are walking in line with the gospel. That tells us all we need to know of his heart and where we should find our pleasures too.”

Countless people in the world today are actively and even desperately seeking happiness when what they really need is joy. True joy is only found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When someone has this spiritual relationship, the opportunities to experience joy are limitless. We are able to experience joy in our communion with the Lord. We find joy in our service to the Lord. We receive joy when we give to the Lord. We are able to have joy even when we suffer for the Lord. We certainly experience joy when we lead someone to the Lord.

There are a host of other ways that joy is manifested in the Christian life. For this reason, when we read the words “no greater joy”, it should cause us to pay extra close attention to what John has to say. I would like for us to examine his words to his beloved friend Gaius and consider the subject “No Greater Joy”

One of the primary themes in this Epistle is the various relationships in the Church. Let’s begin in verse 1 and examine:

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FELLOW CHRISTIANS

v1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

As in his second Epistle, John begins this letter by identifying himself as “the elder”. This is most likely a reference to his age, at this point, John was the only one of the Lord’s original Apostles who was still alive. The term “elder” could also refer to his being an apostolic eyewitness of Jesus’ life and ministry, and also that he had an official position of authority in the church. John was the writer of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of 1, 2, & 3 John, and the book of Revelation. John was one of the first men whom Jesus chose to be a Disciple, he was the brother of James, a member of Christ’s inner circle, and seemingly the best friend Jesus had here on earth. (You do not entrust the care of your mother to just anyone!)

This letter is addressed to John’s “beloved” friend “Gaius”. Gaius was a Christian of Asia Minor and all we know of him is what John points out in this Epistle. Though we don’t have his complete biography, what we do know is very impressive. John refers to him as “the beloved Gaius”. The designation “beloved” is one that is only used to describe Christians. “Beloved” is a term of endearment that signifies a deep and cherished love. First and foremost, Gaius was “beloved” of the Lord; as with all Christians, God had bestowed His love, mercy, and grace upon this dear brother.

Gaius was also “beloved” by John and the Brethren within the Church. One of the primary reasons is that Gaius was a man who “walked in truth” is the trait that John highlights in this passage. The Apostle commends his friend for his compassion and hospitality and goes on to declare that he loves Gaius “in truth”. {“Love in truth “could mean simply “truly love” as a Christian brother,or it could refer to the “truth” of the gospel, in the service of which the lives of John and Gaius are intertwined. ESV Study Bible; Crossway}.