The Church Which Heard God Say “Well Done”
Or, 5 “I’s” (One Capital I, Three Little I, One Big I)
3 John
Stewardship of Missions
Sunday, January 24, 2010
3 John 1:1-14 1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7 Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. 9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. 13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: 14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
Introduction
• This was a time of transition from Apostolic control to Autonomous rule.
• This was an unprecedented time of missions in the world. (See a map of the spread of Christianity)
• John is the last living apostle. He is an aged man.
• He writes a personal letter.
• Personal addressee, but church business! ZIBBC
• 2 John warned against taking in false teachers. 3 John warned against keeping out true teachers.
• The five men in 1 John (in order of the presentation)
I. The Incarnate One – Christ
• John does not use the name of Christ, or Jesus.
• He refers to the truth, and Jesus is the Truth (Jn. 14:6)
• But Jesus is the focus of the entire letter.
• The itinerate preaches went out for one reason … the Name (v. 7)
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
II. The Irritable One – Diotrophes
A. His Actions
• Evidently, he destroyed a letter that John sent to the church (v. 9)
• He rejected the authority of the Apostle John (v. 9)
• He openly ridiculed the teaching of John – “prating” (v. 10)
• He used mean, “malicious" (showing intent) against John (v. 10)
• He refused to let missionaries come into the church (v. 11)
• He demanded that no-one else allow missionaries to come in (v. 11)
• He had the “pro-missions” members removed (v. 11)
• Was he the owner of the home in which the church met?
• Was he some sort of deacon?
• Was he a false teacher?
• Hospitality was common among Gentiles, should especially have been common among believers! (See Barclay and others on the flea-infested inns of that day).
B. His Attitude
• He loved “preeminence” (v. 9)
• He has a disdain for John (v. 9)
• He rejected the authority of the Apostle John (v. 9)
III. The Investing One – Gaius
A. His Character
the well-beloved Gaius (v. 1)]
• Jesus … favor … God AND man.
He was “in the truth” (v. 1)
He lived a victorious Christian life, for John says that his “soul prospereth” (v. 2)
Others testified to his walk with the Lord (v. 3).
He walked (not talked) the truth (v. 3)
B. His Contribution
• He supported the cause of Christ by supporting itinerate missionaries (v. 5) Motivated by “faith” See James “be warmed …”
• He did this in a way that pleased God. “A godly sort.” (v. 6)
C. His Commendation
• He brought joy to the heart of John (v. 3)
• The missionaries went back and told their church about Gaius and his support (v. 6)
• John commended him and said you “do well” to support missions (v. 6)
IV. The Itinerate Ones – Demetrius and Others
A. The Man (Demetrius)
• Demetrius seems to be one (the leader?) of the itinerate preachers.
• He has a universal testimony as to his walk (v. 12)
• The truth itself is a testimony to his life. His life matches the Word. (v. 12)
• John gave him an unreserved recommendation without hesitation (v. 12)
B. The Missionaries
• They are called “brethren and strangers” (v. 5)
• They are representatives of Christ (v. 7) “The Name”
• Their love for Christ motivated them to go forth from their homes, etc. Apply! (v. 7)
• Contrast the false teachers who “went out” (2 John) with these missionaries who “went out.”
• They not ask anything of the Gentiles to whom they minister. (v. 7)
• They are fellowhelpers to the truth (v. 8)
V. The Interceding One - John
In the midst of a mess such as we have described, the aged John, tackles the situation head-on.
A. His Character
• He is called the “elder.” (v. 1)
• He is “in the truth” (v. 1)
• He has faced the persecutors, been exiled, and tortured. I.E., there was abundant proof of his character!
• He does not quit in the face of opposition. (v. 9, 10)
B. His Compassion
• He is “loving” even when under pressure and having to correct (v. 2) “Beloved”
• He was concerned about the spiritual and physical health of others (v. 2)
• His motives in leading others were pure. (v. 3, 4) “joy … walk in truth”
• He was appreciative and expressed his gratitude (v. 5, 6) “thou doest faithfully, “do well”
• He truly loved the people of the church. (v. 13-14) “Peace,” “Friends”
C. His Challenge = There is one in the church fighting the cause of Christ in missions.
• Diotrophes! – See above.
• Preachers have their faults. We all do.
• But Christian leaders face spiritual battles.
• Satan despises them and works against them.
• It is not always the pastor’s fault, the deacon’s fault, when someone is angry!
• John could let the opposition to himself pass.
• He could not stand by and watch it hurt the gospel!
D. His Correction
1. He Reminds of the Duty of Missions
• He is faithful to tell the church of the missionary’s plight. (v. 7)
• He is unashamed to insist that they be supported (v. 8)
• He is unafraid to stand for truth.
• He says it is right to support missionaries (v. 5)
• He says it is right to make it possible for the missionaries to keep moving for God! (v. 6)
• He told those who could not go to the field, that they could be “fellow-helpers to the truth” by giving so that others could go. (v. 8)
2. He Reveals the Distinction in Missionary Support
• Though loving, he is unafraid to stand up to those who would oppose the Lord and His work in missions! (v. 10)
• He plainly called Diotrophes and his kind “evil.” (v. 11)
• He called Gaius and his kind “good.” (v. 11)
• He plainly stated that Diotrophes and his kind are not saved (v. 11)
• He plainly stated that those that are saved will have an interest in, and an investment in God’s work. It is a mark of salvation. (v. 11)
E. His Concern – That the gospel go forth.
• He does not let the opposition of Diotrophes stop him from recommended new missionaries, more missionaries to the church. (v. 12) “Demetrius”
• He sees the big picture (“Name”). Diotrophes saw the small picture (doesn’t like John, etc.)
• He encourages churches to support (propempo) the missionaries in a way that honors God. (v. 6)
• He cared so much that he planned a trip to the church even at his advanced age (v. 13-14)
Concluding Thoughts
• 5 “I’s.” A capital “I” (Jesus), three little “I’s” (John, Gaius, Demetrius), and one Big “I” (at least Diotrophes thought so)
• Seldom do we appreciate the difficulties of the missionary.
• How desperately do they need our prayers and our financial support.
• If I do not support missions, who will? (The world?, Obama?, Arabs?, Liberal churches?)
• We learn that we should support the missionaries, and do so in a generous way (“godly sort”).
• We learn that we then are fellowhelpers and will share in the reward.
• We learn that many oppose missions, even some in the church!
• We learn that we cannot let that deter us.
• One final note: You get no reward for Calvary supporting missions … unless you are doing your part!
• I, along with God, along with John, and in behalf of the missionary, ask you to send the missionaries forward on their journey after a godly sort!
Bibliography
See these excellent works for background that I studied for this message.
Daily Study Bible, William Barclay
Handfuls on Purpose
Liberty Bible Commentary (NT)
Plain Talk on the Epistles of John, Manford George Gutzke
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary
