2 JOHN
TRUTH IN LOVE
[Matthew 7:21-23 / 1 Corinthians 13:1-4]
Second John is a brief epistle which could have been written on a single sheet of papyrus of standard size [5x9]. The preservation of this brief letter is no doubt a tribute to its spirituality and inspiration.
In this short letter John mentions truth several times. Truth and love are frequently mentioned in our society, but too seldom practiced. All who claim loyalty to Jesus must be committed to truth and love. We are to follow the truth and act with love toward one another.
Love though is not to overshadow or overcome truth. Truth comes first, them love. This sounds harsh, but if we allow the truth to be compromised in the church, then we lose our foundation (CIT). John here uses this primacy of truth as he warns against false teachers that some well-intended Christians were entertaining. John even warns us not to let into our house those who deny that Jesus Christ is God come in human flesh John tells us not to even let those who deny that is God come in human flesh into our house.
Let's follow John as he first commends the chosen lady in verses 1--4, commands her in verses 4--6, then cautions her in verses 7--11, and, lastly, comforts her in verses 12 & 13.
I. COMMENDATIONS, 1--4a.
The letter begins in typical fashion by identifying the writer and recipient. Quickly in verse 1 the Elder reveals the two principal themes; truth and love. "The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,"
The writer of this letter is so well know that he doesn't need to give his personal name. So John simply refers to himself as "the elder" because in addition to being the last surviving apostle, at the time he wrote this letter, he was most likely close to one hundred years old. [Elder also is a designation for pastor but most likely John was not one of the pastors of this church or lady.] That's the great thing about ministry. Peyton Manning at thirty-seven-years-old (March 24, 1976) is considered an old man in the NFL. But in the things of God, a man that age is just beginning. Because our lives become richer and deeper the longer we walk with the Lord, there is no disqualification for age. [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson's Application Commentary. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson, 2003, S. 1635.]
John did not specifically name "the chosen lady" yet the text reads naturally if a church were addressed (personified). He seems personify this Christian church as "the chosen lady" and by calling its members by refering to them as "her children." [The personification of nations and cities as female personages is common in the Bible ( "the daughter of Zion"), and the Christian church is often referred to as "the bride of Christ" (Eph. 5:22-33; 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7).] [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983, S. 905.]
The opening stresses that "truth" and "love" are the two major concerns of the letter. John uses a word for love [agap¨¢¨] that was rarely used Greek. It contains such thoughts as caring for other people, showing loyalty to them, and seeking their good in contrast with the common Greek words for mutual attraction and affection. John loved them in truth with the voluntary self-sacrificing love of God who is Himself love. It is this personal bond of love that keeps churches together especially during a truth crisis.
Truth [al¨¥theia] occurs five times in the first four verses. It is a deliberate emphasis as they were facing a truth crisis. He wanted them to know the truth about Jesus and live according to it (John 8:32).
Verse 2 states that the reason for their mutual love is because of the truth they hold in common. "for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:"
The truth is described in two ways: it lives [abides-men¨] in us and it will be with us forever. Not only does Jesus who is truth lives within us but we are to live in His truth which is His Word (Jn. 15:4-7). God's truth is something which comes to abide in and direct authentic believers. This truth does not only live in us and direct us here, but it will do so throughout all eternally.
Verse 3 is the assurance that God's blessings of grace, mercy and peace will be upon those who live in truth and love. "Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."
We experience "grace, mercy and peace" [as we abide] in truth and love. God's blessings of favor (charis), compassion (eleos), and inner harmony and prosperity (eir¨¥n¨¥), are enjoyed in an atmosphere where "truth" and "love" are in control. [Walvoord & Zuck, p 906.] Love and truth must always accompany each other. We cannot truly love someone without sharing God's truth with them. Truth is communicated because we love and truth must be communicated with love (Eph 4:15).
II. COMMANDS, 4[b]--6.
The next two verses center in on the commands to walk in truth and love. In verse 4 he commends some and commands all to walk in God's truth. "I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father."
The Elder received great gladness that some were walking in the truth. To walk in the truth is to be obedient to the truth God has made known. John wanted the whole church to walk in the truth together. In other words, God wants His children to learn how to live doctrinally correct lives.
Walking was used to describe a person's life and behavior. To live in the truth means to live in accordance with God's revelations and the standards it contains.
Notice that only some of the church's children were found to be walking in the truth. One of the saddest facts in church history is that there are so many who do not continue in the truth. Mom and Dad, make sure you model complete integrity to your kids. Never let them see you compromise truth even in little, seemingly insignificant ways--for such actions plant seeds in their hearts which can grow into excuses for not walking in integrity or dealing with others honestly. [Courson, S. 1635.]
After the command to walk in truth, verse 5 commands us to live in love. "Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another."
The command to "love one another" is a reoccurring theme in Scripture (Lev. 19:18, Deut. 6:4-5), especially in the N. T. (Mt. 22:37; Jn. 15:17; 1 Jn. 2:7-8). Why? Because God is love, and when we love we're most like Him! From God's perspective, life without love is worthless. The Bible states, "No matter what else I do or say, it is worthless without love" (1 Cor 13:3).
Before you get up in-the morning and rush into your day, you should pause and pray: "Lord, don't let me waste this day. Whether or not I get anything else done, help me to spend today loving. Remind me to love You and others - because that's what your Word says life is all about." We become too preoccupied with making a living, paying our bills, and accomplishing our goals as if these were the reasons for life. They are not! The point of life is learning to love- God and people. Mother Teresa said, "It's not what you do, but how much love you put into it. God said that life minus love equals zero! The best use of life is to love others in Jesus' name.
We can show love by caring for people, by accepting, listening, helping, giving, serving, and spending time with them. We all know we should love one another, but we must put the commandment into daily practice. We cannot love God who we have not seen unless we love our brethren who we have seen (Jas 2:8). The commandment to love one another bears repeating again and again, so that we don't miss the rewards of God.
Christians therefore are to learn to love, but we are to love in accordance with the truth. Since love is often misunderstood, the apostle of love defines for us what love for God is in verse 6. "And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it."
What does it mean to "love one another"? The answer is found here: "This is love, that we walk in obedience to His commands." Love means living according to God's commands. As John had also done in John 14:21-24 & 1 John 5:2-3, he defined Christian love in terms of obedience to God. A Christian who truly seeks God's best for his brothers and sisters can only do so by obeying what God has commanded him to do. Love undirected by God's revealed will may easily degenerate into unwise, sentimental activity. Believers who are "walking in the truth" (v. 4), that is, living in response to what God has revealed, agape love each other.[Walvoord & Zuck, p 907.] True love for God and others is revealed by our obedience to God's commands.
So after commending her [the church] for walking in truth, John reminds her [the elect lady] of the command to love. Truth and love are an unbeatable team, a winning combination, a dynamic duo. Truth without love makes a person harsh. But love without truth makes a person dangerous because he will allow cancers to grow and problems to take root in his life, in his family, on the job, or in the church. John says, "I commend you for walking in truth, and I command you to walk in love."
III. CAUTIONS, 7--11.
Verse 7 is a word of caution for why we must speak in love and truth. "For [because] many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist."
The reason for the dual emphasis on truth and authentic love is because there is much falseness in the world. Many people, even professing Christian, do not believe in the literal, physical coming and therefore return of Jesus. These people promote a false understanding of Jesus. False teachers are dangerous because they distort the truth and undermine the foundation of Christian faith (1 John 2:18). [Life Application Study Bible. Zondervan. P. 2286]
Our country is being bombarded with alternative religions, cults, find an amazing array of religious philosophies, including claims to psychic insight and various attempts at intermingling New Age thought with certain Christian truths. Some may even use the right words but change the meanings. The sources of these non-biblical ideals and systems are various, including television and film presentations, university lectures, and books on spirituality. Persons not well grounded in biblical truth are often deceived.
John warned about false teachers who were deceiving Christian congregations. Then, as now, "deceivers" have hidden agendas. Often their teachings may resemble Christianity in an expressed concern for individuals and an emphasis on loving and helping others. Yet, their concept of Christ is nonbiblical. "An antichrist" refers to any one who denies the biblical truth about Christ and seeks to deceive others. The Spirit within the believer helps the believer discern what is true and what is false. Lord, thank You for Your help in discerning truth.
Having describe the deceivers in verse 7, verse 8 warns of the danger of following them. "Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward."
Because of the appearance of these deceivers, the readers needed to watch out for the disastrous spiritual effects which any compromise with the truth could lead. The danger is not loss of salvation, of course, but loss (apoles¨¥te) of reward for which that they had worked (eirgasas¨¥te). The fullness of their reward (1 Cor. 3:10-15) was threatened by the subversion of the anti-christs.
To be fully rewarded refers to the rewards of faithful service. All who obediently walk in truth and love will be fully rewarded. Those who get deceived by false teaching will lose part their reward. People are often deceived because they are looking to justify their self-centeredness (Mt. 7:21-23).
The reason why failure to abide in the truth leads to lose of reward is indicated in verse 9. "Everyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son."
The New Testament writers were realists about the possibility of true Christians falling prey to heresy and warned against it. John had just cautioned his readers about possible loss of reward (v. 8). They thus are now cautioned not to "overstep" the boundaries of sound doctrine, but to "remain" or to "continue in the teaching (didach¨¥) of Christ."
A person who "continues in the teaching" is one who "abides" or "makes his home" there. His connection with the truth is vital and vibrate, so that he has a dynamic relationship with God whose commands he obeys (John 14:21-23 expresses this kind of relationship also). "Abiding" and obedience are inseparable [Walvoord & Zuck, p. 908.]
To deviate from the truth is to leave God behind. God is not with a person who does not continue in His teachings. What such a person does, he does without God. This refusal does not suggest loss of salvation. Doctrinal deviation or disobedience leads to a loss of reward (v. 8). [Ibid. p. 908.].
Verse 10 instructs us not to give any practical encouragement to those who spread false doctrine about Christ. "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; [11"for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."]
These false teachers were actively engaged in disseminating error. John instructed the believers not to show hospitality to false teachers. They were to do nothing that would encourage the heretics in their propagation of falsehoods. If God's truth is not a teacher's main conversation he should receive no hospitality from those who are loyal to that truth. By contrast, hospitality is to be shown to true believers.
In 1962, JOHN GLENN made history as the first American to orbit the Earth. As the rocket ascended ground control said, "Godspeed, John Glenn." "Godspeed" comes from the expression, "May God prosper you." Though we don't often hear this word today, it is a great expression.
John has been referred to as "the apostle of love," so why would he warn believers against pronouncing a blessing on others? Traveling evangelist were dependent on the hospitality of Christians to provide them with room and board. John was telling believers that biblical truth is important. Don't support those who don't teach biblical truths or the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. If itinerant missionaries were teaching deceptive doctrines believers were not to bless their work by providing lodging or financial assistance.
Our modern age has a diminished sense of the dangers of false teachers who have lost convictions about God's truth. But this rejection of false teachers is also true for believers today. We are to treat everyone with kindness because God is kind to us. But when asked to financially support an endeavor without asking for wisdom & letting the Spirit guide us into His truth (Jn. 16:13). Then God will show us when it is appropriate to bid Godspeed to those we encounter. God's Spirit through His Word gives wisdom to discern truth from error.
John adds in verse 11 that a person who supports a false teacher in any way shares in the teacher's wicked work. "for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."
If believers were to invite them in, such action would show that they were approving of what the false teachers said and did. It may seem rude to turn people away, even if they are teaching heresy, but how much better it is to be faithful to God than merely courteous to people! John is condemning the support of those who are opposing the true teachings of God, not condemning hospitality to unbelievers. So don't encourage those who are opposed to Christ. Politely remove yourself from association with false teachers.
IV. COMFORTS, 12, 13.
Finally, after commending, commanding, and cautioning, John comforts in verses 12 & 13. In verse 12 the faithful apostle promises to come to them so that they might more fully experience the joy of the Lord. "Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.
John indicated that he had much to write to them but preferred face-to-face ("mouth to mouth") communication. He anticipated a visit soon, when he would have more to say to them. Such a personal visit would make his joy (chara) complete. Christians experience joy when we connect with one another in face to face fellowship. [What he might have written if he had not been planning to see them can perhaps be surmised from the contents of 1 John. Indeed, in some respects, 2 John reads like a condensed version of the first epistle. It is likely that the author would have amplified his admonitions in ways similar to what he had done in the larger letter.] [Walvoord & Zuck, p. 909.]
As we abide in Christ's love and truth we will experience fullness of joy (Jn. 15:10f) personally and together in our fellowship.
The epistle closes in verse 13 with a greeting to the church from its sister church. "The children of your chosen sister greet you."
IN CLOSING
Here the "apostle of love" draws a very real dividing line in the sand between Christ and antichrist, light and darkness, truth and heresy. We are commanded to stay away from heretics, walk in truth and love one another.
False teaching is serious business, and we dare not overlook it. It is so serious that John wrote this letter to warn against it. There are so many false teachings in our world that we might be tempted to take many of them lightly. Instead, we should realize the dangers they pose and actively refuse to give heresies any foothold.
Second John will take but a few minutes to read, but its message should last a life time. As you reflect on these paragraphs, recommit yourself to being a person of truth, love and obedience.
