Living in the Truth
2 John
Introduction
- 2 John is John’s second letter sent to Christians near Ephesus, in Asia
-- It is a letter of encouragement to Christians then, and now
-- It has one primary emphasis: We have a need to obey God’s commands
- John also touches on false teachers and heresy (often in his writings)
-- Based on the tone, it is obviously highly personal to someone well known
- Read 2 John 1-13
- Pray
∆ Point 1 – Greetings!
- John opens this letter with a salutation that seems very personal and close
-- Lots of discussion as to whether this is a family member or a church
-- EX: Calling the church a “she” would make this fit (like a ship)
-- There is a huge lack of personal greeting (see 3 John 1) in this letter
- Also, the word chosen does not normally apply to one person
-- We are all chosen as God’s people (term of summation; generalized)
-- It also suggests that this is a well-known entity within Christian circles
-- APP: No clear answer … my view: this is to a church that he knows well
- So, John is writing to a church he knows, to a people he cares deeply about
-- Their relationship is founded on truth (v1); and the truth is found only in God
-- John 14:6, “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
- Additionally, love is based on truth – it is not propped up by lies and agendas
-- The truth is eternal, it is never-ending, and in that we find love and comfort
-- So to this church, to these people that he cared about, his message is simple:
-- v3, “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.”
- IMP: What an incredible wish that you could offer one another today!
- Challenge: If we lived more like this, and truly desired this … how much different would the world that surrounds us our world be?
- TRANS: From his greeting, John gets to the heart of the letter …
∆ Point 2 – Discipleship Matters
- Honest question: How do you feel when others around you succeed?
- When people that we mentor are walking in the truth, we should find joy
-- It starts of course with us actually mentoring other people (ex: “War Room”)
-- And from that when they succeed, we can rejoice and celebrate as well
- John celebrates those around him who are obeying God’s commands (v4)
-- He finds great joy that they are walking in the truth of God’s word
-- Do we find the same joy in those that we pour into and disciple?
- His reminding us of love here is critical for us to see (v5)
-- We need to love one another, willingly, because of what we have been given
-- Christ willingly loved us (to the point of death), which we should do as well
- RE: John heard these words for himself: John 15:12-13, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
-- APP: To John, this is a personal command, a central command of ministry
- Love is demonstrated through real world obedience (v6)
-- That we would obey and honor the One who has given all for us is critical
-- We must be willing to demonstrate this to those around us; for God’s glory
- Everything God has given us is to protect us … not to bring us harm
- When we walk in obedience to Him, we are honoring Him in everything
-- There is a link between love and obedience … and John brings that out here
- TRANS: So why is this reminder important, again, for the church?
∆ Point 3 – Follow the Truth
- There are, and will continue to be, deceivers who go out into the world (v7)
-- Their motives are simple: To distract you from God and look on them/yourself
- These people deny that Jesus has come in the flesh; so they deny God
-- It’s not just the Pharisees, but those who try to make God into what He isn’t
-- EX: “If you don’t share this post then you do not love God …”
-- Normally followed by bible verse out of context: “if you are ashamed of me...”
- While that example is relevant to today; it was happening then as well
-- John calls those who deny the Christ, and who He is, antichrists (against God)
- We are called to heed the teachings of God and stand firm on His word (v8)
-- We are to be actively engaged in protecting those in the flock
-- While bringing in others who also need to hear/experience what we have
- John’s teaching of the antichrists (also in 1 John) is very relevant to us
-- For him, it is first hand testimony of what the early church was experiencing
-- APP: If John experienced this, why wouldn’t we experience this today as well?
- John’s teaching in v9-10 is very simple:
-- If they claim to be teaching Christ, but not holding to the truth, move on
-- If you take time to share in their teaching, you are promoting their wickedness
- Scripture calls us to be those who know the truth, and willingly teach it
-- But, if we are going to be a part of half-truths then we are doctrinally in error
-- This is why discipleship is key … iron sharpens iron in all areas of life
-- IMP: But in order to teach the truth, you must know/live the truth
- Therefore, if someone will not teach properly, do we shut them out?
-- Sort of … but not how we would equate that to today’s methods
- In the first century sometimes getting around could be challenging
-- John’s encouragement is that we would not fund their ability to teach falsely
-- EX: You wouldn’t give a false teacher room/board in this time period
-- This would be sharing in their wickedness; giving them an audience
- For today, we would have a similar method:
1) We are to still be cordial to them, to continue witnessing
2) But, we do not give a platform where their teaching can be taught
- EX: Bringing in someone you know if not teaching truth to preach
∆ Big Idea
- Challenge: Discipleship is a life-long process … not a sprint to be quick
-- His closing thoughts in v12-13 show us this in living color
- “I have lots to say … but I would much rather do it face to face”
-- What a great calling to us to continue to fellowship; to desire it
-- Why? Because, John’s joy is made complete … he looks forward to it
- His greetings continue to those sister churches, to the family of God
-- To those churches that it would be great to fellowship with again
- Again, discipleship is a life-long process … not a sprint to be quick
-- Are we willing to invest in the truth and live rightly to teach others?
- Pray
