The Three Kinds of Believers
III John 1-14
1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a] even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the very first Face-to-Face worship of MMIM North EDSA after 8 long months of home quarantine. Praise the Lord, though we are still in GCQ the government is becoming lenient in allowing religious gatherings like this but limited only to 30% of the venue’s capacity.
This month of November we will have a series of studies in the book of 3 John, a short writing yet full of truth and wisdom.
It is not unusual for people to wonder… What was the early church like? We know a lot about its early leaders, such as apostles Paul and Peter; but what about the average Christians themselves? Were they more spiritual than Christians today? Did they experience the kind of problems seen so often in churches today?
When one examines the portraits found in this letter, we learn that there is not much difference between people back then, and in the church today. Therefore this epistle is very relevant, though we may live 2000 years later. In this lesson, we shall… Consider some background material concerning the epistle. Notice the difference between the three men described in the letter. Summarize with some lessons that can be gleaned from this book
[Let's begin with some...]
I. THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A. THE AUTHOR - "THE ELDER"
As with 2 John, the "elder" is believed by most conservative scholars to be the apostle John. The INTERNAL evidence… The three epistles of John utilize much the same language and ideas. All bear similarity to concepts and language to the Gospel of John. The term "elder" would be a fitting description of John as the author, writing in his old age.
B. RECIPIENT - "THE BELOVED GAIUS"
Gaius was a common Roman name, and appears five times in the New Testament - Ac 19:29; 20:4; Ro 16:23; 1Co 1:14; 3Jn 1. Whether he is one of those mentioned by Luke or Paul cannot be determined. He is evidently a dear friend of John, and known for his hospitality (more below).
C. PLACE AND DATE OF WRITING
Ephesus is usually suggested as the location from which John wrote this epistle, as he was known to live there in the later years of his life. Estimation of the date of writing varies widely, some placing it before the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.), most however placing it around 90-95 A.D.
D. PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE
To confirm that Gaius did right in supporting those teachers who came his way, encouraging him to continue this hospitality - 3Jn 5-8. To express his condemnation of Diotrephes for rejecting John and others whom he should have received - 3Jn 9-10. To encourage Gaius to imitate what is good, commending Demetrius as a good example - 3Jn 11-12
[With this brief background to the epistle, let's take a closer look at...]
II. THE THREE KINDS OF BELIEVERS
A. GAIUS TYPE -- A MAN WHOM JOHN WOULD HAVE PROSPER (1-8)
A dear friend of John, whom he prayed would prosper physically as well as he did spiritually - 3Jn 1-2. John so loved and prayed for Gaius, because he was a man who… Had a good reputation - 3Jn 3a. Walked in the truth - 3Jn 3b. Gave John great joy when hearing of his faithfulness - 3Jn 4. Was hospitable toward all - 3Jn 5-6a. Was encouraged to continue supporting gospel preachers - 3Jn 6b-8.
B. DIOTREPHES TYPE -- A MAN WHO WOULD BE PREEMINENT (9-11)
A description of Diotrephes' character… Self-promoter -- he strove to be first - 3Jn 9a. Insubordinate -- he would not receive the [authority of] apostles - 3Jn 9b. Slanderous -- He spoke nonsense, and slandered - 3Jn 10a. Vindictive -- He would not receive certain brethren, and cast out other brethren - 3Jn 10b. Diotrephes' character serves as a warning: "he who does evil has not seen God" - 3Jn 11b.
C. DEMETRIUS TYPE -- A MAN WHO WOULD BE A PATTERN (11-12)
John encourages Gaius to imitate what is good, for he who does good is of God - 3Jn 11. Demetrius appears to be offered as a pattern for Gaius, for Demetrius had a good report... - 3Jn 12. "Demetrius lived according to the mandates of God's Word so that his life showed clear evidence of the truth".
[Thus we have these pen portraits of three men preserved in this letter, giving us some insight into the life of the early church. There were some good men (Gaius, Demetrius), but sadly there were some bad as well (Diotrephes).
Not much different today, is it? That being the case, then perhaps we should remember these...]
III. THE LESSONS FOR US TODAY
A. CHRISTIANS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE
We may have to serve in the face of opposition from other brethren. Will we allow this to affect our service? Will we allow this to affect our salvation?
B. CHRISTIANS OFTEN IMITATE OTHER CHRISTIANS
John says to imitate what is good for two reasons: FIRST, those who do good are of God. Second, those who do evil do not know God.
What example are we setting in the local church? Who are we imitating? Gaius had the example of Diotrephes and Demetrius. Who do you suppose he would seek to imitate?
C. CHRISTIANS OFTEN ALLOW THE "SPIRIT OF DIOTREPHES" TO REIGN
Diotrephes was successful because some of the members… Allowed Diotrephes to dominate. Would not take a stand for the truth. Would not support those who took a stand for the truth. Diotrephes was successful because there was a certain climate of complacency and cowardice within the local church.
NOTE: That Diotrephes was able to get away with his domination strongly suggests to me that Gaius and Diotrephes were not members of the same congregation, but in different congregations.
CONCLUSION:
We will consider some more truths that can be gleaned from this epistle in the next couple of sermons in the coming weeks.
But I hope that this introduction to this epistle and a brief look at "The Three Kinds of Believers" will stimulate our thinking… What kind of example are we setting? If John had written a letter in which your name was mentioned, what would he have said about you?
1) Would he have prayed for your prosperity?
2) Would he have condemned your desire for prominence?
3) Or would he have set you up as a pattern for others to follow?
If we will but "walk in the truth" like Gaius, we will have a good "testimony" from all like Demetrius!
