Postcards: 2 John
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
11-05-2023
Birds Aren’t Real
In 2018, Peter McIndoe wanted to let people know about the government conspiracy concerning birds.
From 1969 to 2001, the US government murdered over twelve billion birds and replaced them with surveillance drone replicas.
He started a movement called, “Birds Aren’t Real,” uncovered CIA documents proving this fact, and traveled the country in a van protesting the fact that “bird watching goes both ways.”
He led rallies where hundreds of people showed up and chanted, “Birds Aren’t Real” at CNN and Twitter headquarters.
It is not unusual to see signs at sporting events and on college campuses and posts shared on FaceBook that say, “Birds Aren’t Real” and the media has written national stories on the movement.
The only problem with this? It’s all fake. Peter started “the movement” as a social experiment to show how gullible people are concerning conspiracy theories.
But even after he wrote a front-page article in the New York Times and did a TED Talk admitting that all the facts were fake, there are still people who believe that Birds Aren’t Real.
More and more in our culture, we are having trouble with the line between true and false.
Overview
John was Jesus’s closest friend during His earthly ministry. After the resurrection, John was a leader in the early church. He was the only apostle not murdered for his faith. He was eventually exiled to the island of Patmos.
He wrote five books of the Bible - John, I John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation.
He wrote 2 and 3 John as attachments to the letter of I John.
By the time of writing, 85 AD to 95 AD, he had been freed from Patmos and now was in Ephesus.
This morning, we are going to study the little letter of 2 John. It’s only 13 verses and about 300 words in English. But it is a powerful reminder to believers of the power of truth and love.
Turn with me to 2 John. (1905 in the pew Bible)
Prayer.
What is Truth?
Jesus was brought before Pilate who was very interested in His claim to be a King.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37)
Pilate responded with these now-famous words:
“What is truth?” (John 18:38)
The Greeks defined truth as “an accurate perspective on reality.”
The Romans defined truth as “a factual representation of events.”
We live in a postmodern world where we are told daily that truth is relative. I have my truth and you have your truth and both are equally valid.
But that’s not how truth works. Webster's definition of truth is “the absolute standard by which reality is measured.” 1 + 1 = 2. That is true.
But in this post-truth culture, truth has become a little squishy.
Comedian Steven Colbert coined the term “truthiness” in 2005 to describe “a truthful or seemingly truthful quality that is claimed for something not because of supporting facts or evidence but because of a feeling that it is true or a desire for it to be true.”
“I want the truth! ” Tom Cruise yelled at Jack Nicholson in a “Few Good Men.” Jack’s famous response? “You can’t handle the truth!”
It seems most people today have a hard time “handling the truth.”
George Santos, a representative from New York, has become the poster child for our truthiness.
He claimed his grandparents fled the Holocaust - they didn’t.
He claimed his mother was killed in the 9-11 attack. She didn’t.
He claimed he graduated from Baruch College with degrees in economics and finance. He attended the school at all.
On top of that, he told the story, multiple times, that he led the Baruch College volleyball team to a league championship. This isn’t true either.
He claimed on his resume that he worked for Goldman Sachs and Citi-Group. He never worked at either of these companies.
He claimed to have lost four employees in the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. Not true either.
He even claimed to be Jewish but later admitted that he’s “Jew-ish.”
When asked why he lied so much, he responded with a smile, “Everyone embellishes their resumes a little bit.” He has refused to apologize or resign.
Why? Because very few people care about the truth anymore.
?
There is a post going around claiming that Facebook is blocking pictures of the cross and telling people to post crosses on their pages. This is fake. It’s not true. It never happened. Yet, the post has been re-posted thousands of times.
There’s another post claiming that Facebook is taking down The Lord’s Prayer. This is fake as well but this is being reposted far and wide.
In Biblical thought, truth is a critical concept. Truth, according to Jewish scholars, corresponds to God’s word, works, and ways.
As Christians, we believe there is objective truth and it’s not a principle but a Person - Jesus!
Jesus said,
“I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
He also promised that the truth would set us free. (See John 8:32)
The church in Ephesus was being infiltrated by false teachers. It was critically important that they learn to love and live out the Truth.
We Must LOVE the Truth
The elder,
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
John identifies himself as “the elder.” He was the last of the apostles still alive and was, by now, an old man. By virtue of his walking with Jesus and his leadership in the church, he commended tremendous respect and authority.
He writes this short letter to the lady chosen by God (the elect lady) and her children.
This was a time of persecution and he was writing in code. This probably refers to a house church that met in this lady’s home and “her children” are the congregation.
John writes that he loves this church “in the truth” along with “all who know the truth.” When John speaks of “the truth,” he means the Gospel.
Knowing the truth is one level of knowledge - head knowledge. There are many people who know a lot about Jesus but are not His followers.
John goes down another level. He writes that the truth “lives in us.” This word can be translated as “abide,” which means “dwell or take up residence.” This happens when we place our faith and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. This is heart knowledge.
And this truth “will be with us forever” through the Holy Spirit energizing not just our heads and hearts but also our hands and feet to share the truth with others.
John writes of his wish for
grace - getting what we don’t deserve, the unmerited favor of God showing off His kindness
mercy - not getting what we deserve, showing off His compassion
peace - wholeness that only Jesus can bring
John then makes clear the foundation of truth and love is God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son.
God the Father is Truth
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” (Duet 32:4)
Jesus is the Truth
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (I John 5:20)
the Holy Spirit is Truth
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:12)
The Word of God is the Truth
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (Psalm 119:160)
God the Father and the Son will be with us in truth and love.
Tim Keller wrote these words:
"Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it.
God's saving love in Christ, however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us. The merciful commitment strengthens us to see the truth about ourselves and repent. The conviction and repentance moves us to cling to and rest in God's mercy and grace.”
In this age of moral relativism, when people all around us talk about their truth and our truth, we need to know the truth of the Gospel, we need to love the truth of the Gospel, and we need to live out the truth of the Gospel.
We Must LIVE the Truth
It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Paul has met Christians who attend this little church in Ephesus that are “walking in the truth.” They are living out the truth of the Gospel by their belief and behavior.
John wrote:
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (I John 1:6-7)
These believers are living in the light of truth and love in the very pagan city of Ephesus.
These believers are being obedient to God’s commands.
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.” (John 14:23)
We come to the first indicative / command of the letter. It’s really more of a reminder of an already established command to love one another.
John writes elsewhere:
“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” (I John 3:11)
Peter wrote:
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (I Peter 4:7-8)
And John in His biography of Jesus records:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
John actually defines love as obeying God’s commands.
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.” (I John 5:2-3)
In Biblical thought, “walking” means our way of life. And John calls us to walk in love, to actually live out what we say we believe.
Why was it so important that these Christians John is writing to know the truth, love the truth, and live out the truth? Because there were false teachers who were leading people away from the truth!
We Must LOOK OUT for Truth-fakers
I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Look how John defines a “deceiver” - as one who does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.
The false teaching in Ephesus was a form of Gnosticism. To them, salvation came through special, hidden, mystical knowledge that only a few understand. They also believed that the material world is evil, including our flesh.
There was a group that claimed that Jesus didn’t have a real body but was more like a ghost, meaning that His sufferings weren’t real.
There was another group who claimed the “Christ-Spirit” came upon the human Jesus at baptism and left him at the cross.
These false teachings are still alive and well today and may knock on your door on a Saturday afternoon.
Mormons, or members of The Church of the Later Day Saints, believe that God came down in human form and had actual physical intercourse with Mary producing twins, Jesus, and His Spirit brother Lucifer.
They believe He lived a sinless life as a model for how others can earn their own exaltation. They believe that Jesus was also married.
John, who allegedly appeared to Joseph Smith, along with Peter and James, wrote these words of warning:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1)
Jehovah’s Witnesses also bring false doctrine to your door. They teach that Jesus was created by God as the archangel Michael before the world, He is not a member of the Trinity but is a lesser god.
John states strongly that these doctrines are deceptive and are of the antichrist.
In the Bible, John is the only writer who mentions the “antichrist.”
“Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour…Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.” (I John 2:18,22)
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. (I John 4:2-3)
Commentator I. Howard Marshall writes;
“Apocalyptic thought prophesied the coming of the supremely evil antagonist of God in the last days - the lawless one (2 Thes 2:1-12) or the Beast (Rev 13). This figure is certainly opposed to Christ and attempts to emulate His powers…John’s point is that the spirit of opposition to Christ is already present in those who oppose the truth about Christ…the word “antichrist” is used to characterize people who are radically opposed to the true doctrine about Christ and are thus supremely his opponents, even if they profess that they hold the truth about Him and are Christian.”
These satanic missionaries are worldwide and have been at work since the beginning.
During John’s lifetime, Nero was the best example of this spirit. When Rome burned in 64 AD, he blamed the Christians, although many scholars believed he set the fires himself.
He threw Christians to the lions and wild dogs in the arena and burned Christians alive by covering them in pitch, tying them to poles, and using them as torches to light his orgies.
?
Napoleon, Hitler, John F. Kennedy, Henry Kissinger (name in Hebrew divided by three is 666), Mikhail Gorbachev (the mark of the beast on his forehead), and Ronald Reagan were accused of being the antichrist.
In the last few years, Oprah, Steven Spielberg, President Obama, President Bush, President Trump, Bill Gates, Sarah Palin, Prince William, pop star Rebecca Black, the Pope, and even Barney the Dinosaur have been identified by some as the antichrist.
One of the places where the spirit of the antichrist reigns today is North Korea. The government of North Korea believes that its leader, Kim Jong Un is a god. Christians are routinely imprisoned, tortured, and executed for simply being Jesus's followers. It’s illegal to own a Bible and, if you are caught with one, you can be sentenced to 15 years in a labor camp.
We need to be aware and on guard against false teaching. Jesus warned:
“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ [think David Koresh], and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:4-8)
We are called to stand strong in the truth, especially as we get closer to the end.
Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
The word continue is “abide” again. We are to dwell in the teaching of Christ. But those who do not “continue” prove that they weren’t believers in the first place.
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. (I John 2:19)
Vance Havner once famously said,
“Faith that fizzles before the finish was faulty from the first.”
This is why it is so important to take 2 Cor 13:5 so seriously, especially as we approach the time of communion in a moment:
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor 13:5)
But what were these Christians to do when these false teachers came to their houses? Hospitality was very important in that culture.
John continues with strong words:
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
Throughout the years, when the Mormon missionaries would show up at my door I would get my Bible, open it to this verse, and then excuse myself and shut the door.
The Christians in Ephesus were not to give the false teachers lodging, food, or help along the way.
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Eph 5:11)
But wouldn’t this be mean and intolerant? How do we approach these people with truth and love?
I’ve mentioned before that my brother is a very, very smart man. In high school, he was already translating the Bible from the Greek.
One afternoon, a lady knocked on the door and it became obvious she was a Jehovah’s Witness. Just as my mom was about to say no thank you, my 15-year-old brother came running out of his room and invited her in.
They sat together and he opened his Bible and read from John:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
She immediately said that the translation was wrong. Her translation, the New World Translation, reads, “and the Word was a god.” In other words, Jesus is not the Second Person of the Trinity.
Mark, almost giddy by this point, pulled out his Greek New Testament and said, “I’m glad you said that. Let’s forget translations. Let’s just read it right out of the Greek:
“En arkhêi ên ho lógos, kaì ho lógos ên pròs tòn theón, kaì theòs ên ho lógos.”
At this, she stood up without saying a word, collected her things, and walked out the door.
I’ll never forget my brother standing on the front porch yelling at this woman, “kai theos en ho logos!”
John Stott writes:
“Our love is not so blind to ignore the views and conduct of others. Truth should make our love discriminating…But our love grows soft if not strengthened by truth and our truth grows hard if not softened by love.”
We Must Long for Fellowship with Others in the Truth
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
Paul longs to see these brothers and sisters face to face. In the Greek, this is literally “mouth to mouth.”
Being with these believers will bring amazing joy to all of them.
Bev Shieler was a cat and Chuck was ketchup for our Trunk or Treat on Tuesday night.
Bev was so happy afterward. She said, “When we do these sorts of things together, it makes us feel like a family and it is so joyful. Being able to share the love of Jesus with all those kids was so fun”. Amen!
I had another person text me this week and tell me that she had read 2 and 3 John and said, “I see as a church we are truly serving each other and God in love.” Amen!
He ends by sending greetings from another house church, another part of the family.
Fellowship of the Unashamed
A note was found in the desk of a pastor who was martyred in Zimbabwe more than 100 years ago. May we stand on the truth of these words!
I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His.
I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure.
I’m finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudity, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and labor by power.
My pace is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road is narrow. My way rough. My companions few. My guide is reliable and my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I’ve stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give ’til I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me.
And when He comes for His own, He’ll have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear!
Song: There is One Gospel
Communion:
“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe [TRUTH], yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.[LOVE}” -
Tim Keller
Ending Song: Thank You for the Blood Applied
