Provoking Thoughts From 2 John

Second John only has 13 verses. Third John only has 15 verses.

But, do not make the mistake of thinking that because these two books are short that it diminishes what John has to say.

Illus: John was like some people we meet. They do not say a lot, but they have the most to say when they do speak.

Some folks have the problem of taking at least ten thousand words to say what they could say in one thousand.

John was not a man of many words, but when he spoke he had something to say that was worth listening to.

The reason for this second letter was:

• First, to contend for truth in the church.

• Second, to contend for the deity of Christ.

There are some Christians who will not have fellowship with you unless you...

• Part your hair the way they do.

• Dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s the same way they do.

But, I DO NOT BELIEVE God is pleased with the Christians who take this superior view of themselves. You see, we have to take into consideration that some folks, as children, attended churches where they were not taught all the truths of God’s Word. This makes it hard because before they can be taught right, they have to go against things their former church, and parents, had told them was right.

We must be patient, kind, and loving toward those who were raised with wrong teachings because they have major hurdles to overcome.

John wrote this second epistle to remind the Christians and reinforce them so they would be strong in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wanted them to stand on the truth that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, had come in the flesh to be their Savior. Keep these two things in mind as we study this epistle. First, let us look at...

I. THE CHURCH

Look at verses 1-3. We read, “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” Commentators generally agree there are TWO views on WHO THE “ELECT LADY” was.

(1) Some believe John was writing to a particular woman. But notice, John never mentioned any particular lady personally.

(2) Others say, “No, John was writing to the church.”

Most Bible scholars favor this view. It appears that when John referred to “...the elect lady and her children...” he was referring to the church and its members as her children.

Illus: The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee said, “I emphasize the church rather than the individual, applying it to the church at large and the church today. When I say church, I am not thinking of any local church or any denomination, but the total body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Since the scriptures do not give us the name of a PARTICULAR LADY, we also are going to deal with this as it being to the church.

There were no church buildings then as we know them today. The “body of Christ” met in the homes of the believers.

Notice, he refers to the church, the believers, as the “ELECT lady.” Perhaps someone is saying, “PREACHER, DO YOU BELIEVE IN ELECTION?”

God elected to make heaven available to “Whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.” I certainly do believe in this election. The Bible clearly teaches it. In 2 Peter 3:9, we read, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that all should come to repentance.”

The Bible makes it clear that God is, “...NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” We certainly do not believe God’s Word teaches He has created, and pre-determined, that some can not be saved. That would directly contradict His Word that He is, “...NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.”

God’s church consists of people who have repented of their sins and become born again. We looked at THE CHURCH, now let us look at...

II. THE COMMANDMENTS

Along with the blessings of being saved also comes the responsibility of behaving as His children. Look at verse 4. We read, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.” Nothing thrills a pastor’s heart like preaching THE TRUTH and then finding that the people will WALK IN THAT TRUTH.