Sometimes Be Inhospitable Series

You can listen to this sermon at https://www.npbc.org.au/podcasts/media

2 John 1-13

“Sometimes Be Inhospitable”

A foundation interpretive principle of Scripture is that Scripture will never contradict Scripture. While this interpretive principle is always true … there are many occasions where Scripture seems to speak in a way that is in opposition to other parts of Scripture. Here is a quick example of such an occasion.

Proverbs 26:4

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

Proverbs 26:5 … the very next verse … says

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

So, which is it?

It can’t be a contradiction because Scripture will never contradict Scripture.

However, in order to work past what at first glance looks like a contradiction, the historical background, the broader context, the literary genre … and other interpretive tools … are all going to be required to move from the apparent contradiction to a solid interpretation.

One day in the future we will come back to Proverbs 26:4 and 5.

Today, as we are making our way through a series on the Epistles of John, we are going to focus on the letter of 2 John.

1 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 – 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us for ever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 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. 6 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.

7 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. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

12 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.

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

Love one another.

It is a command. The new command Jesus gave in John 13:34-35

34 A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.

Jesus spoke this new command in approximately 30AD. John’s letters were written around 90AD … which means at least 60 years have past since Jesus gave the new command. In this letter, which we know as 2 John,

John the elder writes “to the lady chosen by God” … which is another way of describing the church.

John writes to “the children” of the chosen lady” … which is another way of saying these people have confessed Jesus as Lord.

John writes to them about the new command.

5 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. 6 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.

2 John 5-6

The new command of Jesus, which is now no longer new. Is to love one another.

The children of the chosen lady are to keep loving one another.

The children of the chosen lady are to keep walking in love.

This is such a significant biblical teaching that, in our time, loving one another has been elevated as a key principle for those who believe in Jesus. It can even be argued that this command to love one another has become an overriding command of the whole Bible.