The Good And The Bad

Why?

It could be because it is a small book.

Illus: But we need to remember that “Dynamite” can come in small package.

We know that size does not have anything to do with significance.

John teaches many things in this third epistle for God’s church.

Illus: Many of the movies that Hollywood make today has to do with GOOD AND BAD.

But before movie were ever made God’s Word showed us GOOD and BAD.

One of the thing that John teaches us in III John there are two kinds of people that you will find probably find in most churches. THE GOOD AND THE BAD.

Let’s look first at…

I. THE PERSON (GOOD)

You might have never heard of a fellow in the scripture by the name of Gaius.

WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS GAIUS?

Look at John’s address to him in verse 1. We read, “The elder (John) unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.”

Notice several things about this brother.

A. He is “well-beloved.”

Well-beloved is a nickname for a person who was dearly loved by all.

John mentions “beloved” in verses 1, 2, 5, and 11.

This tells us several things about Gaius. He was...

• Probably a kind man.

• Probably a generous man.

• Probably a friendly man.

• Probably a man with a good personality.

• A godly man.

People with these characteristics are going to be WELL-BELOVED.

But, notice something else.

B. He was sound in his doctrine.

What was it that made John to think so highly of Gaius?

The same thing that brings us all together as Baptist, we all love the truth of God’s Word.

Now this is not the case in many churches. Some are brought together because…

• They seek together for entertainment…

• They seek together for social reasons…

• They seek together for recreation reasons…

But John had a love for the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD and GAIUS had a love for the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD.

These who love the truth of God’s Word would not attend a church that did not teach and preach the Word of God.

John says, “...whom I love in the truth.”

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This was the common bond that drew JOHN and GAIUS together.

But also Gaius…

C. He was probably a sickly man.

Why do we say that?

Look at verse 2. We read, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

In other words, John was saying, “Gaius, I hope that your body ‘prospers’ physically as I know your soul prospers, spiritually.’”

It could be Gaius had some health problems that John was concerned about.

Illus: Some of these television preachers take that second verse out of context and use it to teach there HEALTHY AND WEALTHY DOCTRINE.

This is one of their favorite scripture and they take it out of context over and over again.

They say this verse is proof that it is the will of God that we all as Christians should NEVER GET SICK and that we all BECOME WEALTHY.

Now I am not against HEALTH AND WEALTH but that is not what this verse of scripture is teaching.

Verse 2 is simply a greeting directed to Gaius in which John was wishing him the best SPIRITUALLY and PHYSICALLY in this letter to him.

Illus: This verse would be like us writing a letter to someone and we are saying in our greeting…I HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL!!!

John then began to share his excitement.

Look at verses 3-4. We read, “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth (Jesus) that is in thee, even as THOU WALKEST IN THE TRUTH (JESUS). I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

John was saying that when the brethren came and told him how good they were doing, “...I rejoiced greatly...”

John wanted them to know he was THRILLED that they were OBEYING the LORD JESUS. That is, they were not just SAYING THEY WERE CHRISTIANS, THEY WERE WALKING IN THE TRUTH (Jesus).

Before we can fully appreciate the compliment that John was sending, we need to consider the conditions of the day when this passage was written.

Illus: They had NO MOTELS or RESTAURANTS along the roads as we have today. Missionaries and evangelists had to depend on the kindness and generosity of Christians in each town to house and feed them.

Look at verses 5-8. We read, “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.”