2nd John

The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

We are in for a treat studying Gods Word, as we dig a little deeper into the early church and how the Apostles have dealt with problems. We get to be shown examples of how they encouraged, exhorted, and disciplined in love. This love for Jesus and the Body of Christ Jesus was the catalyst in all things Christ Jesus. It was love and truth working its way into the church as all the above. Can we discipline in love? The answer is “of Course we can”. It is the only way you discipline any brother and sister, with restoration and/or reconciliation as the outcome. With these thoughts in mind, let us read and contemplate what it is the Apostle John is trying to communicate to this church body. First, let us look at love as John elaborates on this subject.

Gods Love

2John5-6 “And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”

AGAPE (Charity as the motive, a type of a giving love whose source is from Gods Throne) is a true love and is recieved as a spiritual gift from a believers heart to a range of benefactors of this love. When guided by the Holy Spirit, this can be the catalyst for carrying all other spiritual gifts to their full effect in building the spiritual man along with building the church. If our motive being love, we can do many things in Jesus and have much success in its completion as per the will of God. We can mix it with Truth and we have a powerful combination in which to accomplish our godly endeavors for Jesus. So let us examine Truth.

Gods Truth

2John4 “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father.”

We have all heard these words from many people in many forms, “ what is truth, and why should I care”. we know all truth comes from God. Gods throne is established in righteousness and truth in Holiness of Gods presence and Holy Name. So the Truth is “Jesus is the Lord of lords and King of kings, only begotten Son of God, and humanity’s only hope for salvation from Gods judgement of humanity”s rebellion against Jesus. These are called antichrist and encompasses all who reject God the Fathers invitation to the “banquet celebration of Jesus and His bride”. A celebration of eternal life in Christ Jesus and His everlasting covenant with His bride the Church. Truth, a very powerful and wonderful truth to be sure.

Truth has a definition also of being faithful facts that are real, reliable, factual, reality. so for our purpose God speaks truth and truth is required by God as a part of worship of the Father, Those who worship the Father must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

Colossians 2:8–15 (NKJV)

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Truth is always being tested. Humanity wishes to bend truth and Gods Truth to fit humankind’s rebellion as individual truth. To those false teachers any Human can have his own version of truth. This so called truth, compared to Gods version of the TRUTH, would then be a Lie. GODS TRUTH IS THE STANDARD of TRUTH. Human truth NOT based on Gods faithful real, reliable facts is indeed a human LIE( Anti truth or in many cases Antichrist). Usually accompanied by a lying spirit whose source is hell, come to deceive rebellious humans. Relative truth is not even a truth and cannot be a version of truth. So relative truth is in actuality a lie, therefore its label should be a perversion of truth. This is what the Apostle John was warning this small body of believers about.

Beware of the deceivers and antichrists

2John7-11 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”

Love and truth are good standards to judge all words spoken by the itinerant preachers and teachers of the day who frequented this small body of believers. In it is believed to be a small home church in the city of Ephesus. so many liars attempting to pervert truth by introducing a new standard to Gods Truth based on these lying spirits from Hell. These deceivers were suggesting this the ‘enlightened truth’ from Hell should be the Standard in which to measure truth. They were attempting to lead many new converts away from the truth prompting Apostle John to issue this warning in this epistle. He issued this warning even stronger in verses 2John 10-11 “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” They were not even to give hospitality or fellowship to these false teachers and deceivers. Do not give quarter to evil and deception. Show no hospitality or encouragement in any way, lest you share in his evil deeds. This may seem harsh, but Apostle John was protecting his Flock from being beguiled by the lying spirits that influenced the false doctrines and deceivers.

An example of Godly Truth is this scripture Titus 1:2 “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,”

Conclusion

Many, many deceivers, preachers, and teachers of false doctrine filled the big cities and world. They were, are, and will be in the future, enemy to the Truth of God in the Church of Jesus Christ. Even today the Church faces many enemies of Christ Jesus and Gods Truth as The Standard of which truth is measured and defined! Let us be steadfast not only in faith but also in Gods love and Gods truth. God is and always will be our standard in which we measure all truth and all love.

Pastor Prayer

Lord Jesus, let us as a congregation reexamine our steadfastness to your Standard of TRUTH and LOVE. We have strayed from the your truth standard so many times and fallen into trouble as well as losing our God centered peace and feeling of well being. Hear our repentant hearts and restore us in a God centered Truth of your word and Spirit. Let us again live in peace and restore our sense of well being in Christ Jesus as before; when we held this truth standard so dear to our hearts. Revive us again in your steadfast Love, Peace and Mercy!!! Keep my brothers and sisters in your care and well being. Keep their hearts warm with your love and their faith, hope and love for You. Let them be filled with your Spirit and by your Holy Fire. Help us draw close to you Jesus. We desire to be with you soon. Come quickly Lord Jesus!!!

OUTLINE For 2John Sermon 11/06/2022

1. Gods Love 2John5-6 “And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” AGAPE (Charity as the motive, a type of a giving love whose source is from Gods Throne) is a true love and is recieved as a spiritual gift from a believers heart to a range of benefactors of this love. When guided by the Holy Spirit, this can be the catalyst for carrying all other spiritual gifts to their full effect in building the spiritual man along with building the church. If our motive be love we can do many things in Jesus and have much success in its completion as per the will of God. we can mix it with Truth and we have a powerful combination in which to accomplish our godly endeavors for Jesus.

2. Gods truth -------GODS TRUTH IS THE STANDARD of TRUTH.

Colossians2: 8-15 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it”

3. Warning of antichrist and deceivers. 2John 7-11 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

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