Sermon Tone Analysis

Walking in God: Truth and Agape

Sermon Text: 2John1-11

2 John 1–11 (NKJV)

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.