Three Men and Their Reputations

Three Men and Their Reputations

(Does Your Life Bring Glory To God?)

3 JOHN 1–14

All of us share an invaluable possession. It goes with us wherever we go, but amazingly, it also goes where we dont. Furthermore, what you think of this prized possession is not necessarily what others think of it.

I speak of our reputation.

Your reputation is the estimation or evaluation others have of your character, integrity, and standing as a person. It may be good or bad, positive or negative. But be assured of this: We all have a reputation. People will watch you and talk about you. (Count on it!)

You cannot escape or lose your reputation. It precedes you, goes with you, and follows you all of your life and beyond.

With that in mind let me raise three important questions for all of us to think about:

First, what do you think of yourself?

Second, what do you believe others think about you?

Third, what does God think about you?

Being The shortest book in the Bible, 3 John is very helpful in assisting us to reflect on these three questions.

Just over 200 words, this postcard epistle has too often been neglected which has led to the downgrading of the church.

The book is similar in length and style to its twin, 2 John, yet there are some important differences as well.

Third John revolves around three key men and their reputations, whereas 2 John mentions no one by name.

2 John was written to a group of people while 3john was written to a single idividual

In 2 John the major concern was truth. In 3 John the major concern is love.

It is easy to outline the book biographically around the three men of the letter. As we look at each one of them, continue to examine yourself and see if anyone here looks something like you.

Ask yourself a very important question:

Does my life bring praise to the name of Jesus?

Do I live out Matthew 5:16

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Gaius: A Man with the Right Balance

3 JOHN 1–8

This letter begins in the same way as 2 John, identifying the author as “the Elder” (Gk presbuteros).

The word originally meant an older man but came to convey ideas of respect, authenticity, and integrity. An elder is a man of courage, commitment, and conviction.

He is a man of authority rooted in his spiritual maturity.

John was such a man, and because he had a tender relationship with “the elect lady” (2 John) and Gaius (3 John), there was no need to assert his apostleship.

John commends Gaius in four areas of his life.

These are areas in which we also should seek to excel, having come into a saving relationship with Christ.

Live Spiritually

(3 John 1–2)

Four times John will address Gaius, the recipient of this letter, as “dear friend.”

It expresses deep, heartfelt love for this man.

John loved this man and he told him. He also knew his spiritual life was in good health, and he told him this as well.

Gaius was a common name in that day, and several men by that name appear in the New Testament: Gaius of Corinth (Rom 16:23), Macedonia (Acts 19:29), and Derbe (Acts 20:4). Unkown which one this is if any of them. All we know is John thought a lot about him.

John’s love for Gaius is genuine; it is accompanied by truth (used seven times).

There is nothing false or superficial here.

He loves this man truly.

The “I” in verse 1 is emphatic: “I [myself] love you in the truth.”

John is praying (continually) for Gaius to prosper (continually) in every way (a phrase that is fronted in the Greek to add emphasis) and to be “in good health physically just as you are spiritually” (v. 2).

“Prosper” conveys the idea of having a good journey.

His prayer for “health” is similar to our idea of hygiene.

Gaius had a clean bill of health spiritually.

Perhaps he was suffering some physical difficulty, but his soul was “ship shape,” in top condition.

Heather as you all know is physically weak but she has never been stronger spiritually.

My prayer for her is that she would become physically what she is spiritually

A good point of application naturally arises from this prayer.

What if I were to pray for you and ask God to bless you physically to the same degree you are healthy spiritually, and what if He answered my prayer?

What would happen?!

Would you be fit, sick in bed, or nearly dead?

Would we need to rush you to the emergency room and have you ushered into the ICU or CCU?

Gaius was “soul healthy.”

The life of Christ was vibrant and alive in Him.

That same life is ours as we enjoy the blessings and benefits we have in Christ.

Walk Truthfully

(3 John 3–4)

Living spiritually is intimately connected to walking truthfully.

John could be “very glad” (v. 3) and “have no greater joy” (v. 4) because of what others were telling him about Gaius.

The truth was in him, and he lived what he believed.

In doctrine and deed, Gaius was commendable, praiseworthy, and a joy to his brothers and sisters in Christ.

There was no contradiction between his profession (talk) and practice (walk).

What Gaius said he did

People cannot see your heart, but they can see your life.

Walk, live out, day by day, the gospel truth that is in you by virtue of your union with Christ. Abide in Christ and bear much fruit (cf. John 15).

Serve Faithfully

(3 John 5–6)

John commends Gaius, “Beloved, thou doest faithfully.”

What was he doing?

It seems he was showing hospitality and entertaining brothers, traveling missionaries for Jesus, sent from John.

These were strangers, persons he did not know.

John knew of Gaius’s service because on their return to John “they testified” of his love “in front of the church.”

John responds by encouraging him to “just keep on doing what you are doing” (paraphrase of v. 6).

“Please keep up the good work” is the idea.

In providing lodging, food, money, encouragement, and prayer, and in standing with them even though they were “strangers,”

Gaius had honored God, the gospel, and John.

Sensitive to the hospitality expectations of the ancient Near Eastern world, Gaius had received these traveling teachers into his home and honored the Lord and the apostle who sent them.

Minister Generously

(3 John 7–8)

These verses provide three reasons we should help those whom God has called and sent out.

First, they “for His name sake”

(i.e., the name of Jesus; cf. 1 John 2:12; Acts 4:12; 5:40–41; 9:16; 15:26; 21:13; Phil 2:9).

This is the only mention of the Lord Jesus in 3 John.

It is His Name we take to the nations.

It is His gospel we proclaim.

There is no other.

Second, they were “taking nothing of the Gentiles,”

that is, unbelievers (Jew and Gentile alike).

They did not attempt to finance God’s work with the world’s money.

They depended, and rightly so, on the generosity and gifts of the church.

In so doing they avoided the scandal of other traveling teachers who prided themselves in fleecing the countryside.

Third, John wrote that “we therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”

We may not physically go where they go, but we can go with them anyway by our support.

All pray.

All give support.

Some are sent.

All are essential as we cooperate together in the work of God.

It is well said, “There is no limit to how much good you can do if you do not care who gets the credit.”

God, multiply the sent. God, multiply the supporters.

Diotrephes: A Man with a Harmful Agenda

3 JOHN 9–10

Third John now takes a surprising and unexpected turn.

If Gaius had the right balance, a man by the name of Diotrephes did not.

He was basically Gaius’s alter-ego at every turn, a man with a harmful and destructive agenda.

The bottom line for Diotrephes was that he wanted to be the “boss” in the church.

He loved himself and not others.

With perverted ambition and a dominating spirit, he opposed the apostle John and set himself up as lord in the church.

If anyone took exception to his actions, that person was censured and dismissed from the congregation.

Carnality personified, Diotrephes is mirrored today by many in the church who exhibit a similar lust for power.

They are leaders who have a messiah complex.

They have taken their eyes off of Jesus and forgotten that He, and He alone, is Lord and Savior.

Just as John commended Gaius in four areas, he condemned Diotrephes in four areas. His stern rebukes are instructive for us all.

Do Not Be Driven by Prideful Ambition

(3 John 9)

John wrote a letter that is now lost to us (v. 9).

It was probably a letter of commendation for the missionaries.

Its reception met a problem in the person of Diotrephes, who is mentioned only here in the New Testament.

He “loves to have first place among them.”

The issue here was not a doctrinal problem but personal pride.

He loved being first, number one, the captain of the ship, the CEO, the center of attention, and the main attraction.

this is not limited just to laypeople

Sometimes pastors or church staff members are afflicted with the “I want to be first” syndrome.

This was the problem with some of history’s great leaders.

George Armstrong Custer, for example, finished last in his class at West Point.

Just two years later, at the age of twenty-three, because of his exploits during the Civil War he had been named a brigadier general.

Like Diotrephes, he was an “impulsive blabbermouth” with an ego the size of the eastern Montana Territory, where he ingloriously lost the Battle of Little Bighorn along with his life in 1876.

There is only one who is preeminent in the church, and his name is Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:18 KJV 1900

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Amazingly, Diotrephes took for himself the position only Jesus should hold.

Tragically, many today take for themselves the position only Jesus should hold.

It may be a pastor, minister of worship or students, a deacon, a prominent layman, or a powerful and influential family.

We do not know who Diotrephes was.

We do know he was driven by prideful ambition.

Do Not Display Pompous Arrogance

(3 John 9)

Diotrephes would not “receive” John and his missionaries.

Incredibly he felt the apostle had nothing to offer, nothing he or the church needed.

John was old news.

It was time for him to retire and move off the scene.

Such arrogance would have been culturally shameful.

It is spiritually shocking.

Imagine you had a chance today to hear the apostle John.

Would you say, “We don’t need to hear anything he has to say!”? Of course not!

But here the older, wiser apostle was being “kicked to the curb.”

The arrogance of this behavior takes your breath away.

Do Not Deliver Perverse Accusations

(3 John 10)

John did not fear personal and public confrontation when a situation demanded it (v. 10).

If he comes, and the implication is he will (v. 14), he will confront Diotrephes, beginning with his perverse accusations (cf. 1 Tim 5:20

1 Timothy 5:20 KJV 1900

Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Diotrephes was “slandering … with malicious words.”

With vicious and wicked intent, Diotrephes had lied about John and slandered him.

Trying to stack the deck and win the day, he would stop at nothing to get his way, even if it meant lying and acting with a heavy hand.

Do Not Dominate with Profane Activity

(3 John 10)

There is a sick, sad digression to Diotrephes’ behavior.

Do you see it?

Ambition led to arrogance, which then led to accusations, culminating in actions.

He acted exactly the opposite of Gaius, but then he went further.

He slandered John,

gave a cold shoulder to these missionaries from John,

stopped others who would have received them,

and kicked out of the church anyone who attempted to help them—

all because he loved himself and loved his agenda, and he had to have his own way no matter what (v. 10b).

Prideful ambition, pompous arrogance, perverse accusations, and profane activity are all very real dangers for Christians and church leaders. Therefore, we must watch our motives, watch our decisions, watch our tongues, and watch our actions.

Demetrius: A Man with a Good Testimony

3 JOHN 11–12

In a wise rhetorical strategy, John sandwiches evil Diotrephes between godly Gaius and a good man named Demetrius.

A man like Diotrephes can be impressive, build a following, and gather supporters who admire or even idolize him. John was aware of this. He knew we all will imitate someone.

Be careful whom you admire. Make sure it is someone like Gaius or someone like Demetrius (v. 12).

Pursue a Godly Example

(3 John 11)

After calling Gaius “dear friend” for a fourth time. John says in verse 11, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.”

This command is a present imperative.

It is a word calling for continuous action.

The word follow means “imitate” which is related to our word “mimic.”

Why imitate or mimic one (“the good”) and not the other (“the bad”)?

Simply put, it gives evidence to whom you belong.

You see, “he that doeth good is of God” (v. 11).

He gives tangible evidence that he belongs to God.

In contrast, the one whose life is characterized by evil gives evidence that he is lost, that he “has not seen God.”

B. F. Wescott said, “He who does good proves by his action that his life springs from God” (The Epistles of St. John, 241).

This quote may not always apply but it is a pretty good starting point

Being in Christ leads to being like Christ.

He is our supreme example who will never fail us (Heb 12:2–3

Hebrews 12:2–3 KJV 1900

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

However, we need earthly, everyday examples to imitate as well.

We need men and women to whom we can point our sons and daughters, our boys and girls, and say, “Go and live like him; go and be like her.”

We should strive to be such examples.

So, be careful whom you watch, and be mindful of who watches you!

Paul says in (1 Cor 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV 1900

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Who ever it is that we point others to to follow should be following Christ because ultimately we should imitate Christ.

Possess a Good Testimony

(3 John 12)

Demetrius probably brought this letter to Gaius. The letter would also serve as his recommendation from John.

A threefold witness is put forward to commend him (v. 12; cf. Deut 17:6; 19:15).

He has a good testimony (or witness) from everyone,

from the truth itself,

and from John and his community.

Over time, people have watched this man Demetrius and found him to be a man of integrity and godliness.

Like Gaius, what he believed and lived were beautifully balanced.

It is doubtful everyone agreed with Demetrius’s commitment to Christ and Christian truth, but his life was above reproach and beyond question.

He walked with God, studied His Word, loved Jesus, and loved people—both saved and lost.

Here was a man I could point my daughters to and say, “Be like him. Walk in love, and Love God’s Word.”

Could I also point them to you?

Could you point your children to me?

Could the lost look at us and see our testimony?

Would our lives hinder others from coming to Christ?

Conclusion

These three men had an impact on those around them. We as believers have an impact on those around us. That impact can go one of two ways, draw others to Christ or distract others from coming to Christ.

Our reputations not only go with us, they stay where we have been. Everywhere you and I go leaves a mark.

Maybe you are here this morning and are lost without Christ. That is the reputation you need to get right first. To be like Christ you must know Christ as your personal savior. Jesus told His followers in John 10:27

John 10:27 KJV 1900

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Do you know Christ as your personal shepherd?

If not you can this morning. Wont you come today and be saved

Christian, which of these three men are you? Two of them meet the qualifications of a follower of Christ, one does not. Which one are you?

Wont you come now and ask God to show you ?

Wont you come now and ask God to help you to be more like Christ?