The Bible Series 2 John
Notes
Transcript
For one to define LOVE it is best understood by going to 1 Cor 13: 4-8
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
You will notice that it is not emotions, not based on others, but solely based on the work of the Spirit within us
It is a choice, and when we choose to LOVE we are being most like Christ
NOTICE… “love… does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth”
Both 2 John and 3 John speak of this rejoicing...
BUT WHAT IS TRUTH???
For one to define TRUTH it is best understood by going to John 1:14, 14:6
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
In John’s brief but direct letter today we will look at both of these… (Love & truth)
Wrong love or love outside of boundaries is dangerous
We need to love the truth, and guard and even stand against heresy!
John introduces his letter this way 2 John 1-2
The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
Letter Info
Letter Info
Right away we see once again John does not identify himself but due to the same reasons as in 1st John it is held to and understood that, “The Elder” here writing is John the apostle and disciple of Jesus Christ.
Interestingly we see this letter addressed to: “the chosen lady and her children”
Some have taken this to mean the church figuratively, but nothing gives this indication and there seems no reason to be covert about it
Most conservative scholars take this to be a prominent woman in the church
Most likely the church met in her home
She demonstrated hospitality
She opened her home to traveling teachers
It is also addressed to her children
If so, this is the only book in the bible addressed to a woman
She is very dear to John, he knows her well and her good reputation
She is one who has a relationship with Jesus Christ
I love John’s statement to the fact that TRUTH remains forever… it does not change!!!
NOTES: letter was most likely written at the same time as his other two (1 & 3 John)
Where 1 John was written to CHURCHES, he now addresses the HOME
These apostate teachers teaching heresy were not only getting into the church as a whole they were infiltrating the home
If this letter was sent as the letter of 1 John was being circulated then John would not need to reiterate all he stated on false teachers and teaching, rather we see a very practical approach as to what we need to be doing personally in our homes… 2 John 3-6
Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
Book overview
Book overview
As you read 2 John (2 minutes to do so) you soon see that the believer needs to exercise DISCERNMENT as we BALANCE love & truth lived out in our Christian walk.
This balance and discernment in our lives brings with it Grace, Peace, & Mercy…
John is pleased to hear her children are walking in Truth
Younger children don’t get much option
What a blessing it is to see them choose on their own
God the Father calls us to walk this way
John then shares a command, (NOT A NEW ONE) … LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
Love has been so misconstrued and perverted in our day and age
Love, Love, love… everyone wants a God of Love… without a God of justice
We have twisted love so much that we BLINDLY close our eyes and LOVE ALL…
Love MUST NOT be blind, it cannot be
Blind love is no love at all!!!
When we LOVE INDISCRIMINATELY we find ourselves COMPROMISING TRUTH…!!!
There needs to be balance, there needs to be discernment!
John does not write this woman because she does not care, or have a heart for people
To the contrary, I believe she did, and out of a heart of misguided “love” she was opening the door (figuratively and physically) to opposition to the Truth!
The believer needs to have the defining trait of one who loves, this is what marked Jesus… but our love for others is NOT to undermine our loyalty to TRUTH…
We cannot Love at the expense of Truth… there needs to be balance and discernment,… John (known as the disciple of love) pens in this direct letter these statements in 2 John 7-11
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
Jesus known for His love would fashion a whip and drive out those disgracing His Father’s house, Jesus would call the pharisees vipers and children of the devil!
A shepherd loves his sheep yet carries a staff, a rod, and sling
John loves this lady and her family yet his words are direct and even harsh
There are “MANY DECEIVERS” John says… (those who do NOT acknowledge Jesus as coming in the flesh)
Not only are they deceivers, john calls them ANTI-CHRIST
They have no desire to promote Christ only themselves
VS 8… “WATCH YOURSELVES” guard, discern, be alert, yourself! These deceivers will make their way into the home and into the heart of people. KNOW THE TRUTH!!!
Our walking in the truth REQUIRES you and I KNOWING where to stand… Foundational Doctrine:
Inspiration and Inerrancy of the scriptures (Authority)
Virgin Birth and Deity of Jesus Christ
The Sinless Life of Jesus Christ
Jesus’ Substitutionary Death (Blood Sacrifice)
Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection from Dead
Salvation (Justification) by Faith Alone
Jesus’ Promised Return (Literal & Physical)
LOVE IS DISCRIMINANT… Truth has no place with Lies and Apostasy! John states in verses 9-10 the one who does not ABIDE in Christ teaching is not saved! They are not a followers of “the way” (John 14)
They teach contrary… Buddhism, Christian Science, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witness, New Age, Scientology, Atheist, Islam… and so many more!
In fact they are in opposition to the very TRUTH of GOD’s WORD!!!!
WHAT DO WE DO??? vs 10-11
Is this harsh? Is this overboard? How do we apply this?
Is this loving?
I am sure you like myself have had many times where individuals, or a pair of people will come to your door. They want to teach, share, have a conversation… is this what is being spoken of?
REMEMBER: this Lady was most likely opening her home for not only the church to meet in but also hosting the traveling preachers.
In welcoming in false teachers she would be making an official alignment with these teachers
These ones coming would be THE TEACHER, their intent was to turn away from Christ
They came to change doctrine and indoctrinate
John calls them anti-christ… we do not bring them into our church and have them teach, we do not promote their literature, we do not stand by them and align ourselves with them… we must discern and discriminate!!!
Love Discriminates
Love Discriminates
Many are in need of saving grace through Jesus Christ. John’s letter is not telling us to push those who do not know Him away. That is not loving!!!
John 3:16 states
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
God loves people, we are called to walk in the truth with love yet stand against error and false teaching!
What is John saying?
LOVE PEOPLE ENOUGH TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH!!!
Love is painful sometimes… (a doctor not telling you your in danger of dying because it would upset you)
Love does not just sit by and let you believe a lie… love speaks truth
Many Christians are loving people right to hell
There are many false teachers out there… we need to be sharing the truth because we love others too much to let them believe a lie.
John needed to get this truth to this lady, here children and ultimately the church in her home. There was more but this message needed heard right away… 2 John 12-13 closes this way…
Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full. The children of your chosen sister greet you.
What a joy it is to walk together in truth and love as the church.