Imitating the Good 3 John 11-12

Introduction

1. After describing “the spirit of Diotrephes” in verses 9-10, John encourages his beloved Gaius to be careful about what he imitates:

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.” -

3 John 11–12

3 John 11–12 ESV

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

Following upon the condemnation of Diotrephes, and followed by the commendation of Demetrius, it is easy to infer...

a. b. That John was warning Gaius not to be like Diotrephes

And encouraging him instead to be like Demetrius

But why does John feel the need to exhort Gaius in this way?

a. b. c. -- Haven’t we seen that Gaius was a man whose soul was prosperous?

Haven’t we observed that he was walking in the truth?

Haven’t we noticed that he was commended for his hospitality?

Wouldn’t this make Gaius himself a man worthy of imitation?

Yes, and perhaps this should tell us something...

a. About ourselves as imitators

b. About the need for everyone to have good role models that we can imitate

[In this lesson, “Imitating The Good”, I would like for us to reflect on the idea of being imitators. Let’s begin by observing that...]

WE ARE NATURALLY IMITATORS

CHILDREN IMITATE THEIR PARENTS...

1. 2. 3. Especially in their early years, children seem to delight in imitating their parents

They quickly pick up their parent’s mannerisms: the way they talk, walk, etc.

It is as though there was some innate reason for them to imitate mom and dad

TEENAGERS IMITATE THEIR PEERS AND POPULAR IDOLS...

1. As children get older, they may not seek to imitate their parents, but they are still active

imitators

2. For better or worse (usually worse), they seek to emulate those in their peer group, or those

whom they hold in high regard (athletes, musicians, etc.)

3. Despite frequent claims to want to “be themselves”, you can usually tell by their behavior

who they have been watching or listening to

CHRISTIANS IMITATE THOSE THEY HOLD IN HIGH REGARD...

1. 2. I have observed that many brethren often reflect the attitudes, dispositions, and conduct of

those preachers or elders for whom they have much respect

This can be good, but in some cases it is not...

a. I have known some Christians (including preachers) whose behavior greatly disturbed

me, wondering how they could justify their conduct

b. But when I saw their peers, or those brethren whom they held in high regard acting in

the same way, I began to understand

[For whatever reasons, then, we seem to be natural born imitators. Once we are aware of that fact, we are in a position to appreciate John’s exhortation to Gaius in verse 11. That leads to our next point...]

WE SHOULD IMITATE ONLY THE GOOD

IN OUR TEXT, JOHN EXPLAINS WHY...

1. “He who does good is of God”

a. The one who does good, truly and naturally, bears evidence that they have been born of

God - cf. 1 Jn 5:18

1 John 5:18 ESV

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

b. Such was the case of Demetrius, whose life bore testimony from all who knew him

- 3 Jn 12

3 John 12 ESV

12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

2. “He who does evil has not seen God”

a. The one who consistently engages in evil demonstrates that he or she is has not seen

God, and is in fact a child of the devil! - cf. 1 Jn 3:6b,10

1 John 3:6 ESV

6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

1 John 3:10 ESV

10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

b. The implication seems to be that Diotrephes was demonstrating that he had not seen

God

3. Who is a better role model for us?

a. b. One whose life bears witness that they have come to know God, and are led by Him?

Or one whose life demonstrates that despite their claims to the contrary they have yet to

come to know God?

THERE IS ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO IMITATE ONLY THE GOOD...

1. 2. We become like those we imitate!

Children become like their parents, teenagers like their peers and idols, Christians like those

they hold in high regard

3. If we imitate the good, we become good; if we imitate the evil, then it is evil we become!

[So if by nature we must be imitators, then let us be selective in who we follow. Fortunately...]

WE HAVE MANY GOOD EXAMPLES TO IMITATE

A. WE CAN IMITATE DEITY...

1. 2. 3. 4. As Christ encouraged us to do, in showing kindness to our enemies - Mt 6:43-48

As Paul instructed the Ephesians to walk in love - Ep 5:1-2

Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

What better example do we have, than that of God and Jesus Christ?

Indeed, some of the very titles we wear imply such imitation:

a. Children of God

b. Disciples of Jesus Christ

5. Do you seek to learn as much about God and Jesus as you do other role models?

WE CAN IMITATE NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES...

C. 1. 2. 3. 4. To the degree they imitate Christ, as Paul wrote the Corinthians - 1 Co 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

The New Testament is filled with good examples for Christians today...

a. For married couples, there is the example of Aquila and Priscilla - Ro 16:3-5

Romans 16:3–5 ESV

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

b. For those blessed with things of this life, there is the example of Philemon and Gaius

c. For women, there is the example of Dorcas - Ac 9:36,39

Acts 9:36 ESV

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

Acts 9:39 ESV

39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

d. For young men there is the example of Timothy - Phil 2:19-22

Philippians 2:19–22 ESV

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

This does not mean to preclude many fine Old Testament examples as well: Joseph,

Daniel, Barzillai the Gileadite (an old man who helped David in his affliction - 2 Sam 17:27-29; 19:31-39 ) and many others

Indeed, the Scriptures are filled with many wonderful examples worthy of our emulation!

WE CAN IMITATE MANY OF OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS TODAY...

1. As Paul encouraged his fellow Christians to imitate those who provided a similar pattern as

he - Phil 3:17

Philippians 3:17 ESV

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

2. Yet we should be careful, for not all who profess to be Christians behave as they should

- cf. Phil 3:18-19

Philippians 3:18–19 ESV

18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

3. It is important, therefore, that we know the Scriptures well enough to know when someone

is worthy of our emulation

Conclusion

Since it appears that we are creatures who will imitate something, let us make the choice to imitate

the good!

a. b. -- Only then do we have the hope of being “of God”

Only then can we have a testimony like that of Demetrius, to which all bore witness

The only alternative is to imitate the evil, which prevents us from ever “seeing God”

We close by adding these words of the writer to the Hebrews:

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of

hope until the end,”

“that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience

inherit the promises.”

- He 6:11-12

Hebrews 6:11–12 ESV

11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.