Persevering in Truth
Notes
Transcript
🙏I. Welcome & Opening Prayer
🙏I. Welcome & Opening Prayer
Turn to 2 John 7...
Pitch “3:2 Project”
Aiming to steward our physical health.
Goal: Not be limited in our Christian duties.
6 week initiative—hoping for lasting change/healthier habits.
FB group for accountability & encouragement.
!! Open in Prayer !!
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II. Introduction
II. Introduction
We live in a world where “NEW” is OFTEN SEEN as “BETTER.”
I believe… Quote: “IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT…
SOME THINGS CAN’T BE IMPROVED UPON.
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NEWER SMART PHONE—NEWER, BETTER CAMERA = FINE.
HOW OFTEN DO VEHICLE COMPANIES TRY IMPROVEMENTS THAT END in RECALLS?
TOYOTA = RENOWNED for NOT CHANGING THINGS.
6 SP TRANSMISSION = OUTDATED...
FORD BEAT THEM BY 5 YRS! (2017 VS. 2022)
WELL—IT GOES 300K MILES, SO WHO CARES.
REF: HILUX—INDESTRUCTIBLE🚗
SOME THINGS CANNOT BE IMPROVED UPON.
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THUS IT IS WITH CHRISTIAN TRUTH…
SOME CLAIM:
“CHRISTIANITY = OUTDATED”
WORKED THEN,, NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT NOW.
2,000 YR OLD FAITH in GOD’S FINAL WORD: HIS SON…
& DOESN’T NEED IMPROVED.
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NEW WAYS to SPREAD the MESSAGE— BUT the MESSAGE NEED NOT CHANGE… 📌
… YOU CANNOT IMPROVE UPON the MESSAGE of GRACE
Focus: TODAY’S TEXT WILL CHALLENGE US REGARDING PERSEVERING in UNCHANGING TRUTH… 📷
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Transition: BEGIN BY READING PASSAGE…
LOOKING @ VS. 7-13
SCRIPTURE SAYS…
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📜 III. Passage Reading: 2 John 7–13
📜 III. Passage Reading: 2 John 7–13
2 John 7–13 (ESV)
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
Church, this is God’s Word for us this morning…
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IV. Context Recap:
IV. Context Recap:
Last Week:
CONTINUED STUDY THROUGH JOHN’S
SAW—TRUTH & LOVE = INTERWOVEN…
JOHN CELEBRATED: BELIEVERS WALKING in the TRUTH
&& WE REJOICED HERE— BELIEVERS WHO’VE BEEN HERE for DECADES...
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JOHN ENCOURAGED CHURCH/CELEBRATED THEIR PROGRESS in FAITH…
THEY WALKED in the TRUTH & in LOVE...
HE EXHORTS THEM to PUSH ONWARD…
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Transition: THERE’S a REASON for HIS CONCERN THEY REMAIN FAITHFUL...
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 7
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V. Passage Exposition
V. Passage Exposition
⚠️ 1. A Warning About Deceivers (v.7)
⚠️ 1. A Warning About Deceivers (v.7)
2 John 7 (ESV)
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
WALKING in TRUTH = BIG DEAL— FOR/BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY WHO WALK in FALSEHOOD📌
DECEIVERS
ANTICHRIST
PROBLEM W/ DECEIVERS—THEY’RE DECEITFUL.
MAKE SOMETHING LOOK NICE THAT’S NOT…
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Background: 1 John…
REMEMBER— GROUP LEFT JOHN’S COMMUNITY
TAUGHT ERRANT THINGS:
NO SIN?
NO NEED for ATONEMENT
DENIED CHRIST’S NATURE GOD/MAN—PERHAPS DENIED INCARNATION.
NOT 100% SURE WHAT THEY TAUGHT…
Background: MIRROR READING
SCHOLARS TRY & DEDUCE ORIGINAL SITUATION
HALF of CONVERSATION on PHONE—
— GET “GIST” — KNOW WHO IT IS & SOME DETAILS…
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GOOD NEWS: DON’T NEED to KNOW FALSEHOOD to KNOW TRUTH
WE HAVE the HALF WE WOULD WANT to HAVE!
JOHN WRITES W/ TRUTH COMBATING DECEIT.
IF WE ONLY HAD THEIR SIDE—WE’D BE in TROUBLE…BUT WE HAVE JOHN’S.
🧠 Key Insight: We may not know every false claim, but we know the truth antidote.
NO MATTER the FALSEHOOD— THE ANSWER = FOUND in GOD’S WORD.— MOST IMPORTANT…
IBUPROFEN ILLUSTRATION??
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⚠️JOHN WARNS: DECEIVERS = ANTICHRIST— OPPOSED to CHRIST
**NOT JUST an END-TIME ANTAGONIST—BUT ALL OPPOSED to CHRIST & HIS MISSION** ⚠️
HERE: OPPOSED to CHRIST’S COMING “in the FLESH”
ISSUES W/ INCARNATION
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Thought on the Incarnation:
Thought on the Incarnation:
N.T. MAKES CLEAR: GOD BECAME MAN in JESUS CHRIST…
Theology Point: FULLY GOD,, FULLY MAN—HYPOSTATIC UNION
Phil 2… FORM of GOD—TOOK on FORM of SLAVE—HUMAN BIRTH
Matt 1… IMMANUEL—GOD W/ US
John 1… ETERNAL WORD—COCREATED WORLD—MADE FLESH.
HE TOOK on ACTUAL FLESH—BUT WAS ACTUALLY GOD...
NEVER BECAME GOD—NEVER CEASED to BE…
**I’M NOT GOING to PRETEND to HAVE THAT ALL FIGURED OUT**
Exhort: WHEN WE CAN’T UNDERSTAND—WE TRUST & WORSHIP.🙌
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME MYSTERY—SO WE WALK BY FAITH & TRUST HIM…
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Charge: WE MUST BE CAUTIOUS to NEVER CHANGE THINGS—
— SIMPLY BECAUSE WE CAN’T UNDERSTAND THEM…
GOD HAS ANSWERED ENOUGH of MY QUESTIONS—I’LL TRUST HIM W/ WHAT I DON’T KNOW…
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Transition: WATCH for DECEIVERS...
SOMETHING ELSE WE MUST WATCH…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 8
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👀 2. Perseverance & a Personal Watch (v.8)
👀 2. Perseverance & a Personal Watch (v.8)
2 John 8 (ESV)
8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
DECEIVERS on the HORIZON—BELIEVERS MUST BE DILIGENT to WATCH
WATCH OUT for OTHERS
WATCH OURSELVES—WHAT INPUTS DO WE ALLOW IN?
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⚠️Danger: NOT EVERYTHING THAT MASQUERADES as TRUTH is TRUTHFUL...
⚠️Danger: NOT EVERYTHING THAT MASQUERADES as TRUTH is TRUTHFUL...
2 Cor. 11:14-15
2 Corinthians 11:14–15 (ESV)
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
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WE MUST GUARD OURSELVES & OUR INPUTS
WATCHFUL FOR SIN
WATCHFUL FOR DECEPTION...
PEOPLE CAN BE SO INTENTIONAL--- YET LIVE SPIRITUAL LIVES on AUTOPILOT!
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John’s Concern: WATCH… SO THAT… YOU DON’T LOSE WHAT WE’VE WORKED FOR… 💡
MINISTERS POUR THEIR LIVES INTO OTHERS
ESPECIALLY in 1ST CENTURY—TRAVELING & STARTING CHURCHES…
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BEGS QUESTION: CAN GENUINE BELIEVERS FALL AWAY?
OUR CHURCH BELIEVES in ETERNAL SECURITY:
“Those who are truly born again will persevere because God keeps them.”💡
PERSEVERANCE is NECESSARY—BUT IT WILL HAPPEN…
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Scriptural Backing for Eternal Security:
Scriptural Backing for Eternal Security:
HELPFUL PASSAGE:
1 Peter 1:3–5 (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
SECURE INHERITANCE & SECURELY KEPT BY GOD—THROUGH FAITH to RECEIVE IT…
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📖 John 10:27–30
John 10:27–30 (ESV)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”
NO ONE—CAN SNATCH THEM AWAY…
Background: (v28) “WILL NOT” PERISH = EMPHATIC DOUBLE NEGATIVE.
Common Argument: NO ONE CAN SNATCH—BUT YOU CAN WANDER OFF…
IF WE COULD WANDER BEYOND the REACH of the GOOD SHEPHERD—
— WHAT KIND of SHEPHERD WOULD HE BE?
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👨 Illustration: FAMILY CROSSING the PARKING LOT/ROAD—
ABIGAIL’S SECURITY = NOT in HER GRIP on ME…
BUT in MY GRIP on HER.
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The grip of Christ’s nail-pierced hand upon you
… is certainly tighter and more secure than your grip on Him.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
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WHAT of the WARNING PASSAGES?
I BELIEVE THEY ARE a MEANS of GRACE GOD USES to KEEP US SECURE— ILL: KEEPING SELAH W/ WARNING?
ACCORDING to 1 TIM CH. 4… MINISTRY of the WORD = MEANS of GRACE that CAUSES PEOPLE to PERSEVERE...
WARNING PASSAGES KEEP US on the STRAIGHT & NARROW…
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**NOT TALKING VBS PRAYER & NEVER DARKENING DOORS of CHURCH AGAIN—BUT GENUINE BELIEVERS W/ LIFELONG PURSUIT of CHRIST MAKING IT UNTIL GLORY.
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Transition: PERSEVERANCE & WATCHFULNESS in MIND…
APOSTLE HAS SOMETHING ELSE to BE MINDFUL of…
LOOK W/ ME @ V9…
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✝️ 3. Abiding in the Teaching (v.9)
✝️ 3. Abiding in the Teaching (v.9)
2 John 9 (ESV)
9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
PERSEVERING in FAITH = PERSEVERING in GOD’S UNCHANGING TRUTH…
APPEARS: SECESSIONISTS MOVING TOWARDS “NEW” & “BETTER” IDEAS…
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WARNED in INTRODUCTION—NEW ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER
⚠️Charge: after 2000 YRS of CHRISTIAN HISTORY—SOMEONE HAS “NEW” REVELATION?? — RUN.⚠️
GOD HAS SPOKEN FINALLY THROUGH HIS SON…
FORMERLY THROUGH PROPHETS
LAST DAYS—SON.
NO NEW MESSAGE.
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THERE ARE BOUNDARIES of TRUTH YOU CANNOT CROSS & REMAIN a CHRISTIAN…
WE DON’T “MOVE ON” from JESUS.
Last Week: LOVE = MOST FOUNDATIONAL, FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT of CHRISTIAN ETHICS
CHRIST = MOST FOUNDATIONAL, FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT of CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.
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⚓ Truth Boundaries:
YOU CAN’T UPGRADE a MESSAGE THAT’S PERFECT
WE DON’T NEED a 21st CENTURY GOSPEL ....
BUT the SAME GOSPEL THAT PAUL, JOHN, PETER & the REST PREACHED…
15 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
We don’t graduate from the gospel.
We don’t move beyond Jesus Christ.
🔥 NO WAY to CONNECT W/ GOD APART from LORD JESUS CHRIST…
WE COME on HIS TERMS…
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Transition: **SOME SAY: “I BELIEVE in GOD—BUT I DON’T BELIEVE in JESUS”...
THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS:
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🕊️ Gospel Appeal: FATHER & SON.
🕊️ Gospel Appeal: FATHER & SON.
To have the Father is to have the Son — they’re a package deal.
“You can’t pick and choose parts of the triune God.”
WE CAN’T REMAKE GOD in OUR IMAGE
Focus: GENERIC BELIEF in CREATOR GOD ISN’T ENOUGH....
FRIEND—THE DEMONS BELIEVE.
QUESTION IS: HAVE YOU PUT YOUR TRUST in JESUS CHRIST as YOUR SAVIOR from SIN & JUDGMENT?
HAVE YOU CONFESSED YOUR ALLEGIANCE to HIM as LORD
& PUT YOUR LOT in W/ HIM?
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NOT BEING an ATHEIST = GOOD START… BUT NOT ENOUGH…
**MOST of 1ST CENTURY WORLD WASN’T ATHEISTIC**
IN FACT THEY ACCUSED CHRISTIANS of BEING ATHEISTS!
👉👉CHRISTIANS REFUSED SYNCRETISM…
FATHER of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST = NOT ZEUS/JUPITER, ETC.
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SCRIPTURE PRESENTS: THERE is ONE GOD.
THERE is ONE WAY—JESUS CHRIST.
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BY a FREE GIFT of GRACE RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH
Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 10:9–10 (ESV)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
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Call: DO YOU HAVE the SON?
GENERIC BELIEF in GOD ISN’T GOING to SAVE YOU
BUT a PERSONAL TRUST in JESUS CHRIST…
Invitation: IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ASSURANCE & SALVATION—TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE…
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Transition: JOHN HAS MADE it CLEAR—HAVING the FATHER & SON is a PACKAGE DEAL…
HE HAS ONE FINAL WARNING for US THIS MORNING…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 10-11
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🚫 4. Not Welcoming Deceivers (v.10–11)
🚫 4. Not Welcoming Deceivers (v.10–11)
2 John 10–11 (ESV)
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
JOHN WARNS ABOUT THOSE TEACHING FALSEHOOD—NOW HE WARNS BELIEVERS NOT to SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE DECEIVERS…
Background: HOSPITALITY = GREAT CHRISTIAN VIRTUE—ESPECIALLY in 1ST CENTURY...
ITINERANT TEACHERS DEPENDED UPON SUPPORT & HELP from ADHERENTS…
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CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD HOST FALSE TEACHERS WOULD BE SUPPORTING THEM! —BECOMING a PARTAKER in THEIR WICKED WORKS!
—INSTEAD THEY MUST BAR THEIR DOORS…
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Recent Weeks: WARNED—NOT DIE on EVERY HILL…
⚔️… BUT THERE ARE HILLS WORTH DYING ON.⚔️
THOSE WHO HAVE “MOVED ON” from JESUS CANNOT BE SUPPORTED BY US…
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TODAY—ITINERANTS = ONLINE MORE THAN ANYTHING.
🎧DON’T VIEW THEIR VIDEOS/HELP THEIR ALGORITHM.
INSTEAD SHARE TRUTH🎧
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Transition: JOHN HAS SOME CLOSING WORDS…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 12-13
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🤝 5. Final Greetings (v.12–13)
🤝 5. Final Greetings (v.12–13)
2 John 12–13 (ESV)
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
JOHN’S PERSONAL TOUCH @ END of LETTER…
**NOTING IMPORTANCE of COMMUNITY**
PAPER & INK ISN’T ENOUGH— 1ST CENTURY CHRISTIANS NEEDED FACE to FACE
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C.C. FACEBOOK LIVE ISN’T ENOUGH—WE NEED FACE to FACE TIME W/ OTHER BELIEVERS…
THERE’S a SPECIAL JOY in GATHERED COMMUNITY of BELIEVERS...
JOHN CLOSES W/ GREETING from HIS CHURCH…
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Transition: ALL in ALL…WHAT’S the SCRIPTURE TEACHING US THIS MORNING?
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🏁 Conclusion: Persevering in Truth
🏁 Conclusion: Persevering in Truth
💡 Main Idea: We must persevere in truth — that is, persevere in faith in Jesus Christ.
✅ VI. Application Summary
✅ VI. Application Summary
THIS PASSAGE OFFERS a CALL for US to BE WATCHFUL…
THREE THINGS:
1. Watch for spiritual threats:
DECEIVERS/ANTICHRIST—THOSE OPPOSED to CHRIST
THOSE WHO “MOVE BEYOND” JESUS CHRIST.
NO NEW GOSPEL
NO NEW REVELATION.
2. Watch yourself:
GUARD YOURSELF— WATCH for BESETTING SINS
GUARD AGAINST DECEITFUL INFLUENCE
3. Watch you don’t support deception:
TODAY’S WORLD—LOTS of “ITINERANTS” ONLINE—TEACHING WILD THINGS…
CONTEND for the FAITH ONCE DELIVERED to the SAINTS…
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Remember:
We don’t graduate from the gospel.
We don’t graduate from an old rugged cross.
We don’t graduate from the need for salvation from sin…
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Conclusion:
Conclusion:
I WANT to LEAVE YOU W/ WORDS of HEBREWS 12…
Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
🙏 Close in prayer.🙏
