Does your love line up with the love of God?

Introduction:

John here calls himself an Elder and is writing to the congregation.

He continues to call us to walk in truth as the congregation here is doing.

What does walking in truth and love look like?

Well scripture points out what kind of love we must have and that we are to remain obedient.

John here talks about this very subject.

Transition: Loving one another?

I. The command to love one another (v. 5)

A. Not a new idea, but often neglected.

a. 2 John 5 “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.”

b. This was one message that Christ from the beginning preached.

c. We are to love one another just as Christ loved us.

d. The heart of Christian living is not novelty; it is obedience to what God has already said.

B. Love is a command, not a suggestion.

a. John here calls it a command!

b. Love is a decision of the will to seek the good of others as God defines good.

c. When God commands love, he is commanding us to act in a certain way toward one another, even when our feelings lag behind.

Transition: Type of Love that is needed.

II. What Love really is (v. 6)

A. Love is not defined by our feelings, our culture, or our preferences.

a. 2 John 6 “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.”

b. Love is defined by God’s commandments.

B. Love for God is obedience.

a. John 14:15 ““If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

b. Love and obedience are never seperated in Scripture.

c. To say, I love God, and yet live in rebellion to his will is a contradiction.

C. Love for others is obedience.

a. John is not talking about just loving God, but loving others as well.

b. Ask yourself this question, How do I love my brother and sister?

Transition: Is it a way of life?

III. Walking in love: A way of life

A. Walk is used twice in this small section.

a. Some of her children are walking in the truth.

b. Walking according to his commandments is what love actually looks like.

c. Walk is a word for daily conduct — your lifestyle.

B. Walking, not sprinting.

a. Walking is steady, ongoing, step by step.

b. You don’t just have love in a big emotional worship service; you walk in love every day of the week.

C. Where should we walk in Love?

a. In the home

b. In the local congregation

c. Toward the lost

Transition: Let us always remember the context.

IV. Love, truth, and guarding the Doctrine (vv. 4-7 context)

A. Love and truth cannot be separated.

a. 2 John 4 “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we received commandment from the Father.”

b. 2 John 6 “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.”

i. We must walk in truth

ii. We must walk in love

c. 2 John 9–11 “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.”

i. We must not receive those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ.

ii. If we have truth without love, we become harsh, cold, and self righteous. If we have love without truth, we become sentimental, compromising, and disobedient.

B. Application to the church today

a. When we stand for the pattern of the New testament worship, that is love.

b. When uphold what scripture teaches about baptism, the church, morality, and marriage, that is love.

c. When we refuse to extend fellowship to false doctrine, that is not hatred; It is loyalty to Christ and concern for others’ souls.

Transition: We must walk in both love and truth.

Conclusion