Walking in love and truth 2. John 4-6 The commandment.

Walking in love and truth 2. John 4-6 The commandment.

Recap from last week.

John (the elder) is writing to a church (Elect lady). Reminding and encouraging them, in who God is, that God is love 1. John 4:10. And that Jesus is the truth, the way and the life. John reminds them that in Jesus Christ, God is always with them, by the Holy Spirt, and will be forever, and that Gods mercy and grace is a promise in Jesus Christ. And that peace form God the father and Jesus will be with the believers.

As I said last week the letters of John is written to churches that are troubled/plagued by false teachers, from with in the church, and John is writing to warn and encourage them to hold on to the truth of who Jesus Christ is. And his teaching,so they will not be led astray by the false teachers the antichrists, that spilt away from the church and deny Jesus came in flesh. (it is a battel and John is trying to remind and teach and strengthen the church to walk in Jesus’ way and truth in keeping his teaching commandments).

1.

John rejoices greatly! Why? That some of the people are walking in the in Jesus Christ, as the truth, the way and the life, walking in the way he walked and in his commandments. God the farther had commanded them and John. It is great and good to rejoice greatly in the Lord, John sees the work that Jesus is doing in the people (children, he sees that his work was not without results and fruit, but good fruit has come. To rejoice in God’s work in Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirt has done work in some people. It encourages the church that this is possible in Christ, to walk in this way, to not be lead astray and to love Jesus and therefore walk in his commandments. That we and them don’t have to be deceived but can walk in Jesus Christ the truth. As the Holy Spirt has opened our eyes to Jesus, and keeps working in them and their fellowship. So Rejoice.  

I might have a bend that focuses on the other part and therefore I was and am encouraged that John rejoices over the people that are walking in the truth. But he writes that some are walking it the truth. That also, leads us to the issue, if some do this there is people that don’t, and they will be open to be lead astray, and we can also think about the pain and frustration/sadness that not all walk in the truth and keep the commandments of Jesus. John focuses on what God has done and not what he has not done. That gives glory to God and encourages John so that he rejoices that God is working. (Sometimes it can be easy to point to all the places and people where we can’t see God working, where people are not walking in the truth, but what becomes my/your focus,rejoicing – or complaining, frustration and sadness, or strength in what God has and is doing. Is there as much Joy and rejoicing in God and his work in people in our fellowship, or more sadness and complaining, of why God has not done more in them/us?

It seems that strength and encuargemt comes from seeing and rejoicing in what God is and has done. Are you good at that? – (I am not very good, I could do much better, Joy and rejoicing comes from seeing and understating who God is and what God has done in Jesus Christ, and how as John said Jesus promised to be with us forever, by His Holy Spirt, - Should I not fall to my knees, lift up a song, whatever I do, to rejoice and praise God for who he is and what God has done for me and many others?) (Some personalities find this easy some hard).

I you think back to all the people that you know from church or other places, what can you rejoice in? Who are walking in the truth and in the commandments? (oh, what joy to hear about people that walk, in truth, children friends’ people that used to be a part of our fellowship), Who Can you rejoice in God for? Yourself?

John is testifying about his joy (to praise God) and to strengthen the church.  (Testimony time).

Commanded by the father to love your neighbor: (Leviticus 19:18)

Walking (walking is to live it out) in love is to walk in Jesus and keep his commandments, the one that was from the beginning to love God, and others. (Not to be loved, instead because we have been loved, - we don’t get God to love us by doing the commandment, - instead we show God and others that we have been changed by Gods love for us, and that is why we love God and others – we walk in the commandments that was from old).

Jesus in John explains this commandment more and say: “love one another as I have loved you, John 13:34 and John 15:12. PPT.

John writes almost the same in verse 5, dear lady, not a new commandment, the one we had from the beginning, - love one another. John again reminding them about loving one another, - with the love God loved them with, and the love John experienced that Jesus loved him with in his life. A love that always spoke the truth in love, honoring God, and encouraging the person towards God, and not away from him. Even in Jesus corrections and rebukes, there is a way to God in repenting, a way that shows them, and we need Jesus Christ life and death, that God gave Jesus because he loved the world. What will we do and they do with this commandment? A command to love? What! Is love not a feeling? How can God and Jesus command a feeling? Well, love is an action, we see God in action sending Jesus to the world, so love is not feeling but an action. What actions to we do to show Gods love in Christ? In our fellowship and work, school, at home, where ever we go? Speaking the truth in love as Jesus did, loving people as Jesus did.

Walking in the commandments show God’s love has changed us by Jesus works not ours.

This is important today as it was then, - Our faith in Jesus Christ is not a private matter it shows in our life and how we walk, - if we have understood God love, we “should” – well we can’t it we live it out towards others.

Love is not just love in Jesus it is also the truth, only true, love it also true also the way God defined it in Jesus Christ 1 John 4:10.

The truth is important today and then, to love in truth and not pretend, or call things love that is not love, or clam a truth that is not true. And John is setting this up, love as God has loved you, in Jesus Christ. Live it out in truth (in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirt in you). And do not be lead astray from Jesus Christ, by a false teaching about Jesus.

Doctrine, theology, truth dose matter, it will define and determine how we live.

 Or we can say: how we live show are view of God and Jesus Christ.

John warned the church, your love is how people know you are my disciples, - don’t forget who Jesus is or you will be lead astray. Be in the truth love one another so you don’t let people lead you astray. Instead love in truth.

Can’t we just love everyone and get along?

The truth is that everyone was made for and by Jesus, we are his, not our own, and we will not find rest and peace, understand why we were made apart from Jesus.

Yes, Love God first, love the truth, and then love people – that we will really love people and will not accept a false teaching about who Jesus is.

True love speaks the truth in love to everyone because Jesus did. (Sometimes I am guilty of not doing that I want to and need to so people can see Christ work in me and see Jesus, and how God loved the world, and that they might see God love in Jesus Christ).

There is an enemy that wants to seek kill and destroy people and churches, and the churchshould be aware of false teachers and reject them, and speak the truth to them. And if they reject the truth in love, then sent them away and not let them lead others astray.  

Rejoicing in Gods work, - gives joy and encouragement – how do we, you I rehearse practice this? There is strength in this.

Walking in Truth and love living out Jesus’ teaching commandments.

How are you doing that?

Rejecting false teaching, and knowing the truth sets people free, and true love is only found in Jesus Christ. And with out action and truth there is no love. We see it clearly in God loving the world. In John 1. 4:10. PPT.

We who are in Jesus Christ, can with John rejoice, in Jesus Christ life and work with great joy, everyday because it is finished, Jesus made a way for you and me to come to God, to have our eyes open, to who Jesus is by the Holy Spirt, - we can find strength and joy, in God’s work in us and others.

Do you know Jesus, do you live for Jesus? Is your life given to live for King Jesus? If it is rejoice, praise God, - that he opened your eyes. – rejoice, live it out and share it with others.

Is Jesus not you Lord and King, then why? Aks that God will open your eyes to see, that the Holy Spirt will work, and you will see Jesus for who he is. And that you with great joy will rejoice, as you walk with Jesus and in his commandments. (Standing in the truth and love). And walk in love and truth.