Sermon Tone Analysis
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Co-Workers with the Truth
3 John 1-
3 John is a personal letter John wrote to a man named Gaius.
It’s here we can compare the letter to John was written generally to the whole church.
It was written to all Christians telling them how they could test the validity of their faith — How they can be sure they are saved.
So, we saw the tests of doctrine and living, what they believed and how they lived.
So, 1 John was written to the whole church.
2 John was written to a family in the church, identified by the “Elect Lady and her children, and the children of her chosen sister.”
It was written to emphasize the importance of the truth when it comes to being hospitable.
That theme continues from 2 John to 3 John, although 3 John is written to a single individual. 2 John was sort of negative, why it was important and essential to regulate hospitality by the truth.
In other words, don’t show hospitality to those who do not preach the truth because that helps spread a lie. 3 John is positive in nature showing how important it is to be co-workers with the truth.
Verse 8
So again, it’s a letter that emphasizes the truth, 6 times here in 3 John.
This is so important because everything in the church is built on the truth — Always.
3 John can be simply outlined by three people — Gaius, who gave hospitality, Diotrephes, who refused hospitality, and Demetrius, who was a godly example.
He affirms the importance of bearing witness to the truth in verse 3.
He affirms the importance of walking in the truth, also in verse 3 and 4.
He affirms the importance of being co-workers with the truth in verse 8.
And especially of receiving a good testimony from the truth.
At the foundation of everything in the church is the truth.
3 John is about loving and living in the truth.
I. Gaius — Gave Hospitality
The letter is from John to Gaius, who is a member of a local church somewhere in Asia Minor, which is modern Turkey.
John is writing probably from Ephesus.
And he begins his letter in typical fashion — “The elder to the beloved Gaius.”
It was a great way to write.
You know exactly who writing you from the beginning.
“The elder” is literally, the old man.
But everyone knows who this is — This is John the Apostle, the only one still alive.
And John is writing to Gaius.
Now, Gaius is a very common name.
There was a Gaius in Corinth we read about in the Bible.
But this is not that Gaius.
There was one in Macedonia who was one of Paul’s companions who was there at the riot of Ephesus.
There was Gaius from Derbe, who traveled with Paul on his last missionary tour.
These are not the Gaius being addressed here.
He was some leader in the church, important, and visiting preachers and evangelists of the Gospel stayed with him.
He was “Beloved.”
This identifies his character.
He was loved by those in the church, in the community.
But most importantly — he was loved by God.
All who Christ’s are chosen and beloved by God, is that not true?
So, while John could be referring to Gaius as loved by the church community, he points out much more and it’s that he belongs to God.
He is beloved of Christ.
So, it really identifies that Gaius is a Christian, a believer.
But not only is he Gaius loved by God and the church, but personally by John.
And look why?
“I love you in the truth.”
He qualified his love for Gaius.
In the Truth — the truth is the sphere in which their love existed.
This was the ultimate qualifier for John — the Truth.
There is no love, no connection, no fellowship for John with Gaius outside of the truth.
Why?
Because the truth is the sphere, the realm of life and living for the Christian.
Do you find this to be the case?
Someone who comes into my life who I’m drawn to irresistibly is someone who loves and holds to the truth of God’s Word.
The truth is like a magnet for the Christian.
It’s the divine force of love because love is built on the truth.
And this is why truth is spoken of in verses 1, 3, 4, 8, 12.
They were both in the Truth and so they had a special love, a unique bond, a family love in Christ.
And look what else he says in verse 2.
It’s a wonderful sentiment — a great way to begin a letter, don’t you think?
I care how you’re doing.
I hope you’re prospering in every way and in good health, but look what he compares it to — “just as you are spiritually.”
That’s a gracious and kind affirmation of one’s concern for someone’s well-being.
Gaius was prospering spiritually.
He flourished spiritually.
That’s the most important and secondary to that is his well-being and physical.
But now look at verse 3.
There were some traveling preachers who Gaius opened his home to and the report back to John that was so important was that Gaius was faithful to the truth AND walking in the truth.
Two things: Faithfulness to the Truth and Walking in the Truth.
Faithfulness to the Truth
John doesn’t just jump in and commend Gaius for his love, that will come.
But he begins with his loyalty to the truth.
He knows the truth.
He’s faithful to it.
He possesses the truth and not only that...
Walking in the Truth
The Truth controls his life.
He is walking in the truth.
And this is what brings joy to the Apostle.
3 John
And of course, you cannot walk in the truth without knowing the truth and being faithful to the truth.
That makes sense, right?
So, this is the apostle’s highest joy.
There was no hypocrisy in Gaius’ life.
He knew the truth, was faithful to the truth, and lived the truth.
How did he walk in the truth?
Verse 5
He did it by acting faithfully in whatever he did for the brethren.
He acted faithfully in whatever he — and it’s literally labored in — work on behalf of the brethren.
Specifically in the context of the letter this was lodging, feeding, and financially supporting those who preached the gospel.
And so, what you had here was Gaius living out the truth, living out what he believed.
But what he believed was the truth.
And here’s what’s so important for us to see.
True divine, spiritual love is based on, committed to the truth.
True love never ignores the Truth.
In fact, our love is the product of our union in the truth.
It’s the working out of the truth in fellowship.
This is exactly what Christ did.
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