Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

read v.4-6

Loving one another is the subject of this whole section.

I will teach this backwards because it will make more sense to our English American reasoning…

HOW DO WE LOVE? (v.6a)

We love by doing what Jesus commands (v.6a)

However why this is great application for our lives lets not lose the context here.

Note this is love in v. 6a is present active indicitive

so love is an ongoing action not a feeling.

WHAT IS CHRIST COMMAND? (v.6b)

*note in v. 6a it was plural commandments… now in v.6b it is singular one commandment

The singular command of Christ is to love each other (v.6b)

Luke

9 “As the Father lloved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 mIf you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and nthat your joy may be full.

WHY DOES LOVING EACH OTHER PROTECT US FROM HERETICS?

(v.5)

Remember the context is identifying false teachers....

In 1 John he gave 3 tests to identify a real Christian (love (; ; , ; ); , life style,(; ; ) and doctrine ( ; ; , ; , , ).)

We see the same three tests in 2 John to identify a real Christian or not.

(1) love (v. 5)

(2) keep His commands ( v. 6)

(3) doctrinal content (v.

7)

So loving each other will protect us from heretics, because this command was a from the beginning (v.5)

This is a reference to the beginning of Jesus teaching

So Bede an early church father in 672-735 summarized this section well:

BEDE: Here John is attacking the heretics who had abandoned the teaching of the apostles and were trying to introduce new doctrines.

By doing this they were breaking the bonds of brotherly love.

ON 2 JOHN.5

Love unifies, heretics disunify

THE 2 RESULTS OF LOVING EACH OTHER (v4)

Here it is love but

For you - When we love each other we are walking in the truth (v.4)

*note it does say some of you walking in the truth… teaching us that there were some in the church not walking in the truth

For others - It causes leadership to rejoice.

(v.4)

For others - It causes leadership to rejoice.

(v.4)

2. The result of truth lived out is rejoicing!

(v.4)

HILARY OF ARLES: The saints are always overjoyed to see the results of truth at work.

3. Loving one another is not a new command but from the beginning (v.5)

*church leader 401-449 BC

For Stoic thinkers joy, like all strong emotions, was to be avoided.

But joy had always accompanied news of Jesus: There was joy at his birth (Luke 1:14; 2:10); there was joy among his disciples as they ministered (10:17); there was joy in the presence of the Lord after his resurrection (24:41, 52).

Jesus had promised abundant joy to his disciples (see John 15:11; 16:20, 24).

Jesus prayed to the Father that his followers would have joy after he left them (17:13).

Joy is often associated with human celebration, but this is too simplistic: “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief” (Prov.

14:13).

True joy comes from participation in the kingdom of God, which is not a matter of partying, “of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom.

14:17).

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal.

5:22).

“Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief” (Prov.

14:13).

True joy comes from participation in the kingdom of God, which is not a matter of partying, “of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom.

14:17).

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal.

5:22).

Conclusion?

Do you see the love Jesus wants us to have for each other in the church today?