Truth and Love

The Bat.

When we first got our dog I was concerned that our dog would be yippy. After all she is a Pomeranian and that’s what they are known for. But ours was quiet - until one day… I’d like to think that I’m not afraid of anything. But one night my daughter said there was something in the hallway of the apartment we lived in. I looked and it was a bat. Now I don’t know how but it definitely creeped me out. They fly right at you in this weird creepy way. But when my 4 lb dog saw it.... something in my dog broke loose and she began barking her head off. At some point we cornered it in our bathroom and while my son and I developed a plan to capture the evil creature our little 4 lb dog ran right in there to warn us of impending danger at risk of being turned into a vampire.

2nd John is our Pomeranian.

Just like out of love for us our dog was willing to do anything to protect us, John warns us of something that if we are not careful will unravel us. He tells us what it looks like and tells us how to respond. He also by default defines who our brothers and sisters are.

By the end of this letter we are going to learn a little about who we are and who the enemy is.

The Elder - been there done that.

Chosen Lady..

In this greeting we see John

loves in the truth THE

Those who know THE truth also love

This gives us a picture of two main identitiies of the Church

We walk in THE truth.

I am the way the truth and the life.. no man....

to think on - that fixed point — whatever is true

Those that walk in the truth love.

John loves

everyone who knows the truth loves

This is a incredibly boad statement.

How do I know that the people of the church in the next town loves you?

Because they know THE truth.

What if they don’t love?

Then they don’t know they truth.

John had identified Himself as the elder - as the oldest - as one who was there right in the beginning - on of the disciples of Christ.

In the book of John (same author) in 13:23 he describes himself as “the one whom Jesus loved”

I used to read that as a bragging statement and in my head I would add “more than anyone else” but it’s not there

What I came to realize was simply he knew Jesus loved him and the he loved Jesus

This love is EVERYTHING

verse 3

Grace - not getting what you deserve

Mercy - getting what you don’t deserve

Peace - result of grace and peace

all of that is from the source of Jesus Christ

He is with us

in truth and love

note we need to walk in the truth

He is with us in truth

not the truth because He is the truth.

we need to work at it, seek it and walk it out

He simply is it.

verse 4

Great joy comes from knowing that some walk in the truth

by default that means some don’t

Sometimes I get frustrated when I see people who are supposed to be acting like Christians .. don’t. They act human. sometimes people don’t

But when I see it, I almost instantly tear up. It fills me with Joy. Somehow watching others love God and eachother, makes me feel that God really is moving.

verse 5-6

Same old command

Dt.. love GOd with all…love your neighbor...

When the Pharisee asks who is my neighbor Jesus give a picture of what love looks like and instead of the selfish question of who is going to love me he give a picture and says love even the worst without chance of repayment or thanks — You love.

when i see that in actions, it’s everything. And it’s so miraculous to watch, it brings great joy

If you love you walk in obedience to his command

His command is that you walk in love.

The Warning

THey are deceivers.

2 Timothy 3:13 ESV

while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

This is scary to me - it is actually possible to be so deceived that you are a deceiver.

They do not acknowledge the incarnation

They deny the central truth of Christianity

Jesus Christ

Did you know that Joseph and Mary were not Mr. and Mrs. Christ?

Christ is a title for what he is that has so permeated Him that it became His name.

Why is that important?

some want to see Christianity as a sum of our nice behavior.... It’s way bigger.

Christ is a cognate of words...

savior

forgiver

rescuer

healer

deliverer

He alone sets us free. It is not our actions or good deeds that brings our salvation, it is our salvation that breed actions and good deeds.

anything short of that is to deny Him and be an antichrist.

We watch out

We actually look… now we are not the eternal judge but if someone falls short of walking the THE truth… we watch.

we have worked for -

be careful

maybe a person is trying and falling short - they are not an antichrist.

the antichrist denies - they remain on the pedestal

Runs ahead - they seem to want to add to the story of Christ.

typically they like to keep themselves central.

THe warning - if they bring false teaching - that is they are trying to persuade you or others, do not take them into your home.

there is a detachment that is necessary until they walk in THE truth that needs to take place. If it does not, you take part in the deception.