The Truth and Our Daily lives

4 How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. 5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE TRUTH MUST GOVERN OUR LIFESTYLE. (2 John 4)

A- God’s unalterable truth must first be internalized. (2 John 2).

2 John 2 NLT

2 because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

1- Jesus emphasized the fact that the inside (heart= core of being) must be cleansed before the outside can be. (Matthew 23:25-26)

Matthew 23:25–26 NLT

25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.

B- Internalizing God’s eternal truth leads to transformation of our lives. (2 John 4)

2 John 4 NLT

4 How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

“ living according to the truth”

1- Paul talks about this transformation :

(Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2- “περιπατοῦντας ἐν ἀληθείᾳ” = “living in the truth”

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 41.11 περιπατέω; πορεύομαι

περιπατέωb; πορεύομαιd: to live or behave in a customary manner, with possible focus upon continuity of action—‘to live, to behave, to go about doing.’

also used in:

(Romans 8:4)

Romans 8:4 NLT

4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

(Luke 1:6)

Luke 1:6 NLT

6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.

“Walking in the truth” indicates that truth is both what we believe and how we live. It is doctrine and duty, creed and conduct. Dr. Vance Havner used to say:

“What we live is what we believe. Everything else is just religious talk.”

- Dr. Vance Havner

C- Transformed lives impact other people.

“How happy I was (εὕρηκα= to discover with joy) to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.”

εὑρίσκω: to learn something previously not known, frequently involving an element of surprise—‘to learn, to find out, to discover.’

When we walk in the truth, it encourages and brings joy to other believers.

The life of Philemon is an example. (Philemon 4-6)

Philemon 4–6 NLT

4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.

When we walk in the truth, unbelievers take notice. (Acts 2:42-47)

Acts 2:42–47 NLT

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

This is why the believers at Antioch were called “Christians.” (Acts 11:26)

Acts 11:26 NLT

26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

II- WHEN THE TRUTH GOVERNS OUR LIFESTYLE, LOVE PERMEATES OUR RELATIONSHIPS. (2 John 5-6)

A- The Christian lifestyle maintains its focus on inner-family relationships. (2 John 5)

2 John 5 NLT

5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.

“Καὶ νῦν ἐρωτῶ σε, κυρία, οὐχ ὡς ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφων σοι, ἀλλὰ ἣν εἴχαμεν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους.”

1- John asks (ἐρωτῶ = urges, reminds) the church (κυρία) that love is to be the mark of their relationship.

2- What he asks is not a new (καινὴν = unheard of, new) command or concept, but is one that they have had from the beginning (ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς).

Jesus gave that command! (John 15:12)

John 15:12 NLT

12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

B- Real love is demonstrated by our living out the truth in everyday life. (2 John 6)

2 John 6 NLT

6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

“καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη, ἵνα περιπατῶμεν κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ. αὕτη ἡ ἐντολή ἐστιν, καθὼς ἠκούσατε ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ περιπατῆτε.”

1- Love (ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη) means (equals) living in a lifestyle (περιπατῶμεν) of obedience to the truth.

2- It is impossible to truly love God and live in defiance of his instructions (the truth)!

(Luke 6:46)

Luke 6:46 NLT

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?