Christian Fellowship 101
“Christian Fellowship 101”
2 John 1-13
Introduction:
- We will be looking at the Entire book of 2 John, don’t worry there are only 13 verses in this book J
- First let’s get a little bit of background information on 2 John…
- The author never identifies himself in the book although most believe it to be the apostle John
i. Bears similarities to the Gospel of John
ii. The term “elder” would be a fitting description of John as the author, writing in his old age.
- Place and date of writing
i. Ephesus is usually suggested as the location from which John wrote this epistle, sine he was known to have lived there in the later years of his life before exile.
ii. Some place it as late as 90-95 AD while others say as early as 65 AD, either way it was written many years after Jesus walked the earth and probably by John as the last living apostle.
- The recipients “The chosen lady and her children” – There is much debate as to who that is referring to i. Taken literally – this epistle was written to a specific lady and her children, this view is help my many scholars
ii. Taken figuratively – it could refer to the local church, this view is also held by many scholars
iii. John may be speaking to a lady and her children as well as the church meeting in her house.
iv. He may have had the family and the church in mind.
v. We may not completely understand who it is to but we can be sure of one thing,
Outline:
I. John is deeply concerned that we abide in Truth.
A Read vs. 1-3 Truth is mentioned 4 times in these 3 verses.
1. Truth will always be valid for truth is eternal.
2. What greater purpose for living than to live for the truth.
3. John sees God and his Son Jesus as the source of all truth.
a. Jesus Christ is truth John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
b. The Word of God is truth John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
c. And the “spirit of truth” must guide us into fellowship with other Christians.
d. The truth of Christ is:
i. To test what we hear,
ii. It is to guide our personal lives,
iii. It is the basis of fellowship and
iv. It is what bonds us through mutual cooperation.
B John is deeply concerned with whom we have fellowship.
1. There is nothing wrong with having acquaintances who are not Christians but it is another thing for your BEST FRIENDS to be unsaved.
2. 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?”
a. I believe this to mean more than just marriage…
b. Business partnerships, best/closest friends, etc.
c. We need to be extremely careful as to where we are getting that fellowship that as humans we are designed to have. b/c
d. Our choices are greatly influenced with who we are around, therefore!
II. We Must Walk In The Truth Of God’s Word
A If we are not careful our knowledge of truth will only be historical. In other words it is all head knowledge.
1. There are many people in this world that know a lot about the Bible, they know all the facts they know the chronology they may even know the historical proofs
2. But until someone takes that knowledge and applies it to their hearts it is worthless.
3. It might as well just be another History Book on the shelf
B We must be sure that we believe in the deity of Jesus Christ
1. It amazes me to hear someone say, “Jesus was a ‘Good man or a prophet’ but he was not God.”
2. How could he have been a good man and make the claims that He did without being God?
a. John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”
b. John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”