The Truth
Notes
Transcript
1 The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
Introduction
Introduction
“The truth” is given emphasis in 2 John
There is also an emphasis on “the truth” in John’s Gospel account.
Knowing “the truth” will make you free from sin (Jn. 8:31-34).
Jesus is “the truth” (Jn. 14:6).
“The truth” is the means of sanctification (Jn. 17:17).
Jesus came to bare witness to “the truth” (Jn. 18:37-38).
Know The Truth
Know The Truth
1 The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,
The term “have known the truth” shows that the truth can be known.
Many deny the ability to really know anything.
Denominationalism denies that you can know the truth about specific things:
How to be saved (cf. Jn. 8:32).
How to worship (cf. Jn. 4:24).
The word “truth” literally means, “the reality of a thing.”
In order to know the truth one must:
Want the truth (Ps. 25:4-5; Jn. 7:17).
Go to the source of truth (Jn. 17:17).
Receive the truth (Jas. 1:18-21).
Love In Truth
Love In Truth
1 The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,
The “love” referred to here is not:
Mere emotional sentimentalism.
A fickle passion growing out of lust.
It is agape.
Active goodwill, benevolence in action.
The attitude that seeks the best for the object of love.
The Lord has commanded that his people are to love one another (Jn. 13:34-35; 1 Jn. 3:23).
Love can be commanded because it is an action of the person’s will.
The truth demands love even for enemies (Matt. 5:44).
Those who love in truth show it in:
Their Home-life (Eph. 5:25).
Their Helpfulness (1 Jn. 3:17-18).
Their Harmlessness (Rom. 13:8-10).
Their Honoring (Rom. 12:9-10).
Abide In Truth
Abide In Truth
2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
God’s truth must be internalized (Ps. 1:2; 119:11).
The truth must be “in us” to keep us from committing sin.
It informs us of our sinfulness (1 Jn. 1:8).
It initiates purification from sin (1 Pet. 1:22-23).
It incapacitates us from the practice of sin (1 Jn. 3:9).
Christ abides in us through His truth (Jn. 15:4-10).
If the truth abides in us we must:
Spend time in God’s word (Ps. 1:2).
Handle God’s word of truth carefully (2 Tim. 2:15).
Walk In Truth
Walk In Truth
4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father.
The word “walk” in the New Testament denotes “lifestyle.”
We are to “walk” the way of holiness (Isa. 35:8).
We are to “walk” the narrow way (Matt. 7:13-14).
Paul discusses this walk in Ephesians 2:10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15).
There are two ways in which you can walk:
In darkness (1 Jn. 1:6; Jn. 8:12; 12:35).
In light (1 Jn. 1:7; 2 Jn. 4).
Godly people rejoice when others walk in the truth!