Live, Love, & Protect

Introduction

Make some comments about some great Zoo trips. Things you have done in the past, like racing the Cheetah, seeing all kinds of animals, even Jaxon playing in the water fountains.

Transition to one of the favorite things that everyone must see if they are there. The Lions, and thank the Lord for the enclosures because without it we all would be in trouble.

Facts about lions:

Males are primarily responsible for the security of their pride. While they will participate in hunting, they spend the majority of their time on security patrols. ... Females are primarily responsible for hunting, which typically occurs after dark. They are also the primary caregivers for lion cubs.

Stats:

They are 6.6 to 9.2 feet (2 to 2.8 m) long from head to tail and weigh between 242 to 418 pounds (110 to 190 kg), according to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF). Not only are male lions generally larger than females, but they also have a distinctive thick mane of hair around their heads that females lack

Lions weigh roughly 2.5 times as much as humans, and can jump over 3 times more. Just that gives them 7.5 times the strength of a human just by math.

Just so we are clear, you are not going to square off against a lion ‘mano y mano’ and come our victorious.

Today is about Truth. and the definition for truth is this:

Truth refers to what is real, trustworthy, dependable, genuine, or valid. It carries the sense of real-world dependability and genuine disclosure—showing things as they really are. Mangum, D. (2014). Truth. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

“The truth is like a lion; you don't have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.”- St. Augustine/ Spurgeon

Today we are in 2 John and before we read it here’s a little background

English Standard Version Introduction

Second John warns against the same false teaching mentioned in 1 John. This letter, however, was addressed to “the elect lady and her children” (perhaps a local congregation), and focused on Christian hospitality. False teachers were using the kindness of Christians to gain influence within John’s congregations. John’s letter spoke of this danger and warned against opening one’s home to these destroyers of the faith.

The overall theme of 2 John closely parallels 1 John’s thee of a “recall to the fundamentals of the faith” or “back to the basics of Christianity” (vv. 4-6). For John, the basics of Christianity are summarized by adherence to the truth (v.4), love (v.5), and obedience (v.6).- John MacArthur

Verses- 1-3 are a typical greeting from John, but the word truth is used 4 times in three verses, because that is the heart on this small letter.

2 John 1–13 (ESV)

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. 12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

I. Loving the Truth- vv.4-5

The first thing we need to point out is that no one goes through the things Christians endure (I mean the ones we read about in the early church) with out something truly going on inside. I believe this is alluded to indirectly here because of that very reason. It is the same reason why the disciples made such a dramatic change after the death and resurrection of Jesus. (Before the fled, after wards they went to their death) Folks, you don’t die for something you know is a lie, and people will kill you to keep the truth contained.

A. Love is displayed through obedience

If you truly love the Gospel and are committed to it then you are going to love the fact that it is for everyone who would believe. And at the heart of the Gospel is to love people. So, to show someone true love and you yourself in an act of loving obedience, share the Gospel with those who need it because you don’t want to see anyone go to hell and be separated from our Father.

John 14:15 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:21–26 ESV

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

This is they same point John make in 1 John when he is talking about evidence of a true Christian The presence of the Holy Spirit in a person is the seal of authenticity for a true believer. And the fruit they produce with their life is the evidence of that love they have for our Father in Heaven.

B. The Core of the Gospel- Love

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

So Loved..... So Loved.....Yes I know it is the most famous verse from the Bible, but there is a reason for that fame. It is one verse that is filled with hope, acceptance, and mercy. Here we find everything that someone who is lost and broken finds redemption in the eyes of an all knowing, all loving God of the universe. And it’s all because He loves you, and He proves it to us by His outstretched arms.

Application

Do you love Jesus? Do you love the Truth? Is there anything that can pull you away from it? If it was all you had would that be enough for you? If you can’t say yes to those questions, then a thorough assessment of your heart needs to be done. I fear that you truly don’t know the truth because saying yes to those questions are freeing. And we know the truth sets you free.

John 8:31–32 (ESV)

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

II. Living the Truth- v.6

Here we see that love that has taken hold working its way out. It can’t help it. Just like when sin is at a person’s core (it’s destructive and brings about death), love (the Love of God) will become the person’s core and produce life (it’s uplifting, patient, kind, and loving)

A. “Walk”- Love in action

“Love your neighbor as yourself”

Matthew 5:43–45 ESV

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

B. A constant message- Live love out-loud

This is not a commandment that should catch us off guard. Jesus told us this. It’s how the world would recognize us.

John 13:34–35 (ESV)

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Application

So, you see how we show love in two ways. 1) we love our neighbor by sharing with them the light of the world, Jesus. 2) by how we love the brother and sisters in Christ. If we can’t find a way to love each other, faults and all, how are we going to love a bunch of sinners out there.

III. Protecting the Truth- vss. 7-11

Here John end with a warning on how our enemy was attacking the early church. Because of the love and acceptance the early church was showing one another, “anti-christs” were taking advantage of this “hospitality” and causing all kinds of havoc. They were the same gnostic types that John mentioned in 1 John. They were trying to take Jesus’ deity away saying He wasn’t really the Christ, or they needed to do more “works” type thing (Jewish ritual) outside of repent and believe in your heart in order to be saved. Folks, there is only one Gospel.

A. The truth of the Gospel is rigid, immovable, and unchanging

Define the gospel - A gospel is an announcement of good news. In particular, the gospel is the announcement that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have brought about salvation for Israel and the world.

Mark 1:14–15 ESV

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

If someone says something other than this. They are enemies of the TRUTH the Gospel. The means of salvation is nothing to be messed with. Jesus bled and died for the simplicity of coming to Him. You Admit you are a sinner, Believe that He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and Confess Him with your mouth as a public declaration of that belief. And if that is your heartfelt conviction, then that is all that is needed for Salvation. Jesus and the Holy Spirit has done the rest.---- They’ve done it all.

B. The dividing line

There is some caution here that we need to make mention, and its some guidance that John gives for this family. and it’s here in these verses.

2 John 8–11 ESV

8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

The apostle, however, conveys an additional, but related, theme in 2 John: biblical guidelines for hospitality. Not only are Christians to adhere to the fundamentals of the faith, but the gracious hospitality that is commanded of them (Rom. 12:13) must be discriminating. The basis of hospitality must be common love of or interest in the truth, and Christians must share their love within the confine of that truth. They are not called to universal acceptance of anyone who claims to be a believer. Love must be discerning.

Hospitality and kindness must be focused on those who are adhering to the fundamentals of the faith. Otherwise, Christians may actually aid those who are attempting to destroy those basic truths of the faith. Sound doctrine must serve as the test of fellowship and the basis of separation between those who profess to be Christians and those who actually are. - John MacArthur

Whoever John was writing too, a family or even a church that met within a family home, as much as he wanted them to stay true to showing love to a lost world and be accepting; they could not, CAN NOT, compromise on the Gospel. If someone (these leaders claiming to be believers) didn’t believe in the Gospel that John and the other Apostles taught SPECIFICALLY, then they should not be welcome.

David Guzik says

i. These words sound severe, but John has not lost his love. We must consider these three points:

· John is not talking about all error, but only error which masquerades as true Christianity.· John is not talking about all who hold the error which masquerades as true Christianity, but about those who teach those errors which masquerade as true Christianity.· John is not talking about all teachers who err, but those who err in the most fundamental truths, and those who are active in spreading those fundamental errors.

ii. This does not mean that we should have nothing to do with those who are caught by the cults. As John indicates, we should make a distinction between those who teach these Christ-denying doctrines (those who bring this doctrine) and those who merely believe the doctrines without trying to spread them.- David Guzik

Application

We must take care of who teaches us and where we develop out theology. Let’s Do our research, and sit under the tootledge of great Godly teachers.

Closing Thought

1. Do you love Jesus? Do you love the Truth? Is there anything that can pull you away from it? If it was all you had would that be enough for you? If you can’t say yes to those questions, then a thorough assessment of your heart needs to be done.

2. So, you see how we show love in two ways. 1) we love our neighbor by sharing with them the light of the world, Jesus. 2) by how we love the brother and sisters in Christ. If we can’t find a way to love each other, faults and all, how are we going to love a bunch of sinners out there.

3. We must take care of who teaches us and where we develop out theology. Let’s Do our research, and sit under the tootledge of great Godly teachers.

It's not the truth that you know, but the truth that you obey that matters.- Johnny Hunt