A Personal Letter

Why dangerous, glad you asked. Dangerous in the aspect he will allow a cancer to grow, allow problems to take root in his life or in the family and do nothing to stop it.

Remember what Jesus said about truth?

John 8:32 NASB95

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Well, before getting more into truth, let me set the stage and give you the basics here first.

Setting: The church has been growing exponentially and it was spreading through the world at that time. (Act8:5; Col1:5-6)

Acts 8:5 NASB95

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

Colossians 1:5–6 NASB95

5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

The church was very hospitable (Phm22; Gal6:6; 3Jn5-8)

Life in the early church was very fluid, many lost homes because of becoming a Christian, but hospitality was a common thing, taking in strangers.

phm22

Philemon 22 NASB95

22 At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

That was an example. And Paul encouraged Christians to support those who were teachers, bringers of the good news (consider Gal6:6)

John even commended those who did support the missionaries, the travellers, sojourners (consider 3Jn5-8)

That was not without risk of taking in someone who had some other teaching but the sound teaching that could be a cancer to the church.

Purpose of letter: To remind them to discern the truth with love and act on it (see 2Jn10-11)

Author: “The Elder” most critics believe to be John

Reason that assumption made

Similar language and concepts in the Gospel and epistles

Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp) Clement and Dionysius (of 3rd Century) all mention John by name as the author

Recipients: The elect (chosen) lady and her children (v.1)

This can be a literal person and her children

This can also be figurative, to the local church and sister churches too.

When looking at scripture you want to that the most obvious, or simplest answer first, so I will go with actual letter to actual lady and her children, Elect because she is elect of God a child of God.

Date and place: A.D. 90-95 while in Ephesus

The date has been debated that some believe just prior to A.D. 70 since no mention of destruction of Jerusalem while the majority of the scholars believe it was at the end of John’s life betwen 90-95

Outline

John commends (2Jn1-4)

John commands (2Jn5-6)

John cautions (2Jn7-11)

John comforts (2Jn12-13)

Now back to truth for a minute. We have discussed and agreed the John is the apostle of love and was the one whom Jesus loved. He wrote about love more than any other Apostle. His gospel, and the epistles demonstrate that.

But truth. He is big on truth

Truth 20 times in gospel

Truth 9 times in 1John

Truth 5 times in 2John (in just 13 verses)

and anther 5 times in 3John (in 14 verses)

So, truth is a mighty important thing for John, for we know the truth shall set you free (think of Jn8:32). We were made free by truth and we can share the freedom we have in truth and love and that is what we are looking at tonight here in 2John.

John commends

Commend is to entrust for care or preservation; to mention with approbation (praise). So, who does not like to be commended? Commended by the Apostle.

2jn1-2

2 John 1–2 NASB95

1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

2 John 3–4 NASB95

3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.

Gleaning from the scripture:

How does John love according to (v.1)?

He loves in truth

Where does truth abide (v.2)?

Abides in us (the believers)

and will always, since we know God’s truth, God’s Word will never pass away (consider Mt24:25).

How does grace, mercy, peace come (v.3)?

Comes in truth and love.

What were the recipients of truth doing (v.4)?

They were walking in truth.

Something to think about, how can we walk in the truth (ref: Jn8:32; 1Cor13:1-2)

Know the truth, the truth that sets us free (Jn8:32)

To love one another is to walk in truth!

It is to share the truth in love too, that is vitally important.

1 Corinthians 13:1–2 NASB95

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

(Transition) John is commending them, the lady and her children, so this family for the truth that abides in them and that they walk in. Now may we be a people, a family, a church family that knows and walks in the truth in love so that it may be commended of us.

John commands

John now goes on to drive home the point of truth w/love in action.

2 John 5–6 NASB95

5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which 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, that you should walk in it.

Gleaning from the text:

What is the command found in (v.5)?

Love one another

What does the command in action look like in (v.6)?

That you love by walking according to His commands.

It think you will remember that this command, though not a new command, is a command that is emphasized by John in the other writings (in case you are wondering it is 11 times between the gospel and his epistles).

Notice the wording in (v.6) that this is love; and love is defined as walking according to His commands. Love is not a feeling, it in action based on a decision (i.e. to walk).

John cautions

From commending to commanding now for the reason for protection, or to give them words of caution.

2 John 7–8 NASB95

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

2 John 9–10 NASB95

9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he 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, and do not give him a greeting;

2 John 11 NASB95

11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

OK, focus on (v.7) what has gone out, and why have they gone out? And, what does John call those who went out?

Many deceivers went out because they do not acknowledge Jesus as coming in the flesh.

He calls them antichrist.

What does He warn them, tell them to and why (v.8)?

Tells them to watch themselves, that they not lose what they have accomplished, so that they can receive full reward.

There is a stern warning and a great assurance found in (v.9), can you identify them?

The one who does not abide in Christ does not have God; the one who does abide, has both the Father and the Son.

What are we not to do (v.10)?

Not to receive those who do not bring this teaching, what is the teaching again? (Teaching of Christ (v.9); and that Christ came in the flesh (v.7).

In (v.11) told not to even give greetings to such a person. Let me give you some others thoughts on this.

Polycarp said when he met the heretic Marcion, “Marcion asked do you recognize me?” and Polycarp answered “I recognize Satan’s first-born.”

John the beloved, when meeting Cerinthus the heretic fled the public baths when he entered stating “Let us hurry away lest the building collapse on us, because Cerinthus the enemy of truth, is here.”

So, do you think we should not talk with people who have a different gospel, a perverted gospel? If that is so, would that not be Apollo’s did he not have it right? What about Peter, he did not have it right when it came to food? Wait what about you, did you always have it right? So, what does he mean here?

The church was in it’s infancy, at the latest 70 years old and in the grand scheme of things that is not old. So other religions had come and gone and if the gospel, the truth, is not protected it could be perverted or destroyed too.

Protect your self through knowing God’s word, always being ready to make a defence (1Pt3:15)

1 Peter 3:15 NASB95

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Look a (1Pt3:15 what are the instructions?

Abide in Jesus teaching, keeping His commands.

Beware, protect yourself for eternity could be at stake!

(Transition) Don’t worry, not going to stay in the warning, there are words of comfort coming as he closes out this personal letter that we can learn much from.

John comforts

John the apostle of love, and in our case tonight, truth in love finishes off with some heartfelt words of comfort.

2 John 12–13 NASB95

12 Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full. 13 The children of your chosen sister greet you.

Gleaning from the text

What was John’s hope (v.12)?

What was John’s intended purpose (v.12)?

Then when you look at (v.13) is another reason I think it is personal for mentions children of your chosen sister, speaking of some other woman that the Elect lady would know.

John had much to say, but wanted to say it face to face. Don’t we have a lot to say too? And we too have the truth. The truth that set us free, keeps us free and is available to share with others. As we walk in it, we can share it, in love, with love, for love (God’s love given).

Sometimes comforting someone with the truth maybe difficult and even uncomfortable but we are talking about people’s eternal souls and destination. But, when we do then the grace, mercy and peace from God the Father we started with is available to others too.

(insert Truth in love PowerPoint here)

May it look good as you walk together, in love

May it look like you when you share it with others in love

(prayer) (Exit)

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