WALKING AND WATCHING IN THE TRUTH–2nd JOHN

2nd  JOHN
WALKING AND WATCHING IN THE TRUTH

Lesson: 2 John 1-13

This little book centers on “truth” which occurs five times. It provides us with a homily on truth, giving us its nature, test, fruit, character, and defense. It provides us with practical and doctrinal aspects of continuing in the truth.

There are three views about to whom this letter was written:

(1) It was written to one woman and her children.

(2) It was written to a church. Remember that a church is spoken of in the feminine gender, bride, etc.

(3) The solution may be that church was meeting in this woman’s house, which was common in those days. Regardless, it contains a powerful message on truth, to churches and to individuals. In Satan’s war against the truth he attacks the family. If he can destroy the home, he can destroy a church or nation.

I. PRACTICAL ASPECT: WALKING IN TRUTH AND LOVE. vs. 1-6

A. Knowing the Truth. vs. 1-3

1. “The elder” is the apostle John, and the title could well apply to both his age and office, v. 1a

2. “The elect lady and her children.” v. 1b. This is the Christian mother and her children whom he addresses. She was one of the chosen ones. The same word that is translated “elect” is also translated “chosen.”

a. He hath chosen us in Him, Ephesians 1:4, According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

b. “The elect’s sakes,” 2 Timothy 2:10, Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

c. “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God,” 1 Peter 1:2, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3. Love should be in the truth, not apart from it. v. 1c. (This is the basis of fellowship). John 8:31-32, Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

4. We love, labor, and worship for the truth’s sake. v. 2

a. Jesus Christ is the truth. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

b. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. John 14:16-17, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

c. God’s word is truth. John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

5. A triad of blessings. v. 3a.

a. “Grace” that brings salvation. Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

b. “Mercy” from which all our hope begins. Ephesians 2:4, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.

c. “Peace” which guards our hearts.

1) “Which passes all understanding,” Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2) “Peace with God,” Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

6. The source of these blessings. v. 3b

a. From the Father, 1 John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

b. And from the Lord Jesus Christ.

7. The element of these blessings “in truth and love.” v. 3c. We are to love the truth.

8. By linking the Father and the Son in this passage, he is affirming the deity of Christ, v. 3

a. Acknowledging the Son, 1 John 2:23, “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

b. Jesus is God, John 10:30-33, “I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

B. Walking In the Truth. vs. 4-6

1. Her children were walking in the truth. v. 4, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.”

a. This is the correct course of the Christian life and the one commanded, 1 John 2:7, 24, “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 24- Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” See also 1 John 3:11, 23, 24; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10.

b. His joy was that the children were walking in the truth. v. 4a; 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

c. The reason why they walked in the truth. v. 4b, “as we have received a commandment from the Father.”

1) His Word stands forever, Psalm 33:11, “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

2) His commandments are not grievous, 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

2. Continue the practice of Christian love. v. 5;

a. “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother …” 1 John 2:8-9, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9-He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”

b. “The fruit of the Spirit is love…” Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.”

c. The love of God comes by the Holy Spirit, Romans 5:5, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

3. Love cannot be separated from His commandments. v. 6.

a. Obedience prompts love, v. 5, “And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.”

b. Love prompts obedience, v. 6, “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”

1) “I write no new commandment unto you,” 1 John 2:7-8, “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.”

2) Speak the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

II. DOCTRINAL ASPECT: WATCHING AGAINST ERROR. vs. 7-13

A. Protecting the Truth. vs. 7-9

1. Teachers of untruths. v. 7; I John 2:18, 22, 26; 4:1, 3

a. They deny Christ came in the flesh, 1 John 4:3, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

b. They are branded as deceivers and antichrists. “Anti” means both “instead of” and “against.” 1 John 2:26, “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”

c. These deceivers went out of the church.

1) They were not of us, 1 John 2:19; “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

2) They spoke perverse things, Acts 20:30, “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”

d. Notice there were many of these deceivers. v. 7a. 2 Peter 2:2, “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

2. The presence of such teachers calls for self-examination on the part of believer. v . 8a, “Look to yourselves.” Matthew 24:4-5, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5-For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

3. Failure to do so will cause loss of rewards. v. 8b. 2 Peter 1:10-11, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11-For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

4. The doctrine of Christ is the acid test. v. 9; 1 John 2:21, 22, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.”

Modernism denies the doctrine of Christ. They cast doubt on His person, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His atoning death, and His glorious resurrection.

B. Protecting the Home in the Truth. vs. 10-11

1. The test of fellowship and hospitality is doctrine. v. 10

a. Refuse them entrance to your home. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and all false teachers are not to be allowed in our homes, either in person or by radio, or Television.

b. Refuse to bid them God speed.

2. Charity toward false teachers is a sin against God. v. 11. When cults, liberals, and apostates deny the doctrine of Christ, and they all do, our duty is clear. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17:

a. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, v. 14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

b. What part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” v. 15, “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”

c. For ye are the temple of the living God, v. 16, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

d. Touch not the unclean thing, vs. 17-18, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

C. Protecting Friendship in the Truth. vs. 12-13

1. There were many things he did not write. v. 12a

2. He expected to make a personal appearance. v. 12b

3. He expected that to be a joyful occasion. v. 12c

4. Greeting from the children of an elect sister. v. 13

CONCLUSION: