Truthing As We Go

Truthing As We Go

2 John 1-13

-In 2 John, John takes the necessity of embracing the truth about Who Jesus is and shows how it really is the basis for EVERYTHING in the Christian life.

I. Truth is the Basis of our Relating (2 John 1-3)

-There’s always a basis to the way we connect with people and things in life. (i.e. relationship status, position at work, internal expectations, how we feel, knowledge level of the thing we’re connecting to, so on)

-When it comes to the truth of who Jesus is, it absolutely affects how we connect to specific parts of life.

A. Relation to Leadership: Shepherdly Concern (1a) The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth

-John says, “I love this church I’m writing to and truth is the basis of my love for it—the truth of Who Jesus is motivates me to love this group of believers.”

-His concern for them stems from Jesus’ concern for the Church.

-One application: the relationship between believers and their leadership (pastors, elders, spiritual mentors, etc.) is best founded and exercised when that relationship is based solely on Jesus and His Gospel.

-Truth-based connection to leadership is when the relationship with that leader is rooted in Jesus and His Gospel….produces a shepherdly concern in the leader & consequently, it forms a shepherded mindset in those following as they realize, “I’m shepherding in Jesus or I’m following in Jesus and for His sake.”

B. Relation to All Other Believers: Family Love (1b) and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

-the relationship between all believers is also best founded and exercised when it is based on Jesus and His Gospel.

-Our relationships in this church are healthiest when they are centered on Jesus—not anything else!

C. Relation to Life’s Journey: Continual Sustenance (2a) For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us…

-John points out that the truth of Who Jesus is “dwells” in us.

-In essence, this truth of Jesus being God and Jesus being our Savior and Deliverer takes up residence in our lives.

-This is why Jesus says, (Mt. 11:28-30) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

-Like food to our soul, we need constant reminders like this that our spiritual health and well-being depends upon us knowing and resting in Jesus!

D. Relation to Eternity: Eternal Standing (2b) and shall be with us for ever.

-What we do with the truth of Who Jesus is has a direct bearing on what will happen to us for all of eternity.

-1 John 5:11-12, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

-Our eternity rests squarely upon what we do with this truth of Who Jesus is.

E. Relation to God: God’s Promises (3) Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

-When we look at the grammatical usage of these words in the original language it actually says “grace, mercy, and peace WILL be with you.”

-So when you are embracing the truth of Jesus, God gives you (as by-products) grace, mercy and peace.

-Grace = that favor from God we didn’t do anything to deserve

-Mercy = not receiving the wrath of God that we DO deserve

-Peace = the state of being right with God and the rest that that status brings continually.

-“Truthing” keeps Jesus central in our lives and in our church and is vitally important in the success of both areas!

II. Truth is the Basis for Our Living (2 John 4-6)

A. Truth-based living is God’s intention (4) I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

-John says that he has noticed that there are church members who indeed are “truthing” as they go and it brings him joy as one of their leaders because he realizes that constantly embracing the truth of Christ is God’s will for us as believers.

B. Truth-based loving is God’s command (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.

-John begs the people of this church to love one another as God has commanded His people to do.

C. Truth-based living and loving is in God’s provision (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.

-When we are loving the other believers around us according to the truth of Who Jesus is, we’re doing so because we’ve seen it described and demonstrated by God through Christ in His Word, the Bible.

III. Truth is the Basis of Our Hospitality (2 John 7-11)

-John uses these 5 verses to give us 4 principles of how to handle false teaching. (any teaching or thought that denies that Jesus is the Son of God)

A. Know that danger is lurking (7) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (at least 2x in 1 Jn and now here)

B. Be careful of the trap (8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

C. Know the consequences (9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

D. Be drastic with hospitality (10-11) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine (inferring that they’re bringing a diff. doctrine), receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

IV. Truth is the Basis for Our Fellowship (2 John 12-13)

A. Makes Interaction Joyous (12) Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

-When we interact with each other and the truth of Who Jesus is is the basis and content of that interaction, it does bring a joy that cannot be replicated!

B. Makes Interdependence Possible (13) The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

-Apparently John was writing from another church and is essentially saying to the church he’s writing to: “I’m over here at this other body of believers and they want you to know they are on your side…they’ve got your back…they’re here for you!