December 27: 2 John 1, 3 John 1

December 27, 2 John 1, 3 John 1

2 John intro from the ESV Bible: “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. While the basic themes of 1 John—holding fast to truth, love, and obedience—are evident, there is the additional focus on what Christian hospitality is all about. Only when you find agreement on sound doctrine will you find meaningful fellowship. The letter was probably written by the apostle John in the late first century a.d.”

• “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” 

2 John 1 Greeting. John is the author of this short letter. It is written to the elect lady. This is a debated issue as to whether this was a specific lady or a church. Either way, it is written to one that John loves and someone or a group that truly abides in Christ with truth. John writes, “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” Grace. Mercy. Peace. It all comes from God through Jesus Christ. 

Walking in Truth and Love. Some of the children, either the literal kids of the lady or the congregants of the church, are walking in the Truth. What were they to be doing? Walking in the truth and loving one another. 

John goes on to warn them about false teachers or deceivers. “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.” What is an antichrist? Those who do not confess Jesus Christ is coming back in the flesh - or those who are against Christ (anti-Christ). John cautions them about these people so that they may stay the course and win a full reward - eternity with Christ. Here are the options: “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.” Jesus is the way. Without Him we do not have God. With Him, we do. If people come to teach anything other than that are not from God and we are not to have anything to do with them. If somebody is a false teacher, have nothing to do with them. When it says don't have them into your house or even give them a greeting, it means do not approve of what they are doing. Stand true to your convictions. 

Final Greetings. John’s heart is to see her/them. He wants to come and see them so that their joy may be complete. There is much more to say, but he wants to say it in person to them… 

3 John intro from the ESV Bible: “Third John supplements statements on Christian hospitality in 2 John. It applauds a Christian named Gaius for living out the teachings of the apostles—he had welcomed traveling Christian missionaries into his home—while condemning Diotrephes, a selfish church leader who not only refused to help these itinerant, godly teachers but also had slandered and opposed those who disagreed with him. This book demonstrates that pride can divide Christians if they are not living by God’s Word. To avoid the dual dangers of false teaching and division within the church, believers should practice the dual virtues of love and discernment. The letter was probably written by the apostle John in the late first century a.d.”

3 John 1 Greeting. John wrote this to Gaius, whom John loves as a son in Christ. We don't know much about this man, except that he was loved by John. There has been some great spiritual growth and John has heard about it. This has brought great joy to John knowing that his ‘kids’ are following Jesus and walking in the truth. 

Support and Opposition. John writes to his beloved friend, Gaius. He and others have been taking care of traveling missionaries. How are we to take care of missionaries? “For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” We are all in this together - God has each of us where He wants us. 

Here comes the opposition part - Diotrephes. He is a selfish man that does not submit or acknowledge John’s authority. John will practice church discipline. “So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.” Diotrephes needs to be stopped - he is not taking care of Christians and is a hinderance to the Gospel. People are either for Christ or against Him. “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”

Final Greetings. John finished this letter similar to 2 John. He has much to say but wanted to meet them in person instead of just writing to them. 

To sum it all up: 

• Walk in love - literally abide in Christ. 
• Stand true to your convictions. Do not give in to persuasive false teachers. 
• Pride… This is the real deal. 
• As a pastor, John received great pleasure in seeing the growth in those that God has placed in his pastoral care. Pastor’s invest