BIG IDEA:
RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTALISM AND ECUMENISM MASQUERADE AS LOVE BUT MUST BE EXPOSED AS APOSTASY IF THEY DENY GOD’S TRUTH —
WALKING IN CHRISTIAN LOVE REQUIRES OBEYING GOD’S TRUTH
INTRODUCTION:
They say that good things come in small packages. That is certainly the case with this gem of a small epistle in 2 John. It is about the size of a standard letter of the first century – fitting neatly on to one sheet of parchment – about 8” X 10” – not very different from our standard notebook paper today. While it is small by NT standards, the theological significance of these 13 verses is huge for our evangelical church landscape today. It deals with the fundamental issue of the relationship between Love and Truth in the church. That lies at the heart of the biblical doctrine of Separation. How does our Lord want us to deal with false teachers – with those who make it their profession to try to influence others towards a wrong view of the person of Christ or those who pervert the nature of the core gospel message?
The ecumenical movement and the various broad-based church councils and associations advocate a “let’s all get along” type of cooperative approach. Let’s not talk about doctrinal issues or things that might divide. Let’s focus on social issues where we can impact people in practical ways with the love of Jesus Christ. Look at the path towards apostasy that all of the mainline denominations in the United States have followed in the past century. Examine all of the educational centers – whether universities or seminaries – that have their roots in biblical truth. Where do they stand now with respect to their view of God’s revelation in the Word of God; their view of divine miracles; their view of the person of Jesus Christ; their view of the gospel message and its exclusivity??
I think of just Princeton Seminary as one example. I grew up in a United Presbyterian church outside of Philadelphia that was associated with the preaching of giants of the faith like Dr. Donald Barnhouse and Dr. James Boice. Our pastor was a graduate of Princeton Seminary and skilled in biblical exposition and preaching. When I arrived on the campus of Princeton University in 1970 I was shocked to find that the students over at the seminary had to come over to our undergraduate bible studies if they wanted to find any solid teaching at all. Their professors were all apostate liberals who were churning out graduates that would continue to undermine the truth of the Word of God. What a sad state of affairs – and it happened in such a short span of time.
So today we hear much encouragement to have positive dialogue with Roman Catholic priests and leaders. We have so much in common we hear. Whatever happened to our historical perspective of the lessons we should have learned from the Reformation? Has the doctrinal system of Roman Catholicism changed to now embrace the true gospel? We are warned against aggressive evangelization of the Jewish community – they find that offensive. They have their roots in the worship of God. Let’s be sensitive here. How about the current political correctness craze to make sure we tiptoe with sensitivity around our Islamic friends. How would our Lord interact with some of these religious leaders – truly the blind leading the blind into the pits of destruction.
RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTALISM AND ECUMENISM MASQUERADE AS LOVE BUT MUST BE EXPOSED AS APOSTASY IF THEY DENY GOD’S TRUTH —
WALKING IN CHRISTIAN LOVE REQUIRES OBEYING GOD’S TRUTH
(:1-3) GREETING IN THE CONTEXT OF CHRISTIAN LOVE AND TRUTH
A. (:1a) The Respected Author – the Remaining Apostle = John
“The elder”
Can be both a personal reference that connotes maturity and age and respect and wisdom as well as an official church title that points to his authority and ministry; word from which we get Presbyterian (reference to form of govt)
The Apostle John in a unique sense had become known as “The Elder” as he was the only one remaining from the Apostles; the one who still had direct connection back to the ministry and commendation of Christ; the one who still could exercise authority over all of the local churches; Probably writing this epistle at the end of his life – around 90-95 AD during his ministry at Ephesus; transition away from apostolic leadership of the churches to local autonomy under plurality of elder rule
Think of all that John had experienced in his life and ministry; think of his tender heart as expressed in 1 John as he addressed believers as beloved children; (three epistles probably closely linked together); think of his concern that they be established in the faith as his departure grows near
Remember in his younger days how the Lord Jesus referred to James and his brother John as the Sons of Thunder! Luke 9:49-56 — John had to go through a learning curve growth in Christian maturity before he learned how to properly balance truth and love in his own Christian walk.
B. (:1b) The Recipients – Specific Church Audience
“to the chosen lady and her children,”
Two possibilities:
– Specific Christian woman and her family
– More probably, a specific local church
Noted below that only some of the chosen lady’s children are walking in the truth and that is the subject for commendation – more likely a reference to a church fellowship where it is not surprising to find that some professors of faith are not genuine
Zane Hodges: The conclusion that 2 John is addressed to a church is further supported by the observation that in the Greek the writer drops the singular number for his pronouns after verse 5 and uses a singular again only in verse 13. Indeed, the general nature of the epistle’s content is most appropriate to a community.
Precious doctrine of election; John is going to emphasize their responsibility to persevere in truth and faith and love, despite strong deception from false teachers that would threaten to lead them astray and shipwreck their Christian commitment – so he starts with the comfort and security of the privilege of divine election – Ephes. 1:3-5; 2 Thess. 2:13; John 15:16, 19
C. (:1c) The Relationship between Love and Truth – Introducing the Theme of the Epistle
“whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,”
“I” is emphasized in the Greek; agape love; produced by Holy Spirit
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Truth as a system of Christian doctrine
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Truth as the person of Jesus Christ
Wiersbe: Truth = reality as opposed to mere appearance, the ultimate that is the basis for all that we see around us; false teachers around who were spreading error
Alford: the communion of love is as wide as the communion of faith.
Knowledge of the truth is a prerequisite to genuine Christian love and should result in such
(1 Tim. 1:5)
John is going to remind us that the truth always produces genuine Christian love; and love always must operate within the boundaries of God’s truth
Love without truth is mere sentimentalism and truth without love is hypocrisy and legalism
D. (:2) The Priority of the Truth
“for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:”
Stott: So long as the truth endures in us and with us, so long shall our reciprocal love also endure. If this is so, and Christian love is founded upon Christian truth, we shall never increase the love which exists between us by diminishing the truth which we hold in common.
Remember that the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth – 1 John 2:27 “the anointing which you received from Him”
E. (:3) The Blessed Resources of the Christian Life
“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.”
Vincent: Mercy = God’s kindness and goodwill toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them
Connection between God the Father and God the Son
All of God’s resources come to us in association with truth and love
(:4) THANKSGIVING / COMMENDATION FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH
“I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.”
Passive: “I was rejoiced” – What makes you happy?
How did John find out this report?? By letter?? By personal visit and someone reporting back??
Connection between walking in truth and obedience to God’s commandment; we need to order our life by the instruction of the Word of God
TWO PILLARS OF ANY GENUINE CHRISTIAN CHURCH = LOVE AND TRUTH
Concerned not just with what we believe and how we think but with how we act; the Christian walk; very practical orientation
I. (:5-6) BE CAREFUL TO WALK IN CHRISTIAN LOVE
A. (:5) The Reminder to Continue to Walk in Christian Love
“And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.”
What “beginning” is in view here? 1 John 2:7-8
Wiersbe: a new commandment in what sense? Not in time, because even Old Testament Jews were instructed to love their neighbors (Lev. 19:18, 34) and the strangers within their gates (Deut. 10:19). But with the coming of God’s Son to earth, this commandment is new in emphasis and in example.
Stott: Both faith and love are commanded. Some complain: “How can you tell me to believe what I do not believe or love whom I do not love? It is only when faith is regarded as an intuition and love as an emotion that they appear to lie beyond the sphere of duty.
B. (:6) The Definition of Christian Love
“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.”
Not just one commandment – but following all that Christ taught
1 Cor. 13 fleshes out our understanding of this Christian love
II. (:7-9) BE CAREFUL TO WALK IN CHRISTIAN TRUTH
A. (:7) The Deception (Danger)
“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.”
Dealing at this time with a very specific heresy of the Gnostics – refuted in 1 John; but principles would apply to other heresies that would preach another Jesus or another gospel – at a fundamental level
A deceiver is a false teacher who tries to lead others down the path of error
Gone out from the church – at one time they were professors of the true faith within the context of the church; but they fell into apostasy; Jude 3; 1 John 2:19; Acts 20:30
B. (:8) The Warning to Persevere in Christian Truth and Guard Against Apostasy
“Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.”
What is at danger of being lost here?
C. (:9) The Definition of Apostasy
“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.”
“teaching of Christ” now broadens out what types of errors you might encounter
Doctrine of “Abiding” is key to understanding the theology of the Apostle John
John 15
1 John 3
John always makes the connection between the Father and the Son
(:10-11) PRACTICAL APPLICATION RELATED TO INTERACTION WITH FALSE TEACHERS
A. (:10) The Command – Separation Seems Harsh but Necessary
“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;”
Not talking about Christian Hospitality here but about how we should treat false teachers
Background of context of itinerant missionaries and preachers and teachers (cf. 3 John)
Jehovah’s Witnesses just came to my door last Sunday afternoon – walking through our neighborhood
Such treatment may seem harsh to us; what’s the harm in having a warm, engaging relationship like so many evangelical leaders advocate today? Why shouldn’t we share the platform or prayer breakfast context with a wide variety of religious leaders where we could all learn to respect our differences?
MacArthur: Traveling preachers dependent on host families; do not care for these false teachers; don’t host them and give them acceptance; don’t let them appear to be worthy of your care
B. (:11) The Reason – The Issue Involves Fellowship and Condoning Evil
“for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”
Look at the connection between false teaching and “evil deeds”; theology is never morally neutral
Back to the teaching of 2 Cor. 6 of not being “unequally yoked”
Jude – “contend earnestly for the faith”
1 John 4 – don’t be gullible to believe every teaching that comes down the pike; “test the spirits”
Titus 1:9 “refute those who contradict” sound doctrine – these are strong words
Titus 1:16 “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed” – no value in spending time with these folks
(:12-13) CLOSING WITH A VIEW TOWARDS FURTHER EDIFICATION AND JOY
A. (:12) Desire for Face to Face Visit
“Having 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, that your joy may be made full.”
B. (:13) Closing Greeting
“The children of your chosen sister greet you.”
Most likely a reference to another congregation of believers
Responsibility to Persevere in the faith (the Preservation of the Saints) is wrapped in the security blanket of the precious doctrine of God’s Sovereign and Gracious Election
CONCLUSON:
MARRIAGE OF LOVE AND TRUTH IN THE CHURCH
“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder”