March 18, 2012
Evening Service

This morning in the short letter that we call 2 John, the apostle encouraged us to “love in truth.”  We dug in a little deeper and discovered that God is love, we are commanded to love, and love is an action verb.  We were all challenged to look around the people we rub shoulders with everyday and see if there is someone God has place there that we are overlooking.

John also received great joy from seeing the next generation serving the Lord. The encouragement to “abide in Christ” was repeated.  He also again warned us of false teachers.

 

3Jo 1:1-4  The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in the truth.  (2)  Beloved, in regard to all things I pray that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.  (3)  For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth.  (4)  I have no greater joy than these things, to hear that my children walk in the truth.

 

            Gaius was a very common name and is mentioned three times in the New Testament.  There is no real evidence to tie any of those men with the one mentioned here.  Notice the deep compassion John speaks with as he is concerned with their physical health as well as their spiritual one. 

            He is brought joy by the testimony of others about Gaius’ active faith.

 

 

3Jo 1:5-8  Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you work for the brothers and for strangers,  (6)  who in love bore witness of you before the church, whom you will do well to send forward worthily of God;  (7)  because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the nations.  (8)  Therefore we ought to entertain such, so that we might be co-workers in the truth.

 

            Gaius is being praised her for his good work of hospitality towards traveling evangelist and prophets.  He is encouraged to keep up this good work and support them as opportunities arise.  We can apply this to our modern day missionaries;   men and women who give their lives to minister to others.  We may not be called to do that, but we can support those who are called.

 

3Jo 1:9-10 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us.  (10)  Therefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, ranting against us with evil words. And not content with these, neither does he himself receive the brothers. And he forbids those who would, and casts them out of the church.

 

Here is a classic example of how divisions within the church began.  Diotrephes was with a local fellowship and they refused to put themselves under John’s authority or support the traveling evangelists.  They wanted to follow their own path and not let others influence their congregation. 

 

3Jo 1:11-12  Beloved, do not imitate the bad, but the good. He who does good is from God, but he who does evil has not seen God.  (12)  Demetrius has good report by all, and by the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true.

 

Demetrius was believed to be one of the traveling prophets, whom John gave a favorable report.

 

 

3Jo 1:13-14  I had many things to write, but I will not write to you with pen and ink,  (14)  but I trust I shall shortly see you, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

 

 

I John Review

 

Purpose: 1Jo 5:13  I have written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

Sin Addressed:  1Jo 1:8-9  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Roles of Jesus:  1Jo 2:1-2 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  (2)  And He is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world.

 

Antichrist’s spirit:  1Jo 2:22-23 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He who denies the Father and the Son is antichrist.  (23)  Everyone who denies the Son neither has the Father. The one confessing the Son also has the Father.

 

Fellowship with God:  1Jo 2:24-25 Therefore what you heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will abide in both the Son and in the Father.  (25)  And this is the promise that He has promised us: everlasting life.

 

 

Anointing:  1Jo 2:27 But the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true and no lie, and as He has taught you, abide in Him.

 

Love:  1Jo 4:8  The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love.

 

Love one another:  1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

 

 

Eternal life:  1Jo 5:11-12 And this is the record, that God has given to us everlasting life, and this life is in His Son.  (12)  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

 

Keep God First:  1Jo 5:21  Little children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your heart.