Sermons From Second John - Walking In Truth And Love (4-6)

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                     "THE SECOND EPISTLE OF JOHN"

                    Walking In Truth And Love (4-6)

INTRODUCTION

1. In his greeting to the "elect lady and her children", John wrote 
   that the grace, mercy, and love which proceeds from the Father and
   the Son is in the sphere of "truth and love" - 2Jn 3

2. In verses 4-6, he expands upon the theme of "truth and love", 
   doing so in the form of...
   a. A commendation for walking in truth
   b. An exhortation to love one another

3. In this study, let's examine this "commendation" and "exhortation",
   seeking to glean whatever principles or lessons that we can from 
   this passage

[Beginning with John's...]

I. COMMENDATION FOR WALKING IN TRUTH (4)

   A. "I REJOICED GREATLY..."
      1. Either by visiting or by receiving a report from others, John
         came to know that some of the "elect lady's" children were 
         walking in the truth
      2. This was a source of great joy to John, just as it was when he
         heard the same thing about Gaius - cf. 3Jn 3
      3. As expressed to Gaius, there was no greater joy than hearing
         about others walking in truth - cf. 3Jn 4
      4. What about the joy of hearing someone obeying the gospel?
         a. As great as that might be, there is always the possibility
            that one will not carry through with their initial 
            obedience to Christ
         b. That realization can temper one's joy
         c. But when time reveals that the person continues to walk in
            truth, that removes the question of whether one will carry
            through with their obedience to Christ
      5. Thus a great source of joy in the Christian faith can be in 
         the follow up of new converts, as well as in the 
         evangelization of the lost

   B. "...I HAVE FOUND SOME OF YOUR CHILDREN..."
      1. Unfortunately, John could not say "all", but only "some"
      2. This reminds us that even the best of parents may have erring
         children
         a. Despite the fact that this mother was so special she was 
            called "the elect lady"
         b. Like Samuel, the prophet of God, she had some children who
            were not faithful to the Lord - cf. 1Sa 8:1-3
      3. Whose fault is this?
         a. Some might say that in view of Pr 22:6, an erring child is
            always the parent's fault
         b. However, such a view of Pr 22:6 suggests a belief in 
            "environmental predestination"
            1) I.e., that if the parent provides the proper environment
               in raising the child, there is no choice for the child
               but to turn out a certain way
            2) This would strip the child of any personal 
               responsibility, and lay the blame solely upon the
               parents
            3) While the parent will bear some responsibility if no 
               effort is made to restrain the child in his sin, the 
               ultimate responsibility is the child's - cf. 1 Sam
               3:11-13; Ezek 18:20
         c. There is another view of Pr 22:6...
            1) The literal rendering is "train up a child according to
               his own way..."
            2) I.e., according to his own temperament, aptitude, etc.
            3) E.g., if he is mechanically inclined, don't try to make
               him an office worker
            4) This view recognizes that this verse, like much of 
               Proverbs, is giving practical advice on the raising of
               children, and to realize that children are different and
               should raised according to their particular disposition
               and skills
            5) Failure to recognize this results in a child being 
               forced to become something he is not, and he will not 
               likely remain in it
      4. The fact remains that despite the best parenting, some 
         children simply choose to rebel against God

   C. "...WALKING IN TRUTH, AS WE HAVE RECEIVED COMMANDMENT FROM THE
      FATHER."
      1. This expresses the idea of living in harmony with the truth
         found in God's Word
      2. Everything one does demonstrates a life that is governed by 
         God's commandments
      3. Is this "legalism"?  No!  It is what it means to truly love 
         God - cf. 1Jn 5:3; Jn 14:15; 15:14

[So with great joy in his heart, John commends the elect lady and her
children for their walking in the truth.

But an emphasis on walking in truth without an equal emphasis on loving
one another can easily develop a harsh, impatient, and insensitive 
disposition towards others, just as knowledge without love produces 
arrogance (cf. 1Co 8:1).

Therefore it should not surprise us to find John following his 
commendation for walking in truth with an...]
  
II. EXHORTATION TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER (5-6)

   A. "AND NOW I PLEAD WITH YOU, LADY..."
      1. The tone of John's entreaty suggests the seriousness of this
         exhortation
      2. Certainly John stressed in his first epistle the importance of
         this command to love one another - cf. 1Jn 2:10; 3:14; 
         4:20-21
      3. Therefore this is a commandment not to be taken lightly

   B. "NOT AS THOUGH I WROTE A NEW COMMANDMENT..."
      1. The commandment is not a new one
         a. It did not originate from John
         b. It is one which his readers had known since the beginning
            of their Christian experience - cf. 1Jn 2:7; 3:11
      2. It is the commandment given by Jesus Himself - Jn 13:34-35;
         15:17

   C. "THAT WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER"
      1. The commandment given by Jesus is to love another
      2. Especially according to the standard of love laid down by 
         Jesus:  "as I have loved you, that you also love one another"
         - Jn 13:34

   D. "THIS IS LOVE, THAT WE WALK ACCORDING TO HIS COMMANDMENTS"
      1. Here we learn what best demonstrates that we truly love one 
         another
      2. When I am keeping the commandments of God, I demonstrate true
         love for my brethren! - cf. 1Jn 5:2
      3. I can claim brotherly love all day long, but unless I am 
         walking according to God's commandments my claim is 
         meaningless

   E. "THIS IS THE COMMANDMENT...YOU SHOULD WALK IN IT."
      1. This sentence is simply reinforcing what John has been saying
         a. The command to love is one we have had from the beginning
         b. We should therefore keep this commanding by walking in love
      2. Such repetition is often necessary...
         a. For there is always a tendency to hear and not obey
         b. The three "R's" of learning is "repetition, repetition, 
            repetition"

CONCLUSION

1. With joy in his heart, John commends; with a pleading voice he 
   exhorts
   a. He commends them for walking in truth
   b. He exhorts them to walk in love

2. There is ever a tendency to do one without the other...
   a. Some hold to the truth, but do so without love; this breeds 
      harshness
   b. Others are quick to display love, but neglect the truth; this 
      produces compromise

3. Both are wrong, and there is only one alternative:  to walk in the 
   truth, and to walk in love!

May God help us always to do both faithfully!
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