THE GOSPEL OF
CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.
Timothy Sparks:
“I rejoiced greatly that I have
found some of your children
walking in truth” (2 Jn. 4).
Ben Bailey:
And I’m Ben Bailey. Welcome to our study of 2 and 3 John.
These lessons are being brought to you by loving, caring members of the
churches of Christ. The
In the Book of 2 John, we learn what it is to walk in the light, walk in love, and walk in the truth. One of the key phrases throughout both 2 and 3 John is “walking in the truth” (i.e., really doing what God says). John addresses 2 John to “the elect lady and her children” (vs. 1). Some have suggested that the phrase “the elect lady” refers to a specific woman, whom John knew quite well. Others have suggested that “the elect lady” is the bride of Christ—i.e., the church. “Her children” would refer to those who are part of the kingdom because they have obeyed the Gospel. Regardless of which of these two interpretations is correct, it does not alter the message or intent of the book, which is “walking in light, walking in love, and walking in truth.”
Timothy Sparks:
John says in verse 4, “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth.” Certainly, it is always a joy when people hear and heed the Word of God. In Luke 15, we read of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a prodigal son, and how that there is great rejoicing in Heaven over the fact that a sinner has returned to God. There is great joy in being in a right relationship with God. This certainly caused John to rejoice.
Ben Bailey:
One of the greatest joys that anyone can ever experience is to know that they are in fellowship with God, and thus are “walking in the truth.” This idea of walking in the truth refers to something that is a “continual action.” If we are going to please God and be in fellowship with one another, we have to continually abide in truth and do what the Word of God says. We learn from John 17:17 that the truth is the Word of God. Thus, John was overjoyed at the fact that “the elect lady and her children” were abiding in God’s Word. What better thing could be said about an individual family, or about an entire congregation of God’s people, than that they hold true to the Word of God? And what could be sadder than to see a family, or a congregation, in shambles because they neglected to study the Bible and heed its teachings? Yes, there is great joy in continuing to abide in the truth. But there is also great sadness when a family or a congregation replaces God’s Word with its own feelings or ideas. John explains in this letter how truth and love are connected.
Timothy Sparks:
In verses 5-6, John writes, “And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” John—who is known as “the apostle of love”—writes to tell us that love is not merely some kind of “better-felt-than-told” nebulous idea. Rather, love acts. In 1 John 3:16-18, John wrote,
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
We have to put our love into action—by the things we say and the deeds we do. In verse 8, John says, “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.” John is not suggesting here that we can “earn” or “merit” our salvation. His point is that we must “keep on” being faithful to God. John does not want Christians to be led astray by false teachers (as he points out in verse 7). He wants Christians to receive their “full reward” by remaining faithful to God. This is one of the reasons that the Book of 2 John can be referred to as the book of “true teaching.”
Ben Bailey:
The Book of 2 John emphasizes quite clearly the idea of “true teaching.” Some false teachers had arisen, and were teaching that Christ never had come in the flesh. In John’s time, Gnosticism was popular. The word “Gnosticism” comes from the Greek word meaning “to know.” Gnostics were people who claimed to have a “special knowledge,” which revealed to them the fact that Christ had not really come in the flesh because the flesh is sinful, the spirit is holy, and the two could not go hand in hand. Gnostics taught that you had to deny your fleshly body. You could not marry. And you could not eat certain foods. Some of the Gnostics even taught that Jesus had been “a ghost.” He “looked like” He had come in the flesh, but He really had not. John had to deal with false teachers in his day. And we, too, have to deal with false teachers today. Perhaps you have had someone come to your door to suggest that they have a specific book or teaching that, while not the Bible, is nevertheless “the right way to knowledge.” That sounds eerily similar to what was going on in John’s day. We do not need any “right way to knowledge” other than the way that is presented in God’s Word, the Bible. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). “True teaching” can be found only in God’s Word. Rather than trusting in what someone else “thinks” they have in regard to knowledge, let us trust and obey what we know is truth—the truth found in God’s Word.
Timothy Sparks:
In verse 9, John refers to this type of thing when he says, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” This, in a nutshell, is the thrust of the Book of 2 John and its emphasis on “true teaching.” Whoever goes beyond the limits and boundaries of New Testament teaching does not “have God.” Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” In 1 John 5:3, John wrote, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” Those who go beyond the limits of Christ’s Word, those who transgress that Word, or those who add to or take away from that Word, do not “have God.” John’s reference to “having God” is the same thing as Paul’s comment in Romans 8:9 about “having the Spirit of Christ”—which simply means that we will go where Christ would go, and do what Christ would do. When we go beyond the laws and limits of God, then we no longer have “the spirit of Christ.” This means that we no longer have fellowship with God or Christ. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the principle is presented that if we keep the commandments of God, we will be blessed. But if we do not keep God’s commandments, then we will have to endure the curse of sin. Galatians 3:13, however, makes it clear that if we will obey God’s Word, then Christ will take that curse upon Himself for us. By doing that, Christ turns the curse into a blessing. But that will happen only if we keep God’s Word.
Ben Bailey:
When we oppose false teaching, we are not supposed to do it with an abrasive attitude in order to be mean or unkind. If someone acts in such a fashion, we can rest assured that they do not have a correct, biblical attitude. When we speak the truth, we need to do so “in love” (Eph. 4:15). Even if we are opposing false doctrine, we still need to do it in a proper spirit, and with a proper attitude. We should do this because we love souls—the souls of those who are saved (and whom we are trying to protect against false doctrine), and the souls of those who need to be saved, but may be prevented from being saved as a result of hearing false doctrine. As John closes this book, he says, “Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” It is always a joy to greet and meet fellow Christians who stand for truth, and who want to do what the Bible says. There is such sweet fellowship when we are with those “of like mind.” John was looking forward to greeting, and meeting, some of his fellow Christians.
Timothy Sparks:
As John opens the Book of 3 John, he says, “The Elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth” (vss. 1-3). When John says, “The Elder,” he is referring to himself. The word “elder” used here is refers to someone who is older. John is writing to a man by the name of Gaius, whom he commends for his love and good works. In this short book, we learn of two other individuals besides Gaius. We learn of Diotrophes, “who loved the preeminence” (vs. 11), and who thus drew divine condemnation. And we learn of Demetrius (vs. 12), who is commended as a pattern for others to follow. Thus, we learn of the commendation of Gaius, the condemnation of Diotrophes, and the recommendation of Demetrius. John says, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (vs. 11). We should imitate those who follow Christ. Paul says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Some translations render the verse as, “Follow me, even as I also follow Christ.” We should not choose a weak person to imitate or follow. Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:20). The thrust of 2 John might be referred to as “true examples.” Those who are true examples are those who are following Christ. Some might be tempted to choose as their example someone who is weak, just so they can “surpass” them and feel better about their own Christianity. But there is no value to such an attitude. We need to pattern our own lives after those who are patterning their lives after Jesus Christ.
Ben Bailey:
When John begins this third epistle by saying to Gaius, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers,” it is evident that John exhibits genuine care for the souls of others. John is concerned about Gaius’ physical health, of course. But more important, he is concerned about Gaius’ spiritual health. We frequently pray for those who are physically ill. But how often do we pray for those who are spiritually sick? We need to pray for those who have not yet become Christians, so that they will become Christians. We need to pray that people will prosper and be healthy spiritually. John himself was a “true example” of how we should be concerned (physically as well as spiritually) for others. Are you concerned about the lost? We must be concerned with those who have never obeyed the Gospel, so that we can help them learn the truth about God’s Word.
Timothy Sparks:
If your spiritual condition represented an exact parallel to your physical condition, how well would you be? Sometimes, we focus solely on the physical, to the neglect of the spiritual. As John focuses on the spiritual condition of those to whom he writes, he says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (vs. 4). If it is the case that great joy results from knowing that people walk in truth, then conversely, great sadness ensues from knowing that people refuse to walk in truth. Consider, to choose just one example, two parents who failed in their duty to rear their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and as a result, saw those children fall away from Christ.
Ben Bailey:
What could be more hurtful to parents than to lose their children? Think how sorrowful God must be when He sees that His children are not doing what they ought to do. Just as John would have been sorrowful to see people not walking in truth, and just as parents are sorrowful when their children are lost, God, too, is sorrowful when people do not obey Him and walk in the truth. Think of the case of the prodigal son in Luke 15. This evil son took his inheritance, went into a far-away land, wasted his money on riotous living, and eventually found himself in the muck and mire of a pigpen. When he finally came to his senses and returned to his father, his father ran to greet him, and prepared a magnificent feast in his honor. What is this story telling us? The father in the story is representative of God. The prodigal son represents the sinner who is not doing as he ought to do. When a sinner decides to return to God (just as the prodigal son returned to his father), God is joyful.
In verses 5-8, we learn how to be fellow workers for the truth. Sometimes we seem to have the attitude that the only way to be a “fellow worker for the truth” is to become a full-time minister, or go to another country as a missionary. But 3 John 5-8 teaches us that we can be “fellow workers” when we support those who are doing the work associated with spreading the truth. John says,
“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.”
What did these Christians, whom John commended, do? They gave others a place to stay. They likely gave them some funds as they sent them on their way. By doing such things, they became “fellow workers for the truth.” Today, we can do exactly the same. We can give people a place to stay. We can support good works financially. And by doing so, we are fellow workers for the truth. Not everyone can preach. Not everyone is in a position to go to another country in order to become a missionary. But we can work together to support those who do such things.
Timothy Sparks:
One of the things to which John was calling attention was Gaius’ generosity. But John also called attention to the sinful works of Diotrophes, “who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us” (vs. 9). Gaius received those gladly who were working for God, and thus became a fellow worker for the truth. Diotrophes, on the other hand, refused to receive God’s workers. Colossians 1:18 points out that Christ alone is to have the preeminence. When Diotrophes sought the preeminence that should have been reserved for Christ alone, he dethroned Christ in his own life, and encouraged others to do the same. For these things, he drew the condemnation of one of Christ’s apostles—John. Sadly, we still have modern-day imitators of Diotrophes in the church today. These are the people who want everything to revolve around them. They have the “Me, Myself, and I” syndrome. John presents Diotrophes as someone whom we should not imitate. Demetrius, on the other hand, receives a recommendation from John. Demetrius was a man who walked in truth, who was a worker for the Lord, and who was faithful and obedient to God. From the Book of 2 John, we learn about “true teaching,” and from the Book of 3 John, we learn about “true examples.” May we use these two books to live our lives so that, on the Day of Judgment, we, like Gaius, can be commended.
If you have not become a Christian, we ask you to consider what we have said today, and to look at these passages to see what you must do to receive Christ. It’s made clear throughout the New Testament that you receive Jesus by believing in Him as the Son of God, by changing your heart and repenting of your sins, by confessing Jesus as God’s Son, and by being baptized into Christ.
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Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST is brought to you by loving, caring
members of the
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
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1. The message, or intent, of the Book of 2 John has to do with “walking in” three things. What are those three things?
2. In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables about “rejoicing.” What happened in each of those parables that resulted in such rejoicing?
3. In 2 John, the apostle reveals how love is connected to something else. What is that “something else”?
4. One of the reasons for John’s writing of the Book of 2 John was to protect faithful Christians against someone. Who was that someone?
5. When John said that he wanted those to whom he wrote to “receive their full reward” (vs. 8), what did he mean by that?
6. Explain the connection between 2 John 8 and Galatians 5:4.
7. hose who were Gnostics felt that they had something “special.” What was that “special something”?
8. The thrust of 2 John might be referred to as “true teaching.” Where is the only place that true teaching can be found?
9. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the principle is taught that if we obey God, something will happen to us. What is that “something”?
10. What had John heard about Gaius that caused the apostle to rejoice?
11. Why was Diotrophes condemned?
12. Explain Jesus’ statement in Matthew 5:20, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no
means enter the kingdom of heaven”
13. In 3 John, the
apostle said that he could think of nothing that would give him greater joy
than to hear “something.” What was that something?
14. What did John
recommend Gaius?
15. How, today, can
we be “fellow workers of the truth”?
16. The thrust of 3
John can be summarized by two words. What are those two words?
17. According to 2
John 9, what happens when a person “does not abide in the doctrine of Christ?”
18. What does it mean
to “have the spirit of Christ” (Rom. 8:9)?
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,