January – 6 – Walk in ;ove

Sunday School Lesson

January 6

Walk in Love

Devotional Reading: John 15:12–17

Background Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13–3:5; 2 John 4–11

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1–5

1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
4. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

 

2 John 4–11

4. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
5. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
7. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receivea full reward.
9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

 

Key Verse

This is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

—2 John 6

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Tell why John advised withholding hospitality from false teachers.

 

2. Explain what John meant by “antichrist.”

 

3. Express how he or she will react biblically to false teaching when confronted by it personally.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

apostasy	uh-pahs-tuh-see.
Colossians	Kuh-losh-unz.
Docetism	Doe-set-iz-um or Doe-see-tih-zum.
Ephesus	Ef-uh-sus.
Gnosticism	Nahss-tih-sizz-um or Nahss-tuh-sih-zum.
Judaizing	Joo-duh-ize-ing.
Thessalonians	Thess-uh-lo-nee-unz (th as in thin).
Thessalonica	Thess-uh-lo-nye-kuh (th as in thin).

Introduction

1. False Teachers in the Church

False teaching in the church is a multimillion dollar enterprise. Many organizations offer research and opinions on various Christ-claiming groups that are seen to be on the edge of orthodoxy or that have strayed into heresy. Such heresy-hunting is supported by donations, publishing, conferences, etc. These organizations perform an important service, given the seemingly endless supply of false teachers. The problem is that what one church considers heresy might be normal and central to another church’s doctrine!

Since the early days of the church, accusations of false teaching have been flying. Some of the first issues, such as requiring circumcision for church membership (Acts 15), may seem irrelevant to us today. Other early issues seem very contemporary, such as the role of works in salvation and the authority of Scripture.

One of the constant threats from false teachers centered on the nature of Christ. The first-century church taught that Jesus was fully human and fully divine (as hard as that might be to comprehend). Church leaders knew that an overemphasis or underemphasis on either part of this doctrine would quickly lead to heresy. So they guarded both the divinity and the humanity of Jesus as cornerstones of the faith.

The authors of today’s passages, Paul and John, both needed to deal with false teachers who denied the teaching of the apostles and threatened the church’s existence. From their writings we learn ways to identify false teachers and how to deal with them.

1. Lesson Context: 2 Thessalonians

Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians from the city of Corinth in AD 52. This dating makes the letters of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, likely written just a few months apart, among the earliest writings of the New Testament.

Paul had been in Thessalonica earlier, but he didn’t stay long due to Jewish opposition (Acts 17:1–10). The intent of his letters was to help the infant congregation understand his teachings more accurately in his absence. The church in Thessalonica would then be more resistant to heresy.

False teachings in the first century had many faces, some more dangerous than others. One particularly dangerous heresy that threatened the church’s survival was Judaizing. It was related to the church’s emergence from Judaism and separation from the synagogue. Many early Christians were Jews, and some of them saw Christianity as the next step of the Jewish faith—a sort of super-Judaism. Such teachers believed that all aspects of the Jewish law applied to the church, even to believers of Gentile background. This included circumcision for the males and adherence to Jewish food laws for every Christian. The error of Judaizing was a belief that salvation required keeping such laws.

1. Lesson Context: 2 John

The author given in 2 John is merely “the elder.” But the three letters of John have been attributed to John the apostle from the first century. Church tradition tells us that he had come to the city of Ephesus and lived there until his death, sometime before the end of the first century. We do not know the order in which the three letters of John were written.

This letter is addressed to “the elect lady and her children” (2 John 1). The elect lady may be a prominent woman in one of the churches in the Ephesus region, or this may be John’s figurative way of referring to the church. The letter encourages its recipients to continue living lives of love but also to be on guard against, and reject, the false teachers who have been visiting their congregation. In so doing, it touches on a then-emerging threat to the first-century church, a threat that scholars today call Docetism.

This threat originated with Gentiles and their Greek philosophical traditions. The term Docetism comes from a Greek word that means “to seem.” The primary tenet of Docetism was that Christ’s sufferings were only apparent; they only seemed real, but were not. As one writer sums it up, Docetism maintained, against Christian affirmations to the contrary, that Christ’s existence was “mere semblance without any true reality.”

We see the apostle John explicitly declare otherwise in 1 John 4:2, 3. He knew that if this teaching prevailed, then the entire basis for the Christian message would be lost. If Jesus did not suffer, then He could not have died. As a result, there would be no death to pay for sin (contrast Philippians 2:7, 8; Hebrews 2:14; etc.). Docetism transformed into the highly destructive heresy of Gnosticism in the second century AD.

1. Direct Your Hearts

(2 Thessalonians 3:1–5)

1. Praying for Deliverance (vv. 1–3)
2. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.

 

Paul ends the final section of 2 Thessalonians by asking for prayer, a request he also made in the first letter (1 Thessalonians 5:25; compare Colossians 4:3). Paul saw prayer as a shared responsibility. He prayed for his friends (2 Thessalonians 1:11), and he does not hesitate to ask them to pray for him and his companions.

In this verse and the next, Paul mentions two specific areas in which he desires prayer. His first concerns the word of the Lord, meaning the preaching of the gospel. Paul wants his evangelistic efforts to have free course, as they had with the Thessalonians themselves. This is not to add to Paul’s reputation, but for the purpose of glorification that might come to the gospel itself, and therefore to the Lord. This is the language of worship, and Paul sees his ministry and efforts in this light, bringing glory to God (see Galatians 1:22–24).

 

What Do You Think? In what ways can we be more effective in prayer for one another?   Digging Deeper Which of the following texts convicts you most in that regard: Luke 21:36; 22:40; Romans 15:30–33; Philippians 1:9–11; 4:6; Colossians 4:12; James 5:16; 3 John 2? Why?

2. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

 

Paul’s second prayer request goes to the reason his first request needs God’s help: Paul knows the nature of the opposition. He had experienced it firsthand in Thessalonica (see Acts 17:5).

 

3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

 

Paul moves quickly from unfaithful opponents to the rock of faithfulness, the Lord. Whereas the opponents bedevil Paul and the Thessalonian believers, the Lord can be counted on to keep the readers from evil. Paul is absent and must give over his worries to his faithful master for preserving the Thessalonians from those who would destroy their faith.

1. Acting with Confidence (vv. 4, 5)
2. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

 

Paul bases his confidence in the Lord, but he also has confidence in the Thessalonians. God’s preserving and empowering of their congregation will result in current and future obedience to the godly teachings of Paul. Even the most challenging of Paul’s congregations engendered confidence in him (see 2 Corinthians 2:3).

 

What Do You Think? What are some ways we can overcome pessimism with “confidence in the Lord”?   Digging Deeper What guardrails can we put in place to ensure that confidence doesn’t become arrogance?

5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

 

Paul ends this section with a return to one of the main topics in the Thessalonian letters: the return of Christ. Paul did not have time to teach the new Christians in Thessalonica everything they needed because of his brief tenure there. One thing that seems to have been distorted was his preaching that Christ would soon return. Some of the church members took this so literally that it caused problems within the congregation. Paul offers corrective teaching in this area in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 3 and in 2 Thessalonians 2. It is good to expect the return of our Lord any day, but we must also be willing to wait for Him and His timing.

In the meantime, the Thessalonians should give their attention to the love of God. Paul is encouraging their devotion to the Lord, but the context would lead us to understand this as also expressing their love by service to other people. We have plenty to do while we wait for Christ to come. May He find us deeply involved in works of compassion when He does.

1. Walk in Truth

(2 John 4–6)

1. Basis (vv. 4, 5)
2. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

 

The children John speaks of are the children of “the lady” to whom the book is addressed (2 John 1). Whether these are a woman’s physical offspring or is a figurative reference to the members of the church, they are Christians. John is joyfully encouraged because these believers have continued to walk in truth. John measures this by their adherence to a commandment, one that has its origin with the Father, God himself.

“True” Truth

Western culture has been sliding for a long time down a precipitous slope away from a belief in “true” truth—the idea that, at the very least, a few things are absolutely true. To illustrate this shift in perspective, one late-night television comedian has popularized the term truthiness—the belief that something is true based on perception apart from evidence or facts—in his satirical news report. It has become common these days to hear people say, in the heat of an argument, “Well, that may be true for you, but that’s not my truth!”

That idea was illustrated anew in the 2016 presidential election campaign. The candidates, their staffs, and various political pundits had a lot to say about “fake news.” Some people found it entertaining, but I suspect most of us found the argument depressing. It seemed that each campaign really believed its “news” was truer than the “news” being quoted by the other side! The fact that both major candidates finished the race with unfavorable ratings above 50 percent may indicate how cynical Americans have become about the possibility of knowing whether anyone is telling the truth.

This attitude undercuts the basis on which we may build a moral society. It raises questions about whether the Bible is really true. And it certainly ends up casting unfounded doubt that the apostle John was saying anything meaningful when he told us that God wants us to be “walking in truth” if there is no “true” truth!

—C. R. B.

5. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

This commandment to love one another is second only to the commandment to love God (Matthew 22:35–40). It is not a new teaching; believers have had this command from the beginning of their Christian walk. John does not make it complicated. This commandment was repeated by Jesus to John and the other disciples at the last supper (John 13:34, 35; compare 15:12). The apostle has made this commandment a cornerstone of his teaching ministry, repeating or referring to it six times in 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12, 21. John refers to this as a new/old commandment (2:7, 8; see also Leviticus 19:18) in his day, and it is still a new/old commandment for us, over 1,900 years later.

 

What Do You Think? In what ways can our church better demonstrate the commandment to “love one another?”   Digging Deeper What will be your part in making this happen?

1. Imperative (v. 6)
2. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

 

Jesus taught His disciples that keeping His commandments is an expression of love for Him (John 15:10). John narrows this to the single commandment, the old one that dates from Jesus—namely, to love one another. They have heard this teaching from the beginning, now meaning from the beginning of their relationship with John. He has always taught them to love each other. This command is not an advanced teaching, but the most basic teaching of all that undergirds the Christian life.

 

III. Reject the Deceivers

(2 John 7–11)

1. What They Do Not Confess (vv. 7, 8)

7a. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

 

The mutual love that is so primary for John is sorely tested by false teachers, the many deceivers. This is not a hypothetical situation. These false teachers have entered into the world, meaning they have their origin in the church (see 1 John 2:18, 19). This is the idea of apostasy—a type of heresy that implies leaving or deserting the true faith. Therefore, John has already warned his readers to walk in the truth, because their opponents do not trade in truth.

Instead of embracing truth, these false teachers deny that Jesus has come in the flesh. This is a denial of the humanity of Jesus, the heresy discussed in the Lesson Context of 2 John. Denying this central teaching of the faith (the incarnation) means the deceivers must be teaching a different type of salvation, because they cannot have the doctrine of the atoning death of Jesus (see 1 John 1:7; 2:2). John will not stand for this.

7b. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

 

Although the term antichrist is often associated with an evil personage who is to appear at the end of all things, this is not its primary meaning here. The term antichrist in English seems to mean “one who is against Christ,” but there is more to it in the original language. The word anti in Greek has the sense of “substitute” or “alternate” (example: Luke 11:11, where Greek anti is translated “for” in the sense of “instead”). So the idea is closer to “false Christ.” John’s idea of antichrist in this verse is something or someone in his own day who is threatening the church (see 1 John 4:3).

The “spirit of antichrist” (again, 1 John 4:3) is not confined to a single person (2:18). John seems to dub these deceivers interchangeably as “false prophets” (4:1). Jesus warned against such counterfeits (Mark 13:22). False teaching does not arise spontaneously; it comes from false teachers who have something to gain by their deception.

The Line We Must Not Cross

Christians recently observed the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. October 31, 1517, is widely held to be the day that Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of a church in Germany, making him a heretic in the eyes of many. His understanding of the biblical teaching on justification by faith made him unorthodox by Roman Catholic standards. Luther was a Catholic monk, but his study of the Bible had convinced him that the church had strayed from biblical truth. Luther’s actions resulted in him being considered a deceiver.

The movement Luther set in motion now moves in the opposite direction in certain quarters. Recent decades have seen the creation of several denominational unions, regardless of sometimes major doctrinal differences. In some ways, this reflects culture’s scorn for honest disagreement even when the issue is significant.

Yet we are still left with the apostle John’s warning that we must reject deceivers. Today’s lesson text places special emphasis on our teaching truth. If we stray from the Bible’s teaching regarding the person and work of Christ, we have crossed a line that separates us from God’s truth. Do you know where that line is?

—C. R. B.

8. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

 

John gives a warning to the readers, but not a dire prediction. Rather, it is an encouragement for them to stay the course and finish well (compare 2 Timothy 4:7). The idea of reward is addressed in Matthew 10:42; 1 Corinthians 3:8; and Hebrews 10:35, but not in a sense of earning salvation by works. The idea is more in line with Luke 19:16–19 and 1 Corinthians 3:10–15. John sees his readers as partners in ministry, coworkers who are building the church through hard work. They are to take care lest they end up with less than what they or God expect.

1. What They Do Not Have (vv. 9–11)
2. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

The word transgresseth here has the sense of “going too far” rather than the traditional sense of “sin.” In warning against going too far in the doctrine of Christ, John may be indicating that the false teachers present their doctrines as new and better, the next step in the evolution of the Christian message. John demands that his people abide in the doctrine of Christ to which they have been faithful in the past. This, most specifically, is the teaching about the nature of Christ—His full humanity and death for our sins.

To go beyond this doctrine is to abandon the central promise of Christianity: forgiveness and reconciliation with God through the work of Christ. The ones who hold fast to the doctrines of incarnation and atonement retain their relationship with the Father and His Son, their Savior.

 

What Do You Think? What are some ways our church can “contend for the faith” (Jude 3) without destroying the unity of the church in the process?   Digging Deeper How will you determine which truths are to be contended for at the risk of offense or disunity (compare Matthew 15:10–14) and which are not (compare Matthew 17:24–27)?

10, 11. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

 

John ends his discussion of false teachers with a strong command, one that almost seems a contradiction with his expectation that the readers “walk in love” and “love one another.” They are not to allow the teacher who denies the incarnation even to enter one’s house. There is likely a double sense to this in that a “house” is not only a personal home but also the location of a church. House churches are likely the norm in John’s day. The leaders reading this letter are to offer no forum for this false teaching. To refute heresy is the responsibility of the elders of a church (see Titus 1:9).

This directive to deny access to teachers of falsehoods is accompanied by two specific qualifications. First, the readers should not bid God speed—the traditional friendly and polite greeting for John’s people—to such teachers. This is not an invitation to be rude, but rather is a warning to extend no encouragement, food, or shelter to such teachers lest impressionable members of the church receive a mixed message about the danger the false teachers pose. Second, John warns that those who disregard the warning become, in effect, partners with the false teachers.

This is why it is so important, in any church, to have leaders who are trained in doctrine. They are the gatekeepers of the congregation. They cannot ignore this responsibility.

 

What Do You Think? If a teacher of false doctrine knocked on your door tomorrow, what level of hospitality would you offer, if any, for the purpose of engaging in dialogue?   Digging Deeper Does your decision depend on the nature of the false doctrine? Why, or why not? (Possible resources: Romans 12:13; 1 Corinthians 5:9–11; Hebrews 13:2.)

Conclusion

1. Doctrine and Love

There will always be those in the church who are looking for innovations and modifications to Bible doctrines that make them uncomfortable. We sometimes must walk a tightrope between loving tolerance for such people and rigid intolerance of their false teaching. As difficult as that may be, church leaders cannot neglect their responsibilities in this regard. When leaders allow the “love one another” mandate to suppress their duty to reject dangerous false teaching, they are not acting in love for church members as a whole—members who need the guidance of mature Christian leaders in their congregation.

1. Prayer

Lord, may we be motivated by love, not hate. May we love truth and reject falsehood. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who died for our sins. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

Loving Jesus and loving truth go together.

KID’S CORNER

Living Truthfully in Love

January 6, 2019

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 & 2 John 1:1-13

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 & 2 John 1:1-13

(2 Thessalonians 3:1) Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;

The “us” includes Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy (2 Thessalonians 1:1). In this letter, the most important prayer request they made of the Thessalonians was that the word of the Lord (that is, the gospel or good news of Jesus Christ regarding His coming as the Savior of the world, which included His virgin birth, teaching, living, dying for our sins, and rising again from the dead—see 1 Corinthians 15:1-11) would speedily move ahead without resistance as they worked as missionaries and teachers inside and outside the Church. They did not pray that they themselves would be honored; instead, they prayed that the good news of Jesus Christ would be honored by those who heard them speak. The good news would be honored when their listeners believed the good news about Jesus and then repented of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Paul’s Thessalonian Christian readers had honored the good news by believing the good news and becoming a congregation in Thessalonica, and Paul wanted those who met them (and him) to come to faith in Jesus Christ too.

(2 Thessalonians 3:2) and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy faced and fought evil spiritual powers. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” In this verse, we learn that they also fought wicked and evil people who were inspired by these evil spiritual powers to act as they often did. However, notice that in his letter to the Thessalonians Paul notes that wicked and evil people can often act as they do without the aid and inspiration of demonic powers. The devil doesn’t make or influence wicked people to do all the evil they do. No one can truthfully claim, “The devil made me do it.” Wicked people have become slaves to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Many evil deeds committed, and many evil words spoken inside and outside the Church can be explained because “not all have faith.” We too often expect those who are not Christians to behave as Christians.

(2 Thessalonians 3:3) But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul cited two of the Bible’s most important virtues (faith and love): “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” Their faith was growing, and their love was increasing. These virtues can grow from the study of and the application of the Bible’s teachings—especially during times of testing and persecution. Love for others and the church can increase as believers pray for one another and look for opportunities to serve one another—especially in troubled times. Not everyone has faith, but the Lord is faithful; so, Christians can trust in Jesus Christ to answer their prayers, establish (or strengthen) their faith in God even during persecution, and guard them against spiritual defeat by the evil one (whether a person or a devil). Because the Lord Jesus guards Christians, in Romans 8:38-39, Paul wrote, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:4) We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

Think of how wonderful it would be if all our churches were so Biblical that if Paul and the other apostles were here, they could boast of us among other churches. What if they could say of us, “We have confidence that you have drawn so close to the Lord Jesus that you will do all that He has commanded in the Bible.” Think of what your church would be like if it were so biblical both inwardly and outwardly that the devil and the world took enough notice to persecute and afflict you, so that your steadfast faith could be applauded by the Lord Jesus or His apostles. In such a case, we would want to pray continually and fervently, strengthen our faith and increase our love, and put on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-20).

(2 Thessalonians 3:5) May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

Now Paul prays for the Church in Thessalonica that every Christian would be directed by the Lord Jesus to love God and trust in the steadfastness of Christ. God’s righteous judgment is made manifest in this present life and in the future. If we are suffering for the kingdom of God, then that suffering for our faith in Jesus should make us more worthy of the kingdom of God as we respond to that suffering according to the Bible’s teachings. Persecution and suffering at the hands of unbelievers gives us the opportunity to maintain and strengthen our faith under pressure, and perhaps the opportunity to show forth the Spirit of Jesus Christ by our life if not also by our words while we are suffering.

2 John 1:1-13

(2 John 1:1) The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

John was the apostle and teacher in the Church who wrote the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation, and three letters in the Bible. The “elect lady” was a congregation or “the Church,” which would have included “her children;” that is, many congregations such as those listed in the Book of Revelation. Her “children” would also include individual members of the Church, not simply other church leaders. All who know the truth love the Church and God’s children in the Church, just as John wrote that he did.

(2 John 1:2) for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

Jesus declared that He was the truth (John 14:6). Jesus and His truth abide in or remain in the children of God and the Church that confesses Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God (1 John 4:15; 1 John 5:1). Jesus did not promise to be forever with the person or church that refuses to believe in Him or turns from believing and loving the truth that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God (see especially the Book of Revelation, chapters 1-3).

(2 John 1:3) 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.

John declared specifically and repeatedly that God the Father and the Father’s Son, Jesus Christ, love us and have revealed the truth to us. God is love and Jesus demonstrated the love of God in truth as God’s Son by all He did and said. The love of the Father and the Son for us motivates them to extend grace, mercy, and peace to us as Their children, and we are Their children if we believe the truth about the Father and the Son, which inspires us to love them—because they first loved us. Because of the grace of God, Christians receive mercy from God and forgiveness of their sins through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, which gives them peace with God, peace within themselves, and peace with others insofar as the possibility of peace with others resides with them: this is the truth about how much God loves His children (us, as true believers). In God, truth and love come together and are expressed together. As examples for us, the Father and the Son always express truth in love, and never sacrifice the truth to be “loving.”

(2 John 1:4) I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.

One important word in this verse is “some.” John was overjoyed to find “some” of those in the Church “walking” or “living” in the truth and according to the truth as revealed in Jesus Christ and in the Bible (which John would help write). “Walking” is a way of life, and John rejoiced that some in the Church maintained a way of life according to the way of Jesus and lived as the Father commanded: God’s children were living in both truth and love (truth and love cannot be separated, for learning the truth about God and reality should lead to love, and those who love should speak and live in the truth of God and reality).

(2 John 1:5) Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Because only “some” in the church were walking in the truth, John went on to emphasize a commandment that the church had from the beginning. John wrote the Church, the “dear lady,” to remind her leaders and members to love one another. Those who walked in the truth loved others in the Church just as the Father commanded them. Some were church members because at one time they had repented of their sins and professed  faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God as far as the church could tell (they could not see into their hearts), but these members were not acting truthfully and with love toward others in the church, so John wanted the church to remind them to obey Jesus’ commands.

(2 John 1:6) 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.

Love is obeying Jesus’ commandments. Love is a way of life, not just a way of feeling. Love as a way of life is a commandment of God no matter how we may feel. Love includes speaking the truth because we know and love the truth as revealed in Jesus Christ, who is THE Truth, and we can and should speak and teach the truth in love—in loving ways. Love includes how we treat others as a way of life (see 1 Corinthians 13). The fruit of the Spirit includes love for God and others, which promotes the well-being of others—a concern that they repent of their sins and follow Jesus and His teachings, a concern that they grow in true faith, love, holiness, and happiness.

(2 John 1:7) 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.

What John saw as a problem of life and death concern in his day has continued throughout history and will remain a problem until Jesus Christ returns as John foretold in the Book of Revelation. Some refuse to confess that the Messiah has come. Some refuse to confess that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus has come into the world and into the lives of God’s children as the Bible describes. Those who refuse to believe the truth, especially the truth about Jesus, are antichrist (against Christ), and they are truly unloving people (no matter how they might appear to us) who try to deceive others—they love themselves supremely. They are deceivers who will try to lead the children of God and those who walk in love and light into hatred and darkness, into disbelief in the truth of God in Christ and into hatred for God and the children of God (which can be very subtle). John knew, just as the Church has known for centuries, that some will come into the Church and appear to be sincere Christians, and then they will go out into the world (morally and spiritually leave the church, if not physically leave the Church) and try to deceive others inside and outside the Church by leading people away from trust in and obedience to the Word of God in the flesh (Jesus) and the Word of God written (the Bible).

(2 John 1:8) Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

Members of the Church who had worked hard to learn, understand, rightly apply, and obey the truth as embodied in and revealed by Jesus Christ in love could be deceived by those who were against Christ and what the Bible taught about Christ. John warned everyone in the Church to be on guard so this would not happen to them. A full reward would include our receiving fully and knowingly the loving presence of God in Christ and not needing the discipline of God to lead us back into a walk of truth in love. We can work hard to learn and rightly apply the Scriptures victoriously in this life, and we do not want to fall back and lose the progress we have made in following Christ with the Holy Spirit’s help.

(2 John 1:9) 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.

The teaching of Christ is revealed clearly throughout the New Testament and the commands of Christ are completely consistent with the truth of God and the reality of existence as created by God. A person can “go beyond” or “go on ahead” of Christ’s teachings by restricting the right application of the Bible or by extending the application of the Bible into wrong areas that Christ never intended: to intentionally and knowingly do either can be a sign that a person does not have God. Some in the church may do this out of ignorance instead of rebellion against God, and the Christian’s responsibility is to help them understand the truth of the Bible so they can once again truly walk in faith and love. The truth demands that a true child of God abide or remain true to the teachings of Christ and the Bible. If we remain true to the Bible, we have both the Father and the Son abiding in us and they will help us walk in their way of love and truth.

(2 John 1:10) 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;

As a Church leader, the Holy Spirit inspired John to explicitly state how serious it is and can be when any child of God or Christian congregation admits into their lives someone who brings teaching that is contrary to or contradicts the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible. To welcome them can lead to listening to them and to being misled by them which can lead to multitudes being misled away from truth and love for generations. Churches can decline morally and spiritually over many generations as they regress and lose the love and the truth of Christ and the Scriptures: John’s Book of Revelation warns about this possibility. Whereas adults and mature Christians might be wise enough not to be misled by someone who is teaching contrary to the Bible in the Church, their children can be more easily misled (unknown to them), until they fall away from following Christ and into moral decline and spiritual apostasy.

(2 John 1:11) for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

It is an evil deed to deceive another. It is an evil deed to deceive another about the true teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible. When the child of God continues to love and obey God and the commandments of God in the Bible; when they pray for the Holy Spirit to help them discern the truth and walk in love, they are less likely to be deceived but not totally protected from ever being deceived. To even welcome a deceiver into a person’s church, home, or life is to participate in the deceiver’s evil efforts to deceive, and evil will be done.

(2 John 1:12) Though I have 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, so that your joy may be made full.

John had much more to say about how a child of God can protect themselves from deceivers and being deceived. Every detail about how to remain mentally and spiritually united to Jesus Christ and the truth of Christ and the Bible needed to be discussed: questions asked could be explained and answered and John hoped to visit the church that he wrote to and other congregations to have this joyful fellowship time of teaching. He also intended for his letter to be read to other congregations (her children).

(2 John 1:13) The children of your chosen sister greet you.

John participated fully in the life of the congregation where he lived and taught. The children of God in the Church in his congregation sent their greetings along with his to the church and other congregations that would read his letter. This letter obviously meant a great deal to the Church, and it may have been copied and circulated among many churches, because God providentially protected it so it could be saved in the Bible and read by us.

 

Living Truthfully in Love

January 6, 2019

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 & 2 John 1:1-13

 

“I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father” (2 John 1:4).

In John’s letter to an elect lady and her children (the church), he reminded Christians of two commands. First, the Father commands Christians to walk in the truth. Second, the Father commands Christians to walk in love. John wrote that the Father had always commanded people to love one another—this was no new command. Then, he explained that Christian love involved “walking” or “living according to” the truth and the Father’s commandments (which God revealed in the Bible). When Christians sincerely love God and one another by living according to the truth and commands of God, they treat others rightly. Like a good parent, John rejoiced greatly when he saw his spiritual children living truthfully in love. As their spiritual parent, John also expressed concern that though they were walking in truth and love, they might become misled. He wrote that many deceivers had gone out into the world. These deceivers taught false things about God and Christ; for example, some denied that Jesus had come into the world in the flesh as a real human being. John wanted Christians to abide in the teachings of Jesus and not add to or subtract from them or believe and trust anyone who misrepresented what the Bible taught. Indeed, John warned that if a believer greeted a false teacher or received him into their house, then they took part in his “wicked works.” Practicing obedience to the Bible’s teachings can help us avoid being misled and sinning; especially if we will remember that the Father will never command anyone to do anything contrary to His commands in the Bible.

 

Thinking Further

Living Truthfully in Love

January 6, 2019

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 & 2 John 1:1-13

Name ____________________________

 

1. Reread 2 Thessalonians 3:1, how might the church and world be different if every Christian’s first prayer request each day was the same as Paul’s?

 

2. Reread 2 Thessalonians 3:5, what did Paul pray for the Thessalonians? How might that prayer be answered in your life?

 

3. How are Christians supposed to live (walk) and why should they live (walk) that way?

 

4. According to John, what are some characteristics of a deceiver?

 

5. What are some of the things people are doing when they welcome a deceiver into their home or church?

 

Discussion and Thinking Further

1. Reread 2 Thessalonians 3:1, how might the church and world be different if every Christian’s first prayer request each day was the same as Paul’s? “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Along with other Christians in answer to our prayer, we also would live our lives and talk in such a way that the word of the Lord in some way would spread to others and be honored. Many more people would become Christians because of the example and words of increasing numbers of true Christians, and the church would grow in truth and love and honor the Lord Jesus.
2. Reread 2 Thessalonians 3:5, what did Paul pray for the Thessalonians? How might that prayer be answered in your life? “and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith” (2 Thessalonians 3:2). In answer to this prayer, more Christians would be delivered from wicked, evil, faithless deceivers.
3. How are Christians supposed to live (walk) and why should they live (walk) that way? Live (walk) in the truth and love one another because the Father has commanded Christians to live (walk) in these ways and it is the right way for everyone to live.
4. According to John, what are some characteristics of a deceiver? They have gone out into the world (from out of the circle Christian faith, love, and truth) and they do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. They are antichrist. They do not abide in the teaching of Christ. They do not have God.
5. What are some of the things people are doing when they welcome a deceiver into their home or church? They are dropping their guard and they can be deceived. They are giving deceivers an opportunity to deve others. They are participating in the evil deeds of the deceiver.

 

Word Search

Living Truthfully in Love

January 6, 2019

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 & 2 John 1:1-13

Name ____________________________

 

Z W V F D M V L E S E D I B A

B G I R E H P R U H O A R Q J

I U T C N C W Z L F X P E M R

Z A F J K A N Y H D H R U F Y

F R W S F E X E C O P T O L D

C D F V R N D A D T N R I E I

H S I L B A T S E I E O L A Z

R U Q Z Y C D P H V F I R O F

Z S L P S N Q J E K V N A E I

H E R K A M O R A E T L O T D

G J L M H C Y Z R C N E B C I

I R M K T Q A E T H T W V M V

L O X P U J D Y S L I V E O N

C T B L R V G J V M A F U R L

M I E V T O B N Z X D E P O W

 

Honored

Delivered

Wicked

Evil

Faithful

Establish

Guard

Confidence

Command

Hearts

Steadfastness

Love

Truth

Abides

Forever

 

 

True and False Test

Living Truthfully in Love

January 6, 2019

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 & 2 John 1:1-13

Name ____________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. Christians need to pray for the word of God to spread rapidly and be

glorified. True or False

 

2. The Lord is faithful, but He leaves fighting the evil one totally up to our

power and wisdom. True or False

 

3. Christians can pray that the Lord will direct our hearts and the hearts of others to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. True or False

 

4. Elect ladies are those who are the most beautiful and righteous women in each congregation, and so are their daughters. True or False

 

5. Christians are commanded by the Father to walk in truth and love one

another. True or False

 

6. Love is walking according to the Lord’s commandments. True or False

 

7. Those who go on ahead and do not abide in the teaching of Christ do not have God. True or False

 

8. Those who abide in the in the teaching of Christ have both the Father and the Son. True or False

 

9. Because we can learn from them, we should welcome into our churches and homes whoever does not bring the teaching of Christ. True or False

 

10. It is impossible for anyone in a church to take part in the wicked works of those who are deceivers or antichrist. True or False

 

True and False Test answer

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. False

10.False

 

Prayer

Lord, may we be motivated by love, not hate. May we love truth and reject falsehood. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who died for our sins. Amen.