25-06 De Bijbel 8

Do I listen when Scripture warns? Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 8 We’re going to finish this series by studying two very short letters today and next week. Perhaps you could call them “postcards from John.” These letters are succinct, but they are no less potent in their instruction and warning as the rest of Scripture. Second John is addressed to the “elect lady” and various interpretations have been suggested. Most think it is just a special way of referencing the Church. It could also be a reference to a woman - and since no husband is mentioned perhaps a widow - whom John knows. The words elect lady are Elekta Kuria… perhaps that is a woman’s name. Third John is addressed to Gaius - clearly an individual (and elder) in the Church, so it seems likely that 2 John is written to an individual, but both are intended to be read to the Church. 2 John ends with John’s intention to visit in person, explaining that there is much he wants to communicate. Apparently everything else he wants to say can wait until a face-to-face meeting. What he has written in this letter could not wait. The second half of the letter contains a warning and ends with a very practical admonition: If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting. verse 10 It seems likely then that this is a widow who was hospitable to traveling preachers and opened her home to them. John may have been one of those preachers that has lodged with her. This letter warns against deceivers and how to deal with them and maintain the command to love one another. This letter’s instruction is both timely and relevant and I’m looking forward to studying it together. Back to verse 1. An Explanation of the new old commandment of Truth and Love 1-6 Reading the first six verses you will be struck by two words. And I think that is John’s point. Those words are Truth and Love. There is loving in the truth 1a, knowing the truth 1b, truth abiding in and with us 2, in truth we received grace, mercy, and peace 3, and walking in truth 4. Truth is an important subject for John and it should be to us as well. The second word is just as significant to John: we love those who are in and know the truth 1-2, in love we received grace, mercy, and peace 3, loving one another is a new and old command 5, love is defined as walking according to His commandments 6. Truth and love are presented as harmonious in 2 John and yet so often they are pitted against each other in practice. The Church has too often emphasized one at the expense of the other. John names two Churches in the second chapter of Revelation: Ephesus, which stood withstood false teaching (they knew the truth), but they lost their first love. Thyatira, on the other hand, was known for their love and good works, but they allowed false teaching to creep into the Church and lost Truth. Today too many Churches sacrifice Truth on the altar of love. They have redefined Scripture to allow things that Scripture plainly teaches against. John gives us a the very clear command: we are to love one another. This is not a new idea… The Old Testament taught us to love… love the Lord your God. Love your brother as yourself. That’s what Jesus quoted. Loving one another is not a new concept. But on the other hand… Jesus was a perfect representation of that love… and that was new. Mankind had never seen God’s love so clearly as when Jesus walked the earth and loved people unconditionally. So when Jesus commanded us to love one another - it was like a new commandment. It’s a new old command! We are to love one another. Now verse 6 is great… because love is defined as obedience to His commands. Here is the balance that is taught in the first six verses: God’s truth teaches us to love one another. Loving one another is to obey God. We walk in truth and love those that walk in truth. We received love and truth from God. We delight in those that walk in truth and love them. It work, right? This is what we aim for. A Warning against deceivers and a practical application. 7-11 The John gets real pointed: There are many deceivers in the world. Can we just pause there? Today’s evangelical emphasis on love completely ignores this fact: there are MANY deceivers. Not just a few. They don’t pop up here and there, every once in a while. No… there are many deceivers. What do they do? They don’t confess, they are antichrist, and they go too far in their doctrine. I find that first one to be insightful. Deceivers aren’t always identified by what they do say… sometimes it’s what they don’t say… they don’t believe a key doctrine. The second is shocking… they work against that which Christ wants to accomplish… since Christ is working in the Church, they are working against the Church (see verse 8). Finally, they are described as going too far in their doctrinal thinking. They develop theologies and teachings that seem inventive, but are no longer orthodox. They teach a doctrine that has gone too far. Now how do you deal with such teachers? Scripture teaches us to love one another and we’re to obey that command, right? Not in this case… John says to avoid them, beware of them, and then very practically: don’t be hospitable to them. Close your door to them. Do not fellowship with them. Don’t even greet them. Wow… how is that love? It is loving to show them their abandonment of truth... Truth divides… Jesus said that. And truth is serious business. So: Love one another in accordance with the new old command Know the truth in order to recognize the deceiver Walk in truth in order to separate from the deceiver and antichrist