All right, 2 John, the 2nd epistle
of John. Now the author of this short
epistle is John, beloved apostle of the Redeemer. He calls himself
the elder, the elder unto the elect lady and her children.
He may be talking about his office, though he is an apostle. Like Peter, he said, I too am
an elder. He may be talking about his age,
but we know that John was about 90 or 95 at this time. He outlived all of the apostles. All of the apostles were brutally
martyred except John. John was exiled to the Isle of
Patmos where God gave him the revelation of Jesus Christ. And he wrote that last book in
the New Testament. The letter is addressed to the
elect lady. to Elder John and to the elect
lady and her children. Some say that this letter is
addressed to a church. Sometimes a church is referred
to as she, her. But I believe he's writing to
a certain woman, an outstanding and unusual and great believer,
and her children. Probably a home in which he spent
much time, received much provision and hospitality. He's addressing
this, I believe, to a certain woman, like the third official
of John. Look down below you there. No
question about this. This letter's addressed to a
man. Paul wrote to Timothy. This letter
is 3 John, the elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love. In the truth, beloved, I wish
above all things that you might prosper and be in health as your
soul prospers. That letter is addressed to a
man. And this letter, 2 John, look
down at verse 12. He says, having many things to
write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink, but I trust
to come unto you and speak face to face. You know, when you think of the
Lord's special attention to certain women in Scripture, and the vital
part that these women played in His ministry, in the ministry
of the apostles, the ministry of our Lord. Think of the Samaritan
woman. The Lord called her and used
her to begin a great revival in the land of Samaria. Think
of Mary and Martha. How much time our Lord spent
in that home in Bethany where Martha was the older sister and
Mary the younger sister. How many times in the scripture
it refers to Mary who sat at his feet. And one day when Martha
was so busy getting things prepared for the meal. Mary was sitting
at the feet of our Lord, listening to him teach. And Martha came
running in and said, Lord, don't you care if my sister doesn't
help me with all that I have to do? And he said, Martha, you're
troubled about many things, encumbered about much care, but Mary has
chosen the good part. They have chosen the good part.
Sit and listen to the Word. And that'll never be taken from
her. And then the woman who anointed his feet, he said, this will
be spoken of her throughout ages. Lydia, whom the Lord, whose heart
the Lord opened and revealed the gospel, her home became the...
in Philippi, her home became the headquarters of the Apostle
Paul. Lois and Eunice, I think about
Timothy's mother and grandmother, and the Scripture commends these
dear women and their love for the gospel and their dedication
to the Word of God and how they taught their son and grandson
the truth of God. Think of Miriam, Moses' sister,
Ruth, Esther, Sarah, Rebecca, Just keep naming these. The Lord's
Church owes a debt of great gratitude to faithful, dedicated, godly
women. Turn to Romans 16 and listen
to Paul talk about these dear fellow helpers and laborers in
the gospel women. In Romans 16, Romans 16, I commend
unto you Phoebus, our sister. Romans 16.1, I command unto you,
see thee, I assist thee, which is a servant of the church which
is at Sinjera. Receive her in the Lord, as becometh
a saint, and that you assist her in whatever business she
has need of you. She hath been a succorer of many,
and of myself a helper of many. Greet Priscilla, and a quill
of my helpers in Christ Jesus, can't do without them, who have for my life laid down
their own necks, unto whom not only I give thanks, but also
all the churches of the Gentiles." Likewise, Jesus' church was in
their house. These women had a church in their
home. greet my beloved Neph and Nidus,
who is the firstfruits of our King unto Christ." This one was
converted first. Greet Mary, who bestowed much
labor on us. The Apostle Paul takes the Word
of God and commends these dear, beloved ladies for their faithfulness
to the gospel. And they weren't just people
who sat around and second is the motion of the husband. These
women were dedicated to the gospel of Christ. Turn to Philippians. Let me show you another. Philippians
chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4, verse 3. I am greatly also true, yoke
fellow, help those women which labor with me in the gospel,
with Clement also, with other my fellow laborers whose names
are in the book of life." Here's a powerful scripture in
Proverbs chapter 31 regarding these faithful women. They love fire in support of
the gospel. In Proverbs 31, verse 30, "...favor is deceitful, and beauty
is vain. But a woman that fears the Lord,
she shall be praised." Give her of the fruit of her hands, and
let her own work place her in the gate. One of my favorite
stories, and I'm sure you've heard it again and again, but
some of you haven't been here for very long, and I'll tell
it again. My dear wife is teaching you
boys and girls in the first, second, and third grade, the
scripture. And she was getting a point across
to them of the gift of Christ. She told them truthfully, she
stressed this, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ. The
unspeakable gift of God is Christ. And one Sunday morning, in reviewing
the lesson, she brought it to a close by asking the class,
well, what is God's greatest gift to man? God's greatest gift. And one little girl raised her
hand. I said, what's God's greatest gift to man? She says, a woman. Well, let me tell you something.
That's the second greatest gift. The greatest gift, Christ. But
a godly wife. A believing wife is the second
greatest gift God gives a man. That's all. And that's the reason
I really believe that John is writing this epistle to a godly
woman. But that's not my subject. The
good one, though, is... It's a good one. And Christ tells
the men to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Give
honor to the weaker vessels. God honors His church. Give thanks
for her. Don't hurt her. God calls you
to account. But here is what I'm dealing
with this morning. The words truth and love. Noble
companions. Noble companions. Look, I'm going
to read this verse 1 through 6 again. Let you count the number
of times the word truth is used and the word love. Just underscore
them, would you? With a pen or pencil. Underscore
the words, truth and love. The elder unto the elect lady
and her children, whom I love in the truth. And not I only,
but also all they that have known the truth. For the truth's sake
which dwelleth in us and shall be with us forever. Grace be
with you, mercy and peace from God the Father, from the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly when I found
of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment
from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady,
not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee. This is that which
we had from the beginning, that we love one another. This is
love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment,
that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in
it. Now, the word truth, five times. In these six verses, the
word love, four times. Noble companions, truth and love.
What is truth? Well, truth is that which conforms
to fact. It's the opposite of a liar.
It's the fact. It's that which conforms to reality. Not superstition. Not emotionalism. Not sentimentalism. It's fact. It's reality. It's the opposite of deceit.
Listen to what our Lord said about the truth. Turn to John
chapter 8. John the 8th chapter. verse 31
and 32. Listen to this. In John chapter 8, verse 31 and
32. Then said Jesus to those Jews
which believed on him, Now if you continue in my word, then
are you my disciples indeed, and you know the truth, and the
truth will make you free. The truth is fact. The truth
is reality. The truth, not emotionalism and
sentimentalism. It's fact. And the truth will
set you free. Free from error. Free from fables
handed down through the years, they say. It'll set you free
from superstition. It'll set you free from deceit.
Be not deceived, God's not mocked. He'll set you free from false
religion, the burden of false religion. He'll set you free
from traditions. Truth will deliver you from false
hope and disappointment. And truth will set you free to
learn more and more. The truth of God. What is truth? It's reality. Let's look at some
statements. Is it true that God is omnipotent? That God is omniscient? Is that
true? Is it true that God is omniscient,
omnipotent, and omnipresent? That God is almighty? That God
says, I create light and darkness, good and evil. I, the Lord, do
all these things. I have purpose. I bring it to
pass. I've declared it, I'll do it, it's God Almighty stopping
it all then. Is it true that God created the
heavens and the earth? That's true. God said let there
be light, there was light. God said let the dry land be.
Let us create man in our image, male and female. Is that true?
We know it's true. It's true that God made man in
his own image. Is it true that man fell? It's a fact. It's reality. Man
fell. By one man, sin entered this
world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men. And Adam
all died. It's also true that God is holy,
and God is righteous, and God is just, and God will and must
punish sin. God cannot be in God clear of
the guilty. The soul that sinneth, it must
surely die. The judge of the earth shall
do right." That's true, that's reality, that's fact. But thank God it's also true
that God is love. God is just, but God is love. God delights to show mercy. God,
he said, I, my name, Moses says, show me yourself, reveal your
glory to me. He said, my glory is my goodness.
goodness, I'll be merciful, I'll be gracious, that's true. So
God in his love is a true purpose to redeem a people. Purpose to
redeem a people out of every kindred, nation, tongue, tribe
under heaven. In Christ And he made an everlasting
covenant with his son. That's what he called it, an
everlasting covenant. Make Christ the shepherd of the
sheep. The surety of that new covenant, that new testament.
And that God in the fullness of time, is this fact? Is this
reality? God in the fullness of time sent
his son into this world. Turn to 2 Corinthians 5, and
let's look at this. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Chapter 5, verse 18. And all things are of God. All things are of God. Whom he foreknew, he predestinated
to be conformed to the image of his Son. Whom he predestinated,
he called. Whom he called, he justified.
Whom he justified, he glorified. That's fact. And God hath reconciled us, all
things of God, he's reconciled us to himself by Christ Jesus. Not by religion, not by works,
not by keeping holy days. God hath reconciled us to himself
by Christ Jesus and hath given us, to us, a ministry of reconciliation. Namely, that is to say that God
was in Christ. Is that true? The Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself
by his obedience and by his death, not imputing their trespasses
unto them. And he has committed to us this
Word of reconciliation. Is that true? That's true. That's
a fact. Now then, we are ambassadors
for Christ. As though God did beseech you
through us and by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, lay down
your shotgun, put up your sword, surrender, be reconciled to God. That's your only hope. Look to Christ. It's your only
hope because he made him to be sin for us who knew no sin. that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him." That's true. That's true. This is true also,
1 John chapter 5. Turn over there with me. And Christ said, this will set
you free, free from error, free from fables, free from superstition,
free from deceit, freedom from false religion, freedom from
false Freedom from tradition, freedom from a false hope, freedom
from disappointment, and free to learn more truth. 1 John 5, verse 10, "...he that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth
not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the
record God gave of his Son, the truth God gave of his Son." This
is the truth. This is the record. God has given
to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath
the Son of God hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. And these things I've written
unto you, this is true, this is fact, this is reality. These things I've written unto
you that do believe on the name of the Son of God. that you may
know, that you may have assurance and confidence that you have
eternal life, and that you may know better, and you might understand
more, and keep believing on the name of the Son of God. All right,
back to my text. So then, the truth about God,
and the truth about man, and the truth about heaven and hell,
the truth about past, present, and future of all things has
to do with a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Read these first
four verses and insert the name Christ where you seek truth.
Where you seek truth, insert the name Christ. Now, let's read
the first four verses. The elder unto the elect lady
and her children whom I love in Christ. And not I only, but
all, also all they that have known Christ love you. I love
you in Christ. And all who are in Christ love
you. For Christ said, who dwells in us and shall be with us forever. He's the truth. He said, I'm
the way, I'm the truth, I'm the life. Grace be with you, mercy
and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of the Father, in Christ and love." I rejoice greatly
that I found of your children walking in Christ, as we have
received a commandment from our Father. Everything from God,
of God, in God, is in Christ. Let me show you that in some
scripture. Turn with me to John 1. John chapter 1. We can learn
this if we learn the truth. If we learn the truth, we're
satisfied. You shall know the truth, and the truth will make
you free. John 1, 14. Now listen. And the Word was made flesh and
dwelt among us. We beheld his glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace. Christ
is. And John bear witness of him.
And he cried, saying, This is he, this is he of whom I speak. He that cometh after me is preferred
before me. He was before me, and of his
fullness hath all we received. Grace for grace. Now listen,
the law came through Moses, through Moses. Not by Moses. Moses didn't give the law. God
did. It came through Moses. But grace, grace and truth came
by Jesus Christ. The God of all grace and all
truth. No truth except in Christ. You
know Christ, he'll set you free. Turn to John 14. Well, I quoted
that. Let's go to John 16. He said,
I'm the way, the truth, and the life. Go to John 16. John 16. For anybody that feels that this
pulpit with pastor and elders and bishops and preachers has
too much to say about Christ, let me add quickly, it doesn't
have enough to say about Christ. Would the God have had more?
Because He is the truth. He's all grace and all truth.
Listen to this. And the Holy Spirit's business
is to glorify Christ. Listen to John 16, verse 13. How be it when He, the Spirit
of truth... There's a lot of spirits going
on around here. Try the spirits, whether they
be of God. that the Spirit of truth is come. He'll guide you into all truth.
He'll not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that
shall he speak, and he'll show you things to come. He'll glorify
me, Christ said. For he shall receive of mine
and show it to you. If a man preaches in the power
and liberty and unction of the Holy Spirit, he'll take the things
of Christ and show them to you. Because God hath given all things
to the Son." Read the next verse, "...all things that the Father
hath are mine. Therefore I say unto you, He'll
take, the Holy Spirit will take of mine, and show it to you." John 18, look at this scripture,
John 18, verse 37. Pilate said to him, John 18, 37, Art thou a king
then? Oh, my! Thou sayest that I am
a king. To this end was I born. And for
this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to
the truth, and that is of the truth, hear my voice." Pilate
said, what is truth? He didn't wait for an answer
either, did he? When he said this, he went out again into
the Jews. I want to look at one other scripture,
Luke 10. On this particular part, Luke 10, verse 21 and 22. In that hour, Luke 10, 21, in
that hour, Jesus responded in spirit and said, I thank thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these
things from the wise and the prudent, the wise in this world, the so-called shrewd and wise
and competent and worldly things, to hid these things from them. You revealed it unto babes. Even so, Father, it seemed good
in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father,
and no man knows who the Son is but the Father, and who the
Father is but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
You see why I inserted the name Christ in these four verses,
wherever I found the word truth? The elder to the elect lady and
her children whom I love in Christ. If it wasn't for Christ, I wouldn't
love anybody. Not only I, but also they that
have known Christ. They know Christ, love him. for
Christ's sake. Everything God does is for Christ's
sake. He said, Be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God for Christ's
sake forgave you, while we do anything we do, for Christ's
sake. Verse 4, I rejoice greatly I
found your children walking in Christ. All right, let's not
overlook the second word. Now let's look at verse 5. And now I beseech you, lady,
not as though I wrote a new commandment unto you, but that which we had
from the beginning, that we love one another." John is called the apostle of
love. Let me show you several scriptures
about this man. Now, in his letters and in his
epistles, he never calls his name, never calls his own name,
but he refers to himself In a certain way, let me show you this. In
John, in his gospel, John 19. Let's look over John 19. Four
or five places in his gospel where he talks about himself. In John 19, verse 26. When Jesus therefore saw his
mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved. He said to
his mother, Woman, behold thy son. And then said he to the
disciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple
took her into his own home. Christ on the cross looked down
and Mary was standing there and John whom he loved. That's what he said, the disciple
whom he loved. He said, Woman, as your son,
son as your mother, and John took her home and cared for her. Maybe that's why he lived so
long. Maybe he lived a long time, I don't know. But look at John
20, verse 2. He talks about, he refers to
himself again. John 20, verse 2, then she runneth
and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus
loved. and said to them that take it
away the Lord chapter 21 verse 7 therefore that disciple whom
Jesus loved said to Peter it's the Lord they were out fishing
and the Lord appeared on the shore said something to them
they caught these fish and the disciple whom Jesus loved that's
John he said it's the Lord And then in chapter 21, verse 20, you know the Lord told the apostle
Peter how he would die, how he would glorify God in death, martyrdom. And verse 20, Peter turning about
saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following, who leaned on his
breast at the supper. This is John. and said, Lord, which is he that
betrayeth thee? And Peter, seeing him, the disciple
whom Jesus loved, said, What shall this man do? What I'm pointing
out is he's called the apostle of love. He had a lot to say
about this subject. One of the strongest scriptures
on this subject is the writings of John in 1 John 4. Let's turn
over that, 1 John 4. 1 John 4, verse 7 and 8. This is
John writing here on the subject of love, the beloved disciple
writing on the subject of love. Beloved, let us love one another. Love is of God. Truth is of God. Love is of God. God is truth and God is love.
And everyone that loveth is born of God, and knows God, and he
that loveth not knoweth not God." God's love. Verse 20. If a man say, I love
God, I love God, and hates his brother, sister, he's a liar. He that loveth not his brother
whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? So John expresses a vital fact
when he ties these two words together so frequently over here
in this second epistle. Truth and love, truth and love,
truth and love. Truth and love are noble companions,
noble companions which cannot be separated. neither on earth nor in heaven.
They cannot be separated. God is truth and God is love. And where do they meet? Turn
to Psalm 85. Where do they meet? Where do
you find both? Both. Expressed, glorified. In Psalm 85, verse 9, "...surely
his salvation is now unto them that fear him, and that glory
may dwell in our land." Mercy. What's mercy, love? Mercy. That's love. Mercy and truth
are met together. Same place where righteousness
and peace kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the
earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven. That's
Christ. Truth and love. Mercy and love
meet together in Christ. And this is something that I've
encountered in many places. People talk about having truth
and not love. They have the truth, the truth. They say they love the truth.
But they don't have love for God and love for their neighbor,
love for others. Is that possible? That's impossible
because Christ is truth and Christ is love. And that's where it
meets together. You see, my friends, truth without
love would condemn us. Truth without love is cold, stern,
damning, must condemn. The truth says, leave him alone.
Love says, rescue him. Truth says condemning. Love says forgiving. Truth says
a soul that sinneth must die. Truth without compassion would
damn everybody. Well, folks say, well, I love
God, but I don't believe what you believe. What the scriptures,
what these scriptures, that's impossible too. If you could have love without
truth, you'd have a building without a foundation that the
wind would soon blow away. Love without truth is unstable,
foolish, and without hope. It's a promise without the power.
It's a promise without the price to provide it. It's a covenant
with no priest. It's a mercy seat with no blood.
You can't have truth without love. It'd be condemnation. Love is what provided Christ. to fulfill the truth. And you
can't have love without truth. You'd have a promise without
a provider. You'd have a mercy without the blood. So he says in verse 5, so I beseech
you ladies, not as though I wrote a new commandment under you.
It's not a new commandment. Our Lord said that. Turn to John
13. This is where John, this is what he's quoting. This is
where he got his message. In John 13, verse 34, in John 13, 34, a new commandment
I give you, that you love one another. You say, well, Christ called
it there a new commandment. John says it's not a new commandment.
It's what we had from the beginning. Well, Christ called it a new
commandment for three reasons. Let me give you this. is newly explained and purged
from the error and leaven of Phariseeism. The Pharisee says
love your friends and hate your enemies. Love those that love
you and hate those that hate you. That's the Pharisees. That's
their way of getting around the law of God. They were always
looking for a way to get around the law of God. I say unto you
Christ said love your enemies. This love is newly explained. It's an old commandment, newly
expressed. Secondly, it's newly exemplified by our Lord himself. He says, you love and I love
you. Well, I can think of a hundred reasons why a person wouldn't
love me. But I can also think of a hundred reasons why God
wouldn't love him. Isn't that right? So, love God. as he loved you. That's what he's saying. Newly
exemplified. Love as I love you. Forgive as
I forgave you. I just wonder when we sit around
and think of reasons why we shouldn't love certain people, how many
reasons the Lord could come up with for not loving us. Thousands. So it's newly explained and purged
from the error of phariseeism. It's newly exemplified by our
Lord loving even his enemy. and dying for him. And thirdly,
it's newly enforced. It's enforced with this powerful
argument which John gave us. How can, how can one love God
and hate his brother? How can he? How can one love
God and hate his brother, or sister, or children, or wife,
or anyone in God's kingdom? So he says it's not a new commandment,
but it's newly explained, it's newly exemplified, and it's newly
imposed. John said it can't be that you
love God and hate your neighbor. Now verse 6, and this is love,
that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment that
you've heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it Let's
read what James said about this, hearing and doing, and then we'll
close. And continue tonight, verse 7
through 13. James chapter 1, verse 22. Be ye doers of the word. Not just hear the truth, but
do it. Do it. Be ye hearers. We doers,
we're not hearers only, deceiving ourselves. If a man's a hearer
of the word and not a doer, he's like a man that beholds his natural
face in a glance, and beholdeth himself and goes his way, and
straightway forgets what manner of man he was. Whosoever looketh
into the perfect law of liberty, the law of Christ, and continueth
therein, He being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word.
Let's do what he says. This man will be blessed in his
doing. All right, may God bless that
too, our prophet and his glory. And we'll begin tonight with
the father and the son in verse 7 through 12. Let's turn in our
hymn books to number 188, I love thy kingdom, Lord. I love that kick. 188.