Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from 2 Jn 1.1 and following. Indeed, before coming to the details of this short epistle, let us highlight some general aspects. The name of the author is not mentioned. This fact also characterizes the first and third epistles, but in any case there is no doubt that John is the author. The style is identical and agrees with the gospel that bears his name. It is quite remarkable that John never mentions his name in his writings, except in Revelation. There is something very fitting in this: His gospel and his epistles deal with such a transcendent theme, God revealed in the One who was nothing less than “the Son of the Father”, that the human author goes unnoticed in the glory of this light. This second epistle, like the third, is a kind of appendix, or postscript, to the first epistle. Initially, it was a private communication to a certain Christian lady and her family, but God allowed it to be kept in the pages of Scripture because it provides a much-needed instruction that is not found elsewhere. It is the only epistle addressed to a woman, and because of this the instruction is strengthened. The recipient of the letter was in a difficult situation with her children. She was confronted with the false doctrine of which the apostle speaks in 1 John 4:2: the negation of the humanity of the eternal Son of God, or, in other words, the assertion that one cannot recognize man Christ Jesus as the eternal Son of God (1 John 2:22; 1 John 5:5-20). This is the spirit of the Antichrist (1 John 2:18; 2 John 7).
This believer was exposed to danger. She might have thought: as a woman, I am not called to resist these false doctrines and those who propagate them, and because of my weakness, I am not in a position to do so. In addition, we must show God’s love for our brothers and sisters in faith, and even for all men. The apostle shows, with great delicacy of feeling, but also without the slightest ambiguity, that Christian love must always be led and determined by the truth. Love cannot be freely manifested towards men who attack or deny the divine truth. John therefore writes to the lady to turn away from such people, so as not to contract the defilement herself. Even a sister is able to do this and is called to do so.
Thus, the emphasis is placed on the truth in the strongest possible way. The epistle itself instructs us on the action necessary for the defense of the truth; and the first thing we find is that all Christian relationships and affections are based on truth, and must be governed by it. The love proper to Christians is “in truth”,” since it springs forth as the fruit of what we are born of God, as the first epistle showed us. Being born of God, we are “in the True,” and love according to the truth springs forth in our hearts. That is why John’s love for the chosen lady and her children finds a place in the hearts of all those who, as born of God, have been brought to the knowledge of the truth. But this love did not come only from the knowledge of the truth; he also spoke “because of the truth.” Truth is of major importance, for the world is filled with error and illusion, and we must be prepared to suffer because of the truth. Many suffered, even going so far as to the death of martyrs. Here, however, it is not a question of suffering for the truth, but of loving because of it. This takes us in two directions: love must be sincere, and without the so natural partiality to the flesh; he must also be intolerant of evil since truth and error are incompatible. It is the second of these two considerations that is dealt with in this epistle. The third epistle deals with the first.
For the two statements concerning the truth are fraught with meaning. The truth: 1) “dwells in us,” and 2) “will be with us forever.” We associate these two thoughts with the following two statements: that of the first epistle, “the Spirit is the truth” (1 John 5. 6), and the Lord’s gospel statement, “I am the truth” (John 14. 6). The truth “dwells in us” because the Spirit dwells in us, and He is the truth. He is not mentioned in this short epistle, but He is implicit in these words. He is the truth subjectively, in us; He does not speak about Himself or Himself, but He glorifies Christ who is the truth; and taking from what is Christ’s, He communicates it to us (John 16. 14-15).C is why every believer in whom the Spirit dwells, has the truth dwelling in him, an immense privilege, which preserves us in a world of error.
This fact leads us to the conclusion that the detection and rejection of a bad doctrine is not, in the first place for the believer, a question of intellectual faculties or intelligence. It is above all a question of what we can call the spiritual instinct. Simple intellectual faculties have regularly led even true Christians astray. All the errors that have afflicted the church during the twenty centuries of its history, were launched in the first place by men possessing a superior intelligence. And on the other hand, when some sought to impose false teachings on very uncultured believers, we heard them say, “Well, I can’t help but feel that this is all wrong, even if I don’t understand their ideas and I can’t criticize them.” This explains why the apostle wrote the instructions of this epistle to a simple lady and her children. It is also a fact, thank God, that the truth “will be with us forever,” since Christ is the truth objectively, and we will never be separated from Him. Truth and grace came fully on the scene when the Lord Jesus came. In Him all that God is, is fully revealed. In Him light and truth have shone on all things; darkness, error and fiction have disappeared.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The commandments received from the Father:
- Elders
Acts 11:30 They sent it to the elders through the hands of Barnabas and Saul. 1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders who lead well be judged worthy of a double honor, especially those who work in preaching and teaching. Tt 1:5 I have left you in Crete, that you may put in order what remains to be settled, and that, according to my instructions, you may establish elders in every city, 1 Pet 5:1 These are the exhortations that I address to the elders who are among you, me elder like them, witness to the sufferings of Christ, and participant in the glory that must be manifested:
- Grace of Christ
-Manifested in his childhood Lk 2:40 Now, the child grew and strengthened. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was upon him.
-Manifested in his renunciation of himself 2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who for you made himself poor, rich as he was, so that by his poverty you might be enriched.
-Sufficient for all the needs of man 2 Cor 12:9 and he said to me: My grace is enough for you, for my power is fulfilled in weakness. I will therefore boast much more willingly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
-Granted to sinners 1 Tim 1:12-13 I give thanks to him who strengthened me, to Jesus Christ our Lord, for what he deemed me faithful, 13 by establishing me in the ministry, I who was previously a blasphemer, a persecutor, a violent man. But I obtained mercy, because I acted out of ignorance, in unbelief;
-Source of all power 2 Tim 2:1 You, my child, strengthen yourselves in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.
- Walk of believers, walk in truth
Ps 26:3 For your grace is before my eyes, and I walk in your truth. Ps 86:11 Teach me your ways, O Lord! I will walk in your faithfulness. Dispose my heart to the fear of your name. 2 Jn 4 I have been very pleased to find your children walking in the truth, according to the commandment we have received from the Father. 3 Jn 3 I was very pleased when brothers came and bore witness to the truth that is in you, to the way in which you walk in the truth.
- Joy of soul winners
-Essential to the success of christian work Ps 51:14-15 Give me back the joy of your salvation, and may a spirit of good will sustain me! 15 I will teach your ways to those who transgress them, and sinners will return to you.
-Come by reaping Ps 126:6 He who walks weeping, when he carries the seed, Returns with joy, when he carries his sheaves.
When they have found the lost sheep Luke 15:6-7, and back home he calls his friends and neighbors, and says to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. 7 Likewise, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven for a single sinner who repents than for ninety-nine righteous who do not need repentance.
-The sower and the reaper rejoice together Jn 4:36 He who reaps receives a salary, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps may rejoice together.
-Encourage the Church Acts 15:3 After being accompanied by the Church, they continued their journey through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
-The souls won are a crown of joy 1 Thes 2:19-20 Who is, indeed, our hope, or our joy, or our crown of glory? Is it not you too, before our Lord Jesus, at his advent? 20 Yes, you are our glory and joy.
-Sustained Christ in his sufferings at the cross Hb 12:2 looking at Jesus, the leader and consumer of faith, who, in view of the joy reserved for him, suffered the cross, despised ignominy, and sat at the right hand of god’s throne.
From all of the above, we note that by turning our eyes to Jesus, we contemplate the One in whom the truth is personified. The truth is “with us” to be considered, and admired with adoration, and everything can be tested by it, using it as a standard of measurement. This is of great importance to us, in the present time, while Satan the deceiver is still at large. But we will always need to have the truth personified (Jesus) before our eyes, and He will always be with us. Let us not forget that, for current urgent cases, He as truth is the test for all that might come before us in matters of doctrine, and that the Spirit who dwells in us, and who forms our instincts, is also the truth. For, after having exposed in his 1st epistle the characters of the truth, the apostle shows us in two short letters this truth “on the move”. And he does not choose here as an example, a father in the faith, but a Christian lady with her children, some of whom, to her great joy, walked in the truth. Young Christians, know that nothing rejoices those who love you more than to see you not only know, but walk in the teachings of the Word. The conduct of children is proof that a Christian home is governed by truth. At a time when everything is corrupt, the home is the last cell where the child can develop away from filth. But sometimes the truth has to be defended against enemies from outside. True love makes it our duty not to receive such people. Would we tolerate a visitor coming to tell us lies about someone dear to us? And who is more dear to us than the Lord Jesus? A Christian, a converted child are competent, not to discuss with these people, but… to close the door on them. Truth is our greatest treasure. Love defined by truth is therefore the subject of this epistle. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “Gaius, an example to emulate. »
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.