Sermons

Walking Joyfully in the Truth

March 22, 2019 Preacher: Gareth Franks Series: Letters of John - Knowing, Walking & Living the Truth

Topic: Christian Living Scripture: 2 John 1:1–4

Home Group Study - Sermon Date: 22 March 2019

Text: 2 John 1-4

 

Opening Discussion: Growing up as a child, did you ever put your teeth that had fallen out, under your pillow in hopes that a fairy would take it to her tooth palace, in exchange for some money? How old were you when you found out that the tooth fairy was not real? How did it make you feel? Share your story.

Observation - What does God’s word say?

Theologian R.C. Sproul says; “The relativist says, “There is no absolute truth except the absolute truth that there is absolutely no absolute truth. All truth is relative. What is true for one may be false for another.”

The apostle John writes this short letter to the church to warn them of the false teachers who were traveling around spreading their false doctrines. For these false teachers, truth was relative. They denied the essential truth about Jesus Christ’s incarnation, deity, death and resurrection. So John writes this short letter before he could make a personal visit, to warn the church about not receiving these men into their midst. Every church needs to be strong in the knowledge of the truth so that the members can avoid destructive heresies. They need to be strong in loving relationships. They need to be holy in their conduct. Without these things, the church will be unhealthy and more susceptible to the subtle deception of the enemy.

Jesus prayed for unity in John 17. Did he have in mind those who would disbelieve in his resurrection, or marginalize his cross, or minimize the power of the Holy Spirit? Read John 17 and share your observations? 

Read: 

  • John 17:1-26

Meaning - What does God’s word mean?

Read: 

  • 2 John 1-4

John is concerned about both truth and love. He uses the word ‘truth’ six times and the word ‘love’ four times in the first six verses. Truth and love cannot be separated. Liberals set aside truth and make love for everyone the basis of unity, no matter what they believe. On the other hand, some fighting Fundamentalists exalt the truth on even minor issues over love, and as a result cause divisions among those who truly know and follow Jesus Christ.

Truth on the essentials of the gospel must be the basis for fellowship and unity. If someone denies the essentials of the gospel, he is not a Christian and we have no basis for true fellowship. As we will see in verse 10, if someone is promoting false teaching, the loving thing to do is not to welcome him as a brother, but to separate from him as someone promoting evil. So our love for others must be discerning (Phil.1:9).

If someone came to your door who was infected with a highly contagious disease, such as tuberculosis, you would not be acting in love to your family to welcome him to come in and stay with you. Since false doctrine about the person and work of Christ is a deadly, infectious disease, it is not loving to welcome those who are infected with this disease into our church or homes. We will look more at this next week. But, among those who truly know and love Jesus Christ in truth, we must be loving, especially when we disagree over minor issues.

Application - How must I change?

  •  Is there a Truth to be believed?

Jonathan Leeman says that church membership “is a declaration of citizenship in Christ’s kingdom. It’s a passport. It’s an announcement made in the pressroom of Christ’s kingdom. It’s the declaration that a professing individual is an official, licensed, card-carrying, bona fide Jesus representative”. Why should a genuine profession of faith in Christ be the primary requirement for church membership?

  •  Is there an Attitude to be fostered?

One person’s gray area is another person’s immorality. And one person’s courageous conviction is another person’s misplaced stubbornness.  How do we decide which truths must never be compromised, versus where we should be tolerant for the sake of unity?

  •  Is there a Behavior to be changed?

There is always the temptation to fight legalism by running away from good things, whether Bible reading or acts of love, because we mistake them to be part of the problem. Some contend that if you advocate obedience, you are legalistic. How would you respond?

 Conclusion

John Stott says in his commentary on 2 John; “God has not revealed His truth in such a way as to leave us free at our pleasure to believe or disbelieve it, to obey or disobey it. Revelation carries with it responsibility, and the clearer the revelation, the greater the responsibility to believe and obey it.” For the apostle John the truth is not simply something that you profess with the mouth; it’s something you live.  The truth is not only to be professed but lived out.  BELIEF ALWAYS AFFECTS OUR BEHAVIOUR. Doctrinal truth in the Bible implanted in our hearts by the Spirit always leads to an effect in our lives.

We need to be praying for one another to walk in the truth.  We need to be encouraging one another to walk in the truth. We need to be accountable to one another to walk in the truth.  That’s why a faith family is so important!  Because we care that everybody walks in the truth.  We want, to borrow a phrase, ‘No Christian Left Behind. Every Member Walking in the Truth’.  We should be burdened about a mutual walking in the truth, that we might give joy to that great elder brother, our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 

 

Prayer Points:  

  1. Pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit, NLC will walk in the truth, while loving like Christ.
  2. Pray that we would not just be the hearers of the word but doers as well.
  3. Pray that we will humble ourselves enough and be accountable to one another to walk in the truth. 

More in Letters of John - Knowing, Walking & Living the Truth

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A Good Example

May 31, 2019

A Bad Example

May 24, 2019

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