Walk in Truth & Love - 2nd Epistle of John

 Dear Saints:

We are getting another dose of the Second Epistle (Letter) of Apostle John. This one is very short, just one chapter. It is almost a repeat of the First Epistle which we just finished studying. When God repeats the same things to us, it must be very important. In sum, God is saying, walk/live in the truth and love one another.  

TRUTH IS EVERTHING. JESUS IS THE TRUTH. We must live in the TRUTH, in Jesus. Anything else is a deception and we must know the TRUTH so we can look out and recognize deception and lies.

The Letter was addressed to the “Elect Lady and her Children, whom I love in truth”. Some think it is to a person and some say it is to a local house church.  “Elect Lady” may have been a code name to protect people in that time of intense persecution of the church.  

We must be wise/sensitive in our methods and approaches for spreading the Gospel especially these days of heightened tension and anxieties. Our delivery and methods may change; but the TRUTH of Jesus stands forever the same.

Notice that we cannot love one another apart from the TRUTH – “whom I love in truth.”  If you love someone, tell them the truth and that is what Apostle John is doing in these Letters. 

May be you are struggling in this area with a loved one and you must set the boundaries and speak the truth to him/her in love. May God enable us all to love in truth and tell the truth about Jesus. Amen.

We will get into the details of the Letter later. For now let’s just read the whole Letter of 2 John.

^{2 John}

¹ The Elder,

To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, ² because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

³ Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Walk in Christ’s Commandments

⁴ I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. ⁵ And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. ⁶ This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

⁷ For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸ Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

⁹ Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; ¹¹ for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

John’s Farewell Greeting

¹² Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

¹³ The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen

P.S. I am sad to report that our co-worker, Cindy Tourison we were praying for passed away this past Saturday, 10/10/20. We continue to pray that God who knows the best will comfort Steve, her husband and their twin eleven year old children; and meet their needs in these difficult times. Lord, please let your grace abound for Steve and the twins in Jesus name. 

Lord, please comfort us all who mourn in these days. My older cousin Caroline passed away this past week in Nigeria. We will miss you dearly Daada. I thank God for your faith in Christ. Amen.

 We continue to pray that God will also bring to a stop the raging COVID-19. Lord, we are trusting you for the ultimate solution. Amen