walk in obedience to god’s commands 2 john 1:1-13 · walk in obedience to god’s commands ......

http://www.BibleStudyWorkshop.com

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN, 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor

1

Walk in Obedience to God’s Commands

2 John 1:1-13 .




2

Walk in Obedience to God’s Commands

Text: 2 John 1:1-13, 1. 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; 2. For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.




3

12. 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, that our joy may be full. 13. The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. Commentary: 2 John 1:1, 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; I. The elder (presbyteros), the older one, (Womack) A. Coffman stated that the term “elder” may be a title for apostles.

1. 1 Peter 5:1, The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

B. John may well at the time of this writing have been very aged on elderly, perhaps the only one of the original twelve still living. C. John may have been referring to himself an elder, bishop, presbyter in the church.

II. unto the chosen, elect lady and her children,…

A. The American Standard Version’s marginal noted specifies that the Greek term for lady can be translated as the proper name, Cyria. (Coffman)

1. Coffman rejected the idea that this letter was written to a particular person.




4

2. Coffman wrote, “The elect lday” is a metaphorical reference to the church often referred to in the New Testament as the bride of Christ. 3. John appears to be writing to a particular congregation personified as elect lady.

a. 1 Timothy 1:2, Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. b. Galatians 4:25, For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

III. whom I love in the truth; …

A. The saints composing the congregation addressed were near and dear to John’s heart. B. The truth is the gospel of Christ.

1. John 1:7, The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 2. John 14:7, If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 3. John 17:9, If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.




5

4. Galatians 2:5, To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 5. Colossians 1:16, For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

IV. and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

A. All who know the truth joined with John is affirming their Christians love for this lady, congregation.

2 John 1:2, For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. I. because, the truth’s sake…

A. The truth of the gospel motivates faithful disciples to love and live as God wills. B. Womack pointed out that truth is a key word in the epistle appearing five times in the first four verses. C. Truth and deceit are presented as opposites, antonyms.

II. which lives, abideth in us,…

A. The gospel truth lived especially in the apostles and in the lives of all the faithful as well. B. Jesus is personified truth.




6

1. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

2. Galatians 3:26-29, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

3. Matthew 28:20, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

4. Acts 2:38-39, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

III. and it shall be, will be with us for ever:…

A. All the persecution to be heaped upon the faithful could now destroy the truth.

B. This gospel truth would see the faithful through all the devil could throw at them.

C. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will not pass away.

2 John 1:3, Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.




7

I. Grace, God’s favor toward sinners…

A. Womack wrote that grace was a common Greek greeting, as peace is a common Hebrew greeting (shalom) while mercy bridges the two greetings forms.

II. mercy, God’s compassion for the misery of sinners.

III. peace, God’s gift to those from whom the guilt and misery of sin have been removed. (Blaney via Coffman)…

IV. shall be with us, Christians….

V. from God the Father,

A. Grace, mercy and peace are all from God.

VI. and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father,…

A. God grants grace, mercy and peace through Jesus Christ, not apart from the Son.

B. God the Father and God the Son are one.

1. John 14:9, Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

2. John again attests to the divinity of Jesus of Nazereth, God in human form.

VII. in:…

A. truth and love.

1. Womack well said that grace, mercy, and peace dwell with Christians through truth and love.




8

2. 2 Peter 1:2, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3. Jude 2, Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

B. Grace, mercy and peace are gifts of God to those who believe the truth and practice the love it teaches.

2 John 1:4, I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

I. I rejoiced greatly, it has given me great joy…

A. Christians, regardless of situations faced, have many reasons to rejoice greatly!

B. Womack noted that John here followed first century custom, by “expressing a note of thanksgiving” to his readers.

II. that I have found certain of thy children walking in the truth,…

A. This may well indicate that all members of the congregation addressed were not living in truth and love.

1. Some evidently were while others were evidently not walking in the truth.

2. Of interest is the fact that some is no in the original text. (Womack)

III. even as we received commandment from the Father; just as the Father commanded us.




9

A. What a joy for aging faithful minsters to meet converts made years before who are still walking as the Father commanded us. (Coffman)

2 John 1:5, And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

I. And now I beseech, beg thee, dear lady,…

A. John begged the members of the congregation addressed to love as Christ loved.

II. not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, I am not writing you a new command….

A. The command to love had been given during Christ’s ministry.

B. It was not a new, recently ordered thing.

C. Scriptures:

1. Leviticus 19:18, Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

2. John 13:34, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

3. 1 John 2:15-17, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.




10

III. but once, that which we had from the beginning,…

A. John was urging his readers to stay the course, hold to the tried and true, the commands they had from the beginning. (Womack).

B. In contrast, “the Gnostics were constantly adding new teachings.” (Womack)

IV. that we love one another. I ask that we love one another.

A. Love is essential, not optional!

2 John 1:6, And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

I. And this is love,…

II. that we should walk in obedience to, after his commandments.

A. Love is not simply a sentiment.

B. Obeying the commands of God is absolutely essential to having and evidencing this required love.

C. “If you love me, keep my commandments,” Jesus said.

D. What happens when we recall, try, but fail in one respect or another?

1. 1 John 2:1, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

III. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning,…

IV. that ye should walk in it…his command is that you walk in love.




11

A. Womack wrote, “one of the best safeguards against error and false teaching is for brothers and sisters to genuinely love one another.”

2 John 1:7, For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

I. For many deceivers are gone out, forth into the world, …

A. Many deceivers (liars) were in the world then.

B. Many deceivers (liars) are in the world now.

C. Some of these had a church affiliated background.

1. 1 John 2:19, They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

D. Some of these deceivers may have been members of the congregation addressed in this letter.

E. The biggest liar and the Father of all liars is the devil himself.

1. John 8:44, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

II. even they that acknowledged, not, confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh.

A. “The biggest deceiver is the one who did not believe and confess the fact that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh.




12

B. Gnostics then and atheists now deny that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has come in the flesh, has been incarnated.

1. There are the biggest liars of them all.

2. 1 John 2:22, Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

3. 1 John 4:2, 15, And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

4. 1 John 5:6, 10, This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 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 that God gave of his Son.

III. This, any such person, is the deceiver and the antichrist.

A. The antichrist is not limited to any one person, but includes everyone who denies Christ and is opposed to him and his work and word.

B. Scriptures:

1. 1 John 2:18, 22, Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

2. 1 John 4:3, And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit




13

of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

3. John,Womack wrote, is the only New Testament writer to use the term antichrist.

2 John 1:8, Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

I. Look to yourselves, watch out, caution…

A. Those addressed must pay close attention to their own beliefs, hearts and lives to be sure they were walking in truth and love.

B. All Christians must do this faithfully to avoid apostacy.

1. Hebrews 2:1, Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

2. Matthew 11:6, And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

3. Matthew 26: 31, 33, Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

4. Mark 4:17, And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

5. Mark 14:27, 29, And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But




14

Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

6. Luke 7:23, And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

7. Hebrews 6:6, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

8. Philippians 2:12, 13, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

C. Self-examination is essential.

1. 1 Corinthians 11:28, But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

II. that we, you lose not the things which we have wrought, worked for,…

A. Smith via Coffman paraphrased this verse to read, “See that you do not forfeit the reward of your labor.”

B. The reward of our labor can be forfeited!

C. “Be thou faithful unto death,” Jesus said, “and I will give thee the crown of life.”

1. Revelation 22:12, And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.




15

2. Matthew 25:21, His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

D. The loss of souls would not only be a cause of great sorrow to those who depart from the faith but to apostles and ministers who bought them to Christ in the first place.

III. but that ye receive a full reward, but that you may be rewarded fully.

A. At the judgment some may not receive a full reward.

2 John 1:9, Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

I. Whosoever, anyone who runs ahead, goes too far,…

A. “Advanced thinkers” (Coffman) were not satisfied with the simple Gospel truth, but claimed to have some unusual understanding (Gnostics).

B. The world today is full of these “enlightened scholars”.

II. and does not continue in, abideth not in the teachings of Christ,…

A. Our aim is not to be advanced, but to be faithful. (see Morris)

B. Many feel that they can accept or reject teachings of the Bible with impunity.

C. One said, “Paul makes me so mad!” but that didn’t change what Paul said.

III. does not have God, hath not God:…




16

A. To leave the purity of the Gospel is to forfeit our relationship with and possession of God in our hearts and lives and to be flat lost!

1. 1 John 5:12, He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

IV. whoever continues in, he that abideth in the teaching,…

A. Christians are to continue in, abide only in those things first spoken by the Lord himself and delivered by those who heard him through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

V. the same hath both the Father and the Son.

A. The truth of the Gospel is inseparable from the Father and the Son.

B. To fail to have any one of these three is to forego the other two.

2 John 1:10, If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

I. If anyone comes, cometh unto you,…

II. and does not bring, bringeth not this teaching, …

A. Coffman wrote, “The men in view by the apostle here were immoral, self-seeking hypocrites, true children of the devil, deserving fully the treatment prescribed for them by the apostle John.”

B. Differences in opinions are not the same as differences in matters of faith.

C. We must not confuse opinion with faith.

D. Don’t forget that all things are to be done with love!




17

III. do not take him into your house, receive him not into your house,…

A. Faithful Christians are to extend no hospitality, no encouragement to antichrists, false teachers.

B. Paul’s command to be hospitable does not extend to false teachers, antichrists.

1. Romans 12:13, Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

2. We are to protect ourselves from false teachers.

IV. or welcome him, and give him no greeting:

A. False teaching antichrists are to receive no approval, recommendation nor encouragement from the faithful!

B. Matthew 15:14, Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Note: Remember, John is talking about treatment of serious offenders who endanger the welfare of the church. John is not simply speaking of people we may not personally like! Too many lines of fellowship have been drawn all too often in the wrong places!

2 John 1:11, For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

I. Anyone who welcomes him, for he that giveth him greeting…

II. partaketh in his evil works, shares in his wicked work.

A. Romans 16:17, 18, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.




18

III. Those who do not take their stand against sin become contaminated with a fatal disease which makes them as guilty as the antichrists themselves.

2 John 1:12, 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, that our joy may be full.

I. Having many things to write unto you, I have much to write to you,

A. John 21:25, And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

II. I do not want to use paper and ink, I would not write them with paper and ink:…

A. Womack suggests that 2 and 3 John may have been written at approximately the same time.

1. 2 John 1:12, 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, that our joy may be full.

2. 3 John 1:13, I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

III. Instead, but I hope to come unto you, visit you…

IV. and to speak face to face, talk with you face to face.

A. This is certainly the best way to communicate, face to face, man to man.

B. What John had to say was urgent and needed to be presented in the most persuasive way.




19

V. that you, our joy may be made full, complete.

1 John 1:13, The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

I. The children of thine elect, your chosen sister…

A. This appears to be a reference to the church from which John wrote this letter.

B. Other Christians were an encouragement to these addressed in this letter.

C. John wanted them to know they were not alone in the world!

II. salute thee, send their greetings.

A. This is beautiful; that is, the fellowship which exists among the faithful.

III. Amen! So be it. May it ever be so.




20

Questions

2 John 1:1-13

1. John wrote this epistle. Why did he refer to himself as “the elder?” __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Who was the “lady” to whom this epistle was addressed? __________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. In what ways can it be said she was chosen and elected? ___________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Who were the “children” of the elect lady? _____________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




21

5. How did John feel toward the “elect lady”? _____________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Did others also love the “elect lady”? Explain. _________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What is “the truth”? _______________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. The ________________________ of the _______________________ __________________ ______________________ _________________ to __________________________ and ______________________ as _______________________ ____________________________.

9. How does love, the truth, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit dwell in Christians? ________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




22

10. Jesus is “truth personified”. What does this mean? ______________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Define grace, mercy and peace as used in verse 3. ______________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. How much grace, mercy and love do you have in your life and heart? How can these traits be increased? ______________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. What caused John to rejoice? _______________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




23

14. Were all the elect lady’s children faithful to God? Give reasons for your answer. _______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

15. How did John’s old command compare with the false teachers’ theology? __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. What is love? ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17. What happens when we really try, but fail due to human frailties to “measure up” to God’s standards? ______________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




24

18. Only John speaks of antichrist(s). Who is antichrist? ____________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. Name some present day antichrists. __________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

20.What place did the Gnostics occupy in regard to this topic? ________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

21. In John’s discussion, who are liars? __________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

22. How and why are Christians to be cautious, look out for themselves? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




25

23. How can we receive a full reward? Can we receive less than a full reward? How can this be? ____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

24. How important is it that we abide in the teachings of Christ? Elaborate on your answer. ____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

25. How are Christians to relate to, treat false teachers? Why should we treat them in this manner? _____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

26. What other things did John need to talk to the elect lady and her children about? _____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




26

27. What reactions did John expect from the elect lady and her children to the hoped for face to face meeting?____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

28. Who were the “children of your elect sister” mentioned in verse 13? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

29. What do you consider the four most important teachings presented in this epistle? ________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

30. Who now teaches that Jesus is not God’s Son or that God’s Son did not come in the flesh? _______________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


walk in obedience to god’s commands 2 john 1:1-13 · walk in obedience to god’s commands ......

Documents