Truth and Love (Part A)

We know the churches got a lot of issues. We either walk away from them in desertion, we stand and fight dollars for me to be patient with those who flee unless the doctrine is that bad for your people issues a little minor stuff and all that. I don't agree with the pastor I you know I think the lady was a charge on leaving I asked is on sale you playing in the Satan's and you being is chomping for doing such things.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher recast. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through a special series called truth, love testimony, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in second John chapter 1 is he begins his message, truth and love. Second, John John second letter will take verses one through six hour topic is truth and love the elder to the elect lady and her children whom I love and truth and not only I but also all those who have known the truth because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever.

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. I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth.

As we received commandment from the father 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. 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. Such a little letter to Right on going. But there's a lot here and one of the challenges for Bible teachers will help window I stopped. I go through the whole thing. It's just a postcard and that's what this is just a postcard but a very important one, but in preparation, of course, as is the habit of the Holy Spirit, at least with me, things begin to come off the pages that I find two significant to dismiss this little letter was written probably somewhere between 5565 give or take years after the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of our Lord to give your an idea about where Christianity is on the on the timeline from the days of our Lord. Walking the earth to the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and John is not going to give us any new information is going to reinforce the existing information that he received at the beginning with Christ, and of course, develop the years of by the Holy Spirit.

Another dominant words here are dominant for reason they are placed there by the Holy Spirit for emphasis that we keep the main thing is the main things and the first thought or dominant thought is the word truth then love and then command or commandments.

That's what John is stressing in this little letter truth in love. Commandments of God, there is no truth outside of him away from him, not God's truth truth about things, but not concerning the salvation and placement of man's eternal state.

Now I think John wrote this letter in the next one John two and three before he wrote first John and impossible to prove what I can give you my thinking on that.

If you look down at verse 12 and, incidentally, this has the least amount of verses and all about all the Bible to the Bible. This is the least amount of versus third John has the least amount of words that just are interesting point I can't say it's Bible trivia because nothing trivial is in the Bible. It's all important to us, but there in verse 12 it is 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. So just out all right a lot I want to get there and speak to you I'm better at speaking than I am at writing to be what he was saying to them, at least things he had to save them. Now that's not you know that John is a wonderful writer we have, of course, the gospel according to John in the book of Revelation. But in between. He say I write later but then we get first John any took the time to write to them and so that's that's my thinking on it as though he started dealing with this Gnostic junk could not get to them and then eventually took time to write a longer a longer letter, which is first John is my thinking on it for someone who do not want to write much. He says a lot in this little section written on parchment at this ship, you know something to write on from unintended animal skins. That's what the parchments were in. This is of course written on one of those. By this time of as we have been mentioning throughout our study and John's letters. By this time his brother James had long been dead and in heaven killed by the sword for Jesus Christ, but also by this time Peter and Paul, and likely the rest of the apostles that walk with Christ are also dead and gone. This is late into Christianity. Some even pushed the letter into the early part of the second century. As far as dating goes, it is this apostles privilege to write the last five books of the Bible chronologically speaking is not an order of chronology and you have John the three letters in the Revelation there. The latest writings and this is how God essentially closed out his word to humanity using the apostle whom Jesus love to do it is a postcard alert you can fit this on a postcard egg. If you have small fun of writing some of us could not but some of us could against these Gnostic influences.

So we cover the Gnosticism will be tapping on a little bit here and there as we go through John's last two letters and then Revelation, but Paul Paul had to deal mainly with the Judaizers. Those who came into the church and said why yeah Christ is Messiah, but if you want to get Sadie up to believe in him and still go down to the temple and of course he did.

He had to deal with this. This does live you stone by these people chased and hounded the dealt a little bit with the Gnosticism. But it wasn't that big yet because Paul's day, the church was largely dominated by Jewish believers, but by the time we get laid into the Christian history later releases. The apostles are are going to heaven the Gentiles become the majority and with this majority of Gentiles they bring in Gentile thought they try to mix the philosophy Grecian philosophy with Christian philosophy, and create. This is called this hodgepodge of error and so Paul in Colossians, he deals with a little bit but Peter deals with a little bit, but Judah little bit. John hits it the most because he is around the longest. The last believed to leave this planet. Webster defines Gnosticism. Is this the thought and practice, especially of various cults of late pre-Christian and early Christian centuries distinguished by the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis which is knowledge. In other words, the Gnostics believe you want to get saved. It was through knowledge not through the blood of Jesus Christ and to make this growing movement of Christianity benefit them. They weaved into it.

All of these ball ideas and there were many of them. They were all afraid they were fragmented some more dominating than others. As far as popularity goes but for this reason it is condemned as heresy and false teaching by the apostles. So there. They were everywhere lying about God's truth.

Not content to believe it themselves.

What they wanted to sway Christians out of the churches if they could not sway the churches themselves into mixing in these false teachings and that the John gets wind of it. He taps a letter out real quick and to say this is the watch it and you can send another one and is outgoing by my chronology then he sends out what we call first John that could've been neatly sent out John two other places fairly… And certainly not something to argue but it is an interesting conversation, at least to me and as we come to these writings in the Bible we should be interested in everything about them as much as we can satisfy me there just some things you just have no answers for you can you can't figure out who this person was of that person was, but you still should have some knowledge of why we leave it alone or go forward with it.

Truth in love, and testimony testimonies.

The outcome of truth and love. If you don't have truth and you don't have love your testimony is sour at least if you have truth and love in your testimony begins to gain altitude become more effective. A vessel for Christ. Many Christians are used because the truth in love is not in right order to places not there and visit the theme that dominates these last two letters and then Judah even in June we come same thing he sees the testimony in Christ, truth in love versus in this second letter the deceivers and the antichrist. And this the same thing.

Third John going back just for a minute looking back at first John chapter 2 verse 26, John said these things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you even say same thing in this letter will hold that for next session will only get six versus now that's our introduction to second John we look now at the first verse he says the elder to the elect lady and her children whom I love and truth and not only I but also all those who have known the truth see this read this and think it's just general boilerplate kind of stuff just filling in all little details.

It really may not be so important, but that they're not there very important, very human very much having something to do the feel of the church in first century that first church at large and and us today.

Looking back for instruction for directions ahead of the our first believers handle the faith of the Bible records what we need to know about that.

We says the elder is saying this is the authority and seniority that I have from the Lord and he is either near his 90s or in his 90s being an apostle that satisfies his authority and his seniority. Paul, in his latter years wrote to Philemon and he says Paul, the aged, I'm an old man now Philemon and you had to be, you know, according to the regression chart that the Greeks were charted with you know you are in your 65 like that you know you are you are amongst the aged. Interesting interesting to me how the mindset of the people were one reason why Timothy had so much grief he was. He was a young man in his 30s even when what wisdom could you possibly add Timothy amongst these aged saints and Paul said no then despise you. You are a man of God.

The anointing is on you preach the word. Don't take that mess. Righteous ones wouldn't give him any trouble. It was the ones that were just old but still immature. Their bodies aged. That was about it.

May that not be the case with us here John. The last of the apostles who walk with Christ.

He says the here I am the elder to the elect lady will who is she, of course, Bible commentators are divided and they have their reasons for their positions and I have reason for my positions.

Not all of them disagree with me but not all of them agree that you don't have to agree with your pastor every single thing you should get ahead in life. It's okay.

There are things that are not critical their lesser points. You may think this is written to an esteemed individual lady, a female Christian some good Bible teachers hold that position. I don't I don't share that position. I think that John is speaking to the church and I'll tell you why I think he's speaking to the church and the elect of the elect in some context is Israel in another context, it is the body of Christ are whomsoever's that will versus though whosoever is that want the believers. First, the under the elect other believers, that whosoever will come to Christ for salvation. But what's missing in this second letter is that personal touch that you get from third John third John is directed to Gaius. He writes it to Gaius as an individual and this has reads to me more of a letter to a group of believers Peter, Paul and John personify the church as a woman in other passages of Scripture, the love of the of the groom, the bridegroom for the bride that they never lost sight of this metaphor was very important to them and it should be important to us with Christ about gender competition.

It's about how dear you know, sort of Adam God giving Eve to Adam for a companion. So much comes out of that and it's similar state which the church was going to be presented without spot or wrinkle. In the end. First Peter chapter 5 she who is in Babylon. She was involved the church in Babylon. At least writing to first Peter five. He says elect together with you, reach you and so does my son Mark. So Peter is saying from Babylon probably actually in Babylon a word for another place what he's saying we the church that is in this Babylon we greets you the other churches that he was writing to. He says he greets you and so does Mark. My sons reports that personal touch in their because we believe will interview Mark when we get done with judges is that's the plan. Remarkably likely getting so much of his material for his gospel from Peter where here's the link to his his closeness with Peter. One of the links second Corinthians Paul writings is what I'm jealous for you with godly jealousy, for I betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5 that he might present her to himself a glorious church which so many who claim Christ avoid.

I am going to church with zero Yadav you not you noncompliant with the Scripture any way that he might present her to himself to a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she should be holy and without blemish. You see the love that they were trying to share what they know we know the church is problematic. People we know, the churches got a lot of issues. We either walk away from them in desertion, we stand and fight dollars for me to be patient with those who flee unless the doctrine is that bad for your people issues a little minor stuff, you know, I don't agree with the pastor I you know I think the lady was a church I'm leaving. I asked is nonsale you playing in the Satan's and you being is chomping for doing such things you think is easy for pastors. All of us to remain in the churches pastors how many pastors are you know what I don't need this except accept their stance. Christ and this dances word. If I don't get a pass on not giving you a stand and fight for what you believe on every level. Revelation 2217 and the Spirit and the bride is the church says, let him who hears say, and let him who thirsts, who ever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Those other wells. I will take the water of life versus the loan speak elect in this context is the church, the bride of Christ. He looked down at verse 13, John says the children of your elect sister greet you.

Amen the children is there is a multitude on one side reading the multitude a Congregational once I greeted the congregation on the other side and easy reports that any says the church is where I'm at right now we all saying to you hello we greets you we salute you is Fred inhaling friend from one congregation to another. Not one individual to another. Now I'm passionate about. My point, I think the others are all but certainly again.

I will continue to review Noah.

See what they have a sale, and other issues that I have utmost respect for their wrong opinion for them in the Mexicans. It's kind of a cute little thing again in the early days of someone the fire was reading the commentary of something and they didn't agree with your point that I was passionate about not essential, I would have a tough time forgiving them.

Not really.

I will read them anymore.

As you grow up if you grow often you find out that you know not everybody can be right. Like you, Rick is you just going to have to be humble and heavy tuning of the first time I'm kidding about that.

Anyway, we come back to this section of Scripture and of the last verdicts versus I just read makes it difficult to believe that this was written to an individual in verse eight he says. Look at verse eight. Now look to yourselves not saying lady look to yourself singular or plural look to yourselves that we do not lose those things which we work for, and what we receive the full reward so the field is Congregational, not personal. And now he says whom I love to this elect church bride is how is this elder to the bride. I love you. Your John after all these years you know you stuff you put up with the church you still love the church. Yes, I do. It is the body of Christ. It is no other body and the fact that it is Christ body is enough for me to love it. You know, we have a we have a saying any friend of Joe is a friend of mine early apostles Blewett limit. They just expanded it just blew it away if you belong to Christ. We belong to each other so he emphasizes love under the authority of truth when love gets out wiggles out from the authority of truth.

You have problems that you should not have and they can be very serious. Psalm 119 through your precepts. I get understanding. Therefore I hate every false way, I get it I get in my noggin from your word rules of your word, your commandments, your guidelines, your examples and illustrations in your metaphors, your types. Your symbols if I love some teaching that is false and what does that say about me but it makes me feel so good. It was false, but true.

The second love is far as that's not love its being sentimental, being led away by how something makes you you feel your experience and not the revelation of God's word so does anyone have to spell the folly of this out as anyone have to say listen truth comes before love otherwise. If you have love in front of truth and truth doesn't count.

Love counts more, even if it's faulted anybody a spell that out.

Evidently, we do and we must not get tired of doing it and we have a saying we state our kids quite often. How many times I have to tell you the answer is very simple enough enough times I had a friend who's not a believer. Years ago years older than me and influenced me in many ways my life and he had a saying is that you know enough ants will eat an elephant.

How many answers a take it out of and he would say, and is absolutely enough.

Enough of the brilliant. He was a little eccentric, but he had these flashes of brilliance when it came to such things like that and so do we have to espouse how much we have to meet him at the say he, the wife of Adam for her at a critical moment she fell in love with something that was false. So much so she took it home to Moonstruck Adam and he went forth to she.

He didn't believe it would. He was so Moonstruck by Harry doing the she say he did listen to this. The Bible is God's word about man and not man's word about God, the Bible is God's word to man and not man's word about God and those who turn away. The Bible was written by men nonsense. What are you going to restrict guns that he can use men to communicate what he what what what what should he use have on a donkey, or what you will believe that God spoke to a donkey. So what else about the rocks, as Jesus said, the stones will cry out you cannot satisfy someone who is determined to not be satisfied.

So you knock the dust off your shoes and you move on because there are those who will receive the truth, we just don't know who they are until God brings them to the surface and so he says to the elect lay John the the elder to the elect lady my love and truth and not only I would also all those who have known the truth. The truth lovers of the body of Christ to Judge Johnson of the owner loves Mardi Gras others and they are known by their love for truth from God.

Thanks for listening to cross reference radio today cross reference is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you're interested in more information about this ministry, you can visit our website cross reference radio.com. You'll find more of Pastor Rick's teachings available. We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you become aware of each new addition of cross reference radio. Just search for cross reference radio iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast. You can also follow the links across reference radio.com.

Glad we were able to spend time with you today to the next time to continue learning more this series, truth, love, test here on cross reference radio