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2 John – Love in Truth
When hard truth and gentle love come together, there are times when love has to be hard and truth becomes gentle. Achieving this combination along with knowledge gets us a spiritual hat trick. In his first letter, John writes “Let us love not in word or speech but in truth and action.” 1 John 3:18
Know the Truth
True knowledge is knowledge that acts, that obeys, that loves (1:6). It involves complete transformation in thoughts, motives, and behavior.
Bond of Truth
The bond of truth:
- Exceeds boundaries (1:1) - It covers everyone who know the truth.
- Exists among some (1:4) - John is thankful that “some” are walking in the truth. This continues to be true. There are always the faithful few spread across churches, countries, and denominations.
- Excludes false fraternity: teachers and false followers (1:10-11) - John, the apostle of love, tells the churches not to even greet false teachers let alone inviting them home.
This is where love has to be hard at times particularly within the church. Love is not tolerating everyone (world view). It is protecting the absolute Truth.
Does it mean we don’t love others? Certainly not!! We love them but don’t rationalize their ways.
Abide in the Truth
Truth “abides in us and will be with us forever” (1:2) - We need to be soaked and surrounded by it.
Those who abide in the truth will:
- Receive full reward (1:8-9) - There are different levels of rewards in heaven. We need to shoot for the best. (Matt 16:27, Rom 2:5-7, Prov 24:12, Luke 19:11-27, 2 Corinthians 4:17)
- Have Truth Forever (1:2) - True followers remain true forever.
Those who fall back drastically do not really have God (v. 9). True followers progressively grow closer to God.
In summary, truth binds true believers in love. The walk of love is walk of obedience. Knowledge of truth translated into action results in love. Obedience is characterized by love. When we embrace the truth, it remains with us forever. There are always the faithful few following the truth and the false fraternity diverting from the truth. Getting caught in these diversions means reducing our reward.
In our churches today, do we stand against deviations to truth? Are we working towards increasing our heavenly reward? What diversions in our current context endanger our “full reward”? How do we avert them?
When hard truth and gentle love come together, there are times when love has to be hard and truth becomes gentle. Achieving this combination along with knowledge gets us a spiritual hat trick. In his first letter, John writes “Let us love not in word or speech but in truth and action.” 1 John 3:18
Know the Truth
True knowledge is knowledge that acts, that obeys, that loves (1:6). It involves complete transformation in thoughts, motives, and behavior.
Bond of Truth
The bond of truth:
- Exceeds boundaries (1:1) - It covers everyone who know the truth.
- Exists among some (1:4) - John is thankful that “some” are walking in the truth. This continues to be true. There are always the faithful few spread across churches, countries, and denominations.
- Excludes false fraternity: teachers and false followers (1:10-11) - John, the apostle of love, tells the churches not to even greet false teachers let alone inviting them home.
This is where love has to be hard at times particularly within the church. Love is not tolerating everyone (world view). It is protecting the absolute Truth.
Does it mean we don’t love others? Certainly not!! We love them but don’t rationalize their ways.
Abide in the Truth
Truth “abides in us and will be with us forever” (1:2) - We need to be soaked and surrounded by it.
Those who abide in the truth will:
- Receive full reward (1:8-9) - There are different levels of rewards in heaven. We need to shoot for the best. (Matt 16:27, Rom 2:5-7, Prov 24:12, Luke 19:11-27, 2 Corinthians 4:17)
- Have Truth Forever (1:2) - True followers remain true forever.
Those who fall back drastically do not really have God (v. 9). True followers progressively grow closer to God.
In summary, truth binds true believers in love. The walk of love is walk of obedience. Knowledge of truth translated into action results in love. Obedience is characterized by love. When we embrace the truth, it remains with us forever. There are always the faithful few following the truth and the false fraternity diverting from the truth. Getting caught in these diversions means reducing our reward.
In our churches today, do we stand against deviations to truth? Are we working towards increasing our heavenly reward? What diversions in our current context endanger our “full reward”? How do we avert them?
Scripture
About this Plan
Powerful Letters - They rocked the early churches. Written by Jesus’ closest disciples, John and Peter, his half-brothers, James and John, and an enigmatic author, these letters continue to overturn thinking. They equip us to defend and attack the evil forces and dark ages. They inspire, empower, and enable us to allow Christ to live through us. They encourage us to enlarge our vision to see the world from the perspective of eternity.
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