II John

Abiding in True Doctrine

II John v.1 – “The Elder (John) to the elect lady”

• John identifies himself as the elder in II and III John.

• II John is the shortest New Testament book and contains 13 verses.

• Elect lady (eklekte kyria) some Commentators think “Elect Kyria” or “the lady Electa” a woman.

• Others suggest this isn’t an individual name at all, but a local church body and its members.

TRUTH in a Believer’s Life – v. 1-6

1. Know the Truth – v. 1, this is up-close personal knowledge alongside understanding of the Truth.

• Ps. 119:142, 160 – Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth…The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgements endures forever.

• We know the Truth, because Jesus, the Truth, dwells in us –

o Jn. 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

o We know truth by understanding, experiences, association, etc. in the natural.

2. Truth dwells within the heart – v. 2,

• Jn. 8:31-32 – Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

o Three aspects: 1) Abide in the Word/Truth; 2) Know the truth; 3) Set free!

o Ps. 51:6 - the Father’s desire is to see truth in the inward parts of the heart and to know His wisdom to live by in the hidden parts of our hearts.

3. Truth yields grace, mercy, and peace to our hearts – v. 3

• Grace (charis) is often defined as God’s unmerited favor. It is! It is also God’s supernatural ability given to us to live the abundant life He gives us through Christ Jesus.

o We come under His governance of lovingkindness.

• Mercy is the redemptive compassionate work of Christ Jesus –

o II Cor. 1:3-4 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

o Jesus paid our debt when He went to the cross.

• Peace – internal peace, harmony among people, safety in living (even if at times there seems to be a possibility of harm.

o Jesus, our peace, breaks down divisions among people and culture – Eph. 2:14 – He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us…v.15 – having abolished in His flesh the enmity….

o The Gospel, Good News, is a Gospel of Peace

o Eph. 2:17 – [He] came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were near.

4. Truth and Love work together – v. 3

• Eph. 4:15 – But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

• I Jn. 3:18 – My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

• Eph. 5:25-29 – READ – true, kind, necessary – promotes spiritual and personal growth!

5. Walking in Truth – v.4-6

• These verses clearly outline what that looks like – obedience to God’s commands!

o Obedience honors God and others by loving them.

• Two Commands –

o Love God with soul (will, mind, emotions); heart (affections, desires, dreams; motives); mind (mental processes and calculations); and strength (determination and abilities)

o Love others as you love yourself – if you’re unkind to yourself, you’ll be unkind to others and vice versa.

DOCTRINE OF CHRIST VS FALSE DOCTRINE – v. 7-11

In these verses John warns the believers of the possibility of losing rewards through falling away from true doctrine into heresy, birthed out of philosophical arguments.

1. Look to yourselves – v. 8-9 – Warns us to examine ourselves! And what we give ear to!

• Are you believing the Jesus presented in the Bible (v. 7) or another Jesus?

• Don’t lose what you’ve gained! – Example: works vs salvation -

o Gal. 2:18-21 (READ) For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

o Our reward is our inheritance in Christ! – He gives us everything we need to live a victorious life.

2. Choose well your friends, companions, influencers! – v. 10-11

• We should not be hospitable to false teachers!

• Ro. 16:17-19 READ! – Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all.,,I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.

• I Cor. 15:33 – Do not be misled; bad company corrupts good character.

• We need to have discernment and that comes by walking in the truth and love from God.

II John concludes in verses 12-13 with John expressing his desire to finish this conversation in person “face-to-face.” I hope you also, can have a face-to-face conversation about the topic of this shortest book in the New Testament as you ponder and meditate on the meat of God’s word held within it’s verses.