WALKING IN THE TRUTH

2 John 1-13

Today’s passage is a brief, personal letter from the Apostle John to a Christian woman. In this letter, which is only about three hundred words, John focuses on two messages:first, walk in love; second, watch out for deceivers. In a way, these two commands might seem contradictory. Love always trusts, but not everyone is to be trusted. Yet, this advice is just the advice that we need as Christians today.

Let’s take a look. First, look at verses 1-3:

1 The elder,

To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth —and not I only, but also all who know the truth — 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

The apostle John refers to himself as “the elder.” At the time he wrote this letter, he was quite old, but the main meaning of this title is that John was a spiritual elder for many Christians. As an elder, he took responsibility for the spiritual well-being of younger Christians by praying for them, teaching them, and encouraging them to hold onto the gospel of Jesus.

John refers to the recipient of this letter as “the chosen lady and her children.” This woman seems to have been not just a physical mother, but a spiritual mother as well. She seems to have been known and loved by many other Christians as well.

Look at verse 4:

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

Her spiritual influence is evident by her children who were “walking in the truth.”

When we “shepherd” over people, we also have great joy when we see that they are walking in the truth.

Notice, however, that John says “some” of her children were walking in the truth. Surely she wanted all of her children to follow Jesus, but they had to make their own choice.

The Apostle John focused on the joy of seeing those who walk in the truth rather than the sorrow of seeing those who do not.  

Look at verse 5:

5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

John’s key message to this woman was to remind her of the command to love one another. John emphasized this message all the time.

Even though this was the message that John had preached all the time, he kept giving it. Clearly, John believed this message was both important and necessary. It was not necessary because it was difficult to remember, but it was necessary because it was difficult to practice.

It is interesting that John gave this message to a woman who was surely a loving mother who took care of not only her own children but also fellow Christians.

In verse 6, John elaborates:

6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Love is walking in obedience to to God’s commands, and God’s command is that we walk in love.

For the apostle John, obedience and love go hand-in-hand. You cannot love without obedience to God, and you cannot obey God without love.

The expressions “walk in obedience” and “walk in love” show that obedience and love are not passive. It’s not merely obeying by not sinning, nor is it loving by simply feeling love. That would be more like “sleeping” in obedience or “sitting” in love. “Walking” is an activity that implies forward progress. Our lives as Christians are like a journey in which we are walking steadily toward the kingdom of God. In order to stay on the right path, we must walk in love and obedience.

Practically, this means we need to be conscious of what we are doing each day and why we are doing it. Often, we don’t fail to walk in love and obedience because we consciously reject God’s command; it’s usually because we don’t actively remember to hold onto it.

This can be a problem for a busy mother who has many things to do to take care of her children. This can be a problem for a busy shepherd who has a lot to do on top teaching the Bible to God’s flock.

So, I need to remind myself: Am I obeying God’s command to love one another? Am I walking in obedience to God’s commands?

The second part of John’s letter is a warning. Look at verse 7:

7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Therefore, John warns her to watch out. Look at verse 8:

8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

The seriousness of this issue is evident. What was at stake was losing what she had worked for vs. being rewarded fully.

Clearly, listing to the wrong people can cause loss.

Who are these people? Look at verses 9-11:

9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

---