## Three Essentials

## II John

Tonight I want us to look at a passage of Scripture and consider what it has to say to us as a church. Over the last few weeks, I have been speaking about becoming a caring church. Tonight I want us to look at three vital ingredients for a local church.

Several things make II John a very interesting passage.

(1) It is the shortest book in the New Testament.

(2) It is also the only Bible book addressed to a woman. Some say that the "Elect Lady" was a church or group of some kind but a close study will reveal that John was writing to a Christian lady. He first praised her for her life and her faithful children. John then began to caution her about false teachers and unsound doctrine.

(3) The epistle seems to be built on three words: love, truth, and doctrine.

These are all essential elements in an effective Christian walk. And they are essential for us to become the church we ought to be.

I. To Be Effective, A Sincere Truth Must Be Experienced v1-4

What John referred to as "truth" Was more than an accepted fact. It was a living reality.

A. The power of truth. v1

(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;"

1. The truth is so powerful that it can bring "all they that have known it" together on common ground.

2. There will always be some controversy among believers.

3. But as believers we ought to be able to come together and agree that the Bible is the Word of God!

4. It is that truth that brings us together.

B. The permanency of truth. v2

(2 JOHN 1:2) "FOR THE TRUTH'S SAKE, WHICH DWELLETH IN US, AND SHALL BE WITH US FOR EVER."

1. Jesus is Living Truth.

2. The Bible is the written Truth.

a. "dwelleth in us" speaks of the assurance of his presence.

b. "shall be with us forever" speaks of the assurance of His faithfulness.

3. The Truth will never change, nor will it be destroyed.

4. Once we have the Truth...we have it forever!

C. The product of truth v3

(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."

1. Grace...God's unmerited favor. (permits us to receive what we don't deserve.)

2. Mercy...mercy allows us to be forgiven.. (prevents us from receiving what we really deserve)

3. Peace...the result of grace and mercy. (There is peace with God, and peace of God) Some never find either one.

D. The practice of truth v4

(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."

1. Note John's observation. "...I found .."

2. Note their obedience. "...thy children walking in truth..."

3. When we receive the truth, we then should live the truth.

4. Truth must be experienced in our lives.

II. To Be Effective, Spiritual Love Must Be Expressed. v5-6

(2 JOHN 1:5-6) "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."

Love is an action word and is useless unless expressed. It means nothing otherwise. Just a word.

A. Love is very powerful

1. Love moved the Father to send the Son.

2. Love moved the Son to save the sinner.

3. Love moves the saint to serve the Savior.

B. Love is very personal

"...NOT AS THOUGH I WROTE A NEW COMMANDMENT UNTO THEE, BUT THAT WHICH WE HAD FROM THE BEGINNING, THAT WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER."

1. As believers, we may not always agree.

2. But we must always love each other.

3. So often, people in our day are not tolerant at all of each other.

4. Loving one another does not mean that we necessarily approve of behavior.

5. We do not love based upon what people do, we love because of who we are.

C. Love is very practical. v5-6

It never grows old nor needs replacing.

1. It's not a new commandment.

a. The truth never changes.

b. It's settled in Heaven!

2. It's not a forced commandment

a. God will not force us to love others.

b. But we should love one another because of His love for us.

c. It needs to be lived out in our lives.

III. To Be Effective, Sound Doctrine Must Be Established. v 7-11

No Christian can be stable without sound doctrine. The world is full of so called religious people who do not know what they believe. Note the results of a recent poll of Americans:

42% of Americans think Jesus committed sins.

25% of professing Christians say he was not sinless.

61% of Americans think there are other ways to salvation besides faith in Christ.

A. The importance of sound doctrine told v7-8

1. There are many reasons why we need to be sound in doctrine.

2. Two are mentioned here.

3. It's important because of the deceivers we face. v7

a. The airways are full of them.

b. It's not just minor differences either.

c. We are talking about teachings that will send people to hell!

4. It's important because of the dangers that could follow. v8

a. I am afraid some have been led astray and will stand before God empty-handed

b. Loss of reward for Christians is a real possibility.

B. The instruction in sound doctrine taught. V9-11

1. Notice two important lessons taught here: a. He gives one on how to tell deceivers.

(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."

2. He gives one on how to treat deceivers.

(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:"

3. According to V-12,13 John wanted to write more, but decided to wait until he could visit in person.

For us to be effective as a local church we need to make sure that these three essentials are right. If we want to be effective in the Christian Life, we need to remember these three things that are essential as well. Truth, Love, and Doctrine