\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Audio\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tText: II John<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Truth is Jesus Christ – John 14:6<\/p>\n
A. The book of II John expands on this idea<\/p>\n
B. The book is written by the Apostle, and Elder, John<\/p>\n
C. To whom it is addressed has been debated<\/p>\n 1. Some see “elect lady” as a symbol of the church, but if so, who are her\nchildren and who are those who have known the truth and also love her?\n
a. It also doesn’t match the grammar, such as in verse 5.<\/p>\n 2. Some see “elect lady” as referencing a specific, but unnamed person whom\nJohn is acquainted with.\n 3. Finally, the name “lady”or “Kyria” was a popular name and this letter\ncould be addressed to a Christian woman named Kyria.\n
II. Love the Truth – II John 1-3<\/p>\n
A. John has a genuine love for this woman and her children<\/p>\n 1. But the same statement can be read that his love resides in the arena of\ntruth\n
2. That arena is the gospel – Colossians 1:5<\/p>\n
B. A love that is shared by others who also know the truth<\/p>\n
1. It is what Jesus said of his followers – John 8:31-32.<\/p>\n
2. Christians know the truth – I John 2:21<\/p>\n
C. The basis of this shared love is all have shared the truth<\/p>\n
1. A love based on action and truth – I John 3:18<\/p>\n
2. A lasting love – I Peter 1:22-23<\/p>\n
D. There are many trying to create a unity that is not based on truth. <\/p>\n
1. They fail to last because their foundations are not permanent<\/p>\n
2. There can be no sincere love without a sincere love for truth<\/p>\n
III. Walk in Truth – II John 4-6<\/p>\n
A. John rejoices that some of her children also walk in the truth<\/p>\n
1. Some because all are not yet old enough<\/p>\n 2. Some because John only met a few in his travels and doesn’t have first\nhand knowledge of the others\n 3. Or, it cannot be ruled out that John knows some are not faithful, but he\nprefers to focus on the good and not the bad.\n B. Christianity is not a claim, but a way of life. It is the things done because of what\nis within – Hosea 14:9\n
1. Walk in love – Ephesians 5:2<\/p>\n
2. Walk in light – Ephesians 5:8<\/p>\n
3. Walking in darkness means we are not practicing the truth – I John 1:6<\/p>\n C. Though John had just commented on their common love, yet John pleads that she\nfollows one commandment in particular – to love one another – I John 3:11\n
1. It is the same as I Thessalonians 4:9-10<\/p>\n
2. You have it, but there is always room for growth<\/p>\n
D. If you look at love as a feeling, have you thought how odd it is to command love?<\/p>\n
E. How does one love the brethren? By doing God’s will – I John 5:3<\/p>\n 1. Love is not a feeling or words, but the deeds that accompany the words\nand the feelings – James 2:14-16\n
2. Love in deed and in truth – I John 3:17-19<\/p>\n
3. Serving one another is love – Galatians 5:13-14<\/p>\n
F. Love is the keeping of God’s commandments – John 14:23<\/p>\n
1. A fact that few who claim Christianity accept<\/p>\n 2. Oh their mouths claim to love God, but meanwhile their feet run off to do\nevil\n
IV. Abide in Truth – II John 7-11<\/p>\n
A. The world is filled with false teachers, deceivers, people who act against Christ<\/p>\n 1. A prime example at the time of this writing were the Gnostics who taught\nthat the world was sin and the spirit was good so since Jesus had no sin, he\ncould not have been physically in the world – I John 4:1-3\n 2. A belief that is making a comeback through “The Gospel of Judas” and\nstrangely even “The Da Vinci Code” – a promotion of Gnostic writings\n 3. False teachers, following goals of Satan, will attempt to pull believers out\nof the confines of the truth\n a. They are not always without; they can come from within – I John\n2:18-19; Acts 20:29-30\n
B. The danger of going back – II John 8<\/p>\n 1. In a society of victims, where we always look to blame our predicament on\nothers, John states that we are primarily responsible for staying in the truth\n 2. Yes, it is possible for a Christian to fall away from the truth – Hebrews\n12:15; 10:35\n 3. Yes, there is a need to constantly and carefully examine ourselves –\nPhilippians 2:12\n 4. And yes, we must be constantly on the lookout for Satan’s next attack – I\nPeter 5:8\n
C. The danger of going ahead – II John 9<\/p>\n
1. If we don’t stay within the truth, we are in danger of losing God<\/p>\n
2. Not to go beyond what is written – I Corinthians 4:6<\/p>\n 3. Many false doctrines are made to look appealing because they are called\nnew and progressive\n a. How often have you heard that we must adapt the gospel for\nmodern society\n
b. Instead, society needs to adapt itself to the truth – I Peter 4:11<\/p>\n
c. Don’t desert the Gospel – Galatians 1:6-9<\/p>\n
D. The danger of going with – II John 10-11<\/p>\n 1. Extending fellowship, showing tolerance for false doctrine doesn’t solve\nthe problem of false teachings.\n
2. We are to be courteous and hospitable<\/p>\n
a. Without – Hebrews 13:2<\/p>\n
b. Within – I Peter 4:8-9<\/p>\n
3. Yet, this courtesy is not extended to one who is blatantly <\/p>\n
a. Advocating false doctrine – Romans 16:17<\/p>\n
b. Living immorally – I Corinthians 5:11<\/p>\n
c. Deny the power of the Gospel – II Timothy 3:5<\/p>\n
4. We do not give false teachers opportunities to spread their false doctrine<\/p>\n
V. John 14:15-17<\/p>\n
A. Love is an action. To love God is the specific action of obedience to His will<\/p>\n B. Today is the opportunity of your life, to put love into action for only in the truth\ncan we be saved.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II John I. Truth is Jesus Christ – John 14:6 A. The book of II John expands on this idea B. The book is written by the Apostle, and Elder, John C. To whom it is addressed has been debated 1. Some see “elect lady” as a symbol of the church, but…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[1651,65,441],"class_list":["post-62840","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-ii-john","tag-love","tag-truth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":37967,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-good-testimony\/","url_meta":{"origin":62840,"position":0},"title":"A Good Testimony","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: III John \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The book of III John is not very long, but it teaches us many things concerning our example. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There is the bad example of Diotrephes, but there is the excellent example of Demetrius - III John 11-12 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People spoke well of him,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23699,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-it-matter-what-i-believe\/","url_meta":{"origin":62840,"position":1},"title":"Does It Matter What I Believe? (Sermon)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 18:25-40 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal in I Kings 18 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It wasn\u2019t that the false prophets were insincere or had no belief at all \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They cut themselves, danced in a frenzy, and spent a day calling on their god. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42589,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-wondrous-book-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":62840,"position":2},"title":"The Wondrous Book of God","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 119:17-24 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eulogy of the Bible \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many years ago, I entered the wonderful temple of God\u2019s revelation. I entered the portico of Genesis and walked down through the Old Testament Art Gallery where the pictures of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45272,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-we-have-a-right-to-our-own-opinions\/","url_meta":{"origin":62840,"position":3},"title":"Do We Have a Right to Our Own Opinions?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:16-21 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When two disagree, one will say \u201cWell, everyone has a right to their own opinions.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is a statement saying, \u201cI disagree with you, but that is okay. Your thoughts are just as good as mine.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In some sense this is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23442,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/see-if-you-can-find-a-man\/","url_meta":{"origin":62840,"position":4},"title":"See If You Can Find a Man","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Jeremiah 5:1-13 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The last days of the southern kingdom of Judah \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The people had become very corrupt - Jeremiah 5:20-23 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0God purposed to severely punish His people - Jeremiah 5:26-31 II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But there is one hope - Jeremiah 5:1 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jeremiah is told to run through Jerusalem and find a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30355,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/apostolic-succession\/","url_meta":{"origin":62840,"position":5},"title":"Apostolic Succession (Hamilton)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 22, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Acts 20:17-36 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How do you prove that your brand of Christianity is real? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For some, the argument is based on who was around the longest. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A religion that just recently started is declared to be suspect. If the church has been around\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62840","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62840"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62840\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}