The Gospels

Acts of the Apostles

Paul’s Letters

Other Letters

Revelation

A New Testament JourneyLesson 25: II John – Love in Truth

Hebrews – The Real Deal

James – All or nothing

1 Peter – Dimensions of Suffering

2 Peter – Darkness before Dawning

1 John – Enjoy Fellowship

2 John – Love in Truth

3 John – Model the Gospel

Jude – Keep your Position

Romans – Life Transformation Journey

1 Corinthians - Heaven’s Gold

2 Corinthians – Jars of Clay

Galatians – No longer I

Ephesians - Pushing Limits

Philippians - The Mind of Christ

Colossians – Complete Maturity in Christ

1 Thessalonians – Cascading Hope

2 Thessalonians – Confident Hope

1 Timothy - Fighting Fit

2 Timothy – Fearless Faithfulness

Titus – Double Grip

Philemon – The Avatar

Hebrews – The Real Deal

James – All or nothing

1 Peter – Dimensions of Suffering

2 Peter – Darkness before Dawning

1 John – Enjoy Fellowship

2 John – Love in Truth

3 John – Model the Gospel

Jude

EVENT TIMELINE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Theme Verses

Objectives

Introduction

Know the truth

Bond of truth

Abide in truth

Recap

Discussion

1 The elder to the chosen lady and her

children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth…… in truth and love. V 1-3

To: Understand the

dynamics between love and truth

Discern those with whom we hold the bond of truths

Handle the false fraternity

Understand conditions for assurance of permanent residence of truth in us

In his first letter John

writes “Let us love not in word or speech

but in truth and

action” 1 John 3:18

The Elder To the Chosen Lady – From John, to the Bride of Christ,

Believers across the world

United by Love In the Common

Truth Which never leaves

us

When hard truth and gentle love come together, there are times when love has to be hard and truth becomes gentle

Global Church

Love

Truth

1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who

know the truth

True knowledge is knowledge that acts, that obeys, that loves

Knowledge

LoveObedience

6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have

heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

The bond of truth:

Exists among some

Exceeds Boundaries

Excludes false teachers and false followers

1 The elder to the chosen lady and her

children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have

received commandment to do from the Father.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring

this teaching, do not receive him into your

house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for

the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

This is where Love has to be hard at times.

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 as acceptable.

This passage and book refers to “Love in Truth”

Today, in all church denominations there are “some” people walking in the truth.

There are the “faithful few” and the “false fraternity” everywhere

The bond of truth unites all genuine followers of the truth everywhere irrespective of church or denomination…the true “bride of Christ”

2 for the sake of the

truth which abides in us and will be with us forever

Those who abide in the truth will:

Receive full reward

Have Truth Forever

8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

There will be different levels of reward in heaven even among believers. Some other verses indicating this are:

Matt 16:27, Rom 2:5-7, Prov 24:12, Luke 19:11-27, 2 Corinthians 4:17

To get full reward we need to appropriately handle diversions

2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us

and will be with us forever

Another verse assuring us that true followers already have the truth forever. V 9 indicates that those who fall back, do not really have God.

Truth binds true believers in love

Walk of love is walk of obedience

Commandment is to be followed

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

There are always false fraternity diverting from the truth

Getting caught in these diversion means reducing your reward

Know the truth ◦ Love

◦ Obedience

Bond of truth◦ Exists among some

◦ Exceeds Boundaries

◦ Excludes false teachers and false followers

Abide in truth ◦ Full reward

◦ Forever

What is the difference between the statements “love in truth” and “love your enemies”?

In our churches today, how do deviations to truth impact love?

What encouragement does the “global church” give us?

What diversions in our current context endanger our “full reward”? How do we avert them?