2 John

2 John

 

WHEN TRUTH AND LOVE MUST BALANCE

 

You're leading a house church. Believers meet in your home. You're known for your hospitality. Your doors are open. Your table is set. Travellers find welcome. Teachers find a platform. Everyone is received with love.

 

But there's a problem. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian teacher actually is one. Some are deceivers. They don't acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. They're spreading false doctrine. And you've been welcoming them into your home, giving them a platform, supporting their ministry.

 

John writes to correct this. In his shortest letter, just thirteen verses, he addresses a specific situation: how do you balance truth and love? How do you remain hospitable without supporting false teachers? How do you love without compromising the gospel?

 

Second John is about guarding the truth whilst walking in love. John commends the church for walking in truth and love. But he warns them: don't welcome false teachers into your home. Don't give them a platform. Don't support their work. Because if you do, you share in their wicked work.

 

This is uncomfortable teaching. It goes against our instinct to be welcoming, tolerant, accepting of everyone. But John is clear: some people shouldn't be welcomed. Some teaching is so dangerous that supporting those who teach it makes you complicit in their deception.

 

If you've struggled with where to draw lines, if you've wondered how to be loving without being naive, if you've needed wisdom about discernment and hospitality, read 2 John. In just thirteen verses, John will show you how to walk in truth and love without compromising either.

 

A note before we begin:

Second John is only one chapter, just thirteen verses, but it addresses a crucial issue: how to balance truth and love. This summary covers the letter, but John's brief words deserve careful attention. After this overview, open your Bible and read all thirteen verses of 2 John. It will only take three minutes. Let John's wisdom guide your discernment.

 

Greeting

The elder writes to the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us for ever. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.

 

John, the elder, writes to the chosen lady and her children. He loves them in the truth. All who know the truth love them. Because of the truth that lives in us and will be with us for ever. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ will be with us in truth and love.

 

Walking in Truth and Love

It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I'm not writing you a new command but one we've had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you've heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.

 

John's found great joy that some of her children are walking in the truth. He's not writing a new command but an old one: love one another. This is love: that we walk in obedience to God's commands. His command is that you walk in love.

 

I say this because many deceivers, who don't acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you don't lose what we've worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

 

Many deceivers have gone out into the world. They don't acknowledge Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out. Don't lose what we've worked for. Be rewarded fully.

 

Anyone who runs ahead and doesn't continue in the teaching of Christ doesn't have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and doesn't bring this teaching, don't take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

 

Anyone who doesn't continue in Christ's teaching doesn't have God. Whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and doesn't bring this teaching, don't take them into your house. Don't welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

 

Conclusion

I have much to write to you, but I don't want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

 

The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

 

What This Means for You

Second John is about balancing truth and love. John commends walking in truth and love but warns against welcoming false teachers who deny that Jesus came in the flesh. Supporting false teachers makes you complicit in their deception.

 

Here's what 2 John teaches you:

Walk in the truth. This brings joy.

 

Love one another. Walk in obedience to God's commands. This is love.

 

Many deceivers have gone out. They don't acknowledge Jesus came in the flesh. They're deceivers and antichrists.

 

Watch out. Don't lose what's been worked for.

 

Anyone who doesn't continue in Christ's teaching doesn't have God. Anyone who continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

 

If anyone comes and doesn't bring this teaching, don't take them into your house. Don't welcome them. If you welcome them, you share in their wicked work.

 

Your Next Steps

Second John challenges you to balance truth and love, to be discerning about who you support and welcome.

 

Are you walking in truth? Or compromising truth for the sake of being welcoming?

 

Are you walking in love? Or being harsh and judgemental?

 

Are you discerning about teachers? Or welcoming everyone regardless of what they teach?

 

Do you know what Christ's teaching is? Can you recognise when someone doesn't continue in it?

 

Are you supporting false teachers? Giving them a platform? Welcoming them into your home? Funding their work? If you do, you share in their wicked work.

 

Truth and love aren't opposed. They work together. Walk in both.

 

Read It Yourself

Second John is only thirteen verses. You can read the entire letter in three minutes. But these thirteen verses address a crucial issue that many churches struggle with today.

 

Don't just read about 2 John. Read 2 John. Open your Bible and read all thirteen verses. Let John's wisdom guide your discernment about who to welcome and support.

 

Truth and Love Together

That's the message of 2 John. Don't sacrifice truth for love. Don't sacrifice love for truth. Walk in both.

 

Be hospitable. Be loving. But be discerning.

 

Don't welcome those who don't bring Christ's teaching. If you do, you share in their wicked work.

 

Truth and love. Together.

 

 

Scripture paraphrased and quoted from various translations for clarity.

© The Unknown Believer