3 John Part 1

3 John “Walking in Truth”
Sep 1966, worst case of mono imaginable, tonsils big as lemons, unable to breath, 3 weeks in the wheaton center, pre med student, turned on the radio and Harold John Ockenga (died in 85) 2oo yards to the west. The way he handled the bible, changed everything. Girlfriend came in 41 years, there isn’t going to be a Dr. Im going to seminary I’ve been called by God. Ockengaye. Piper never met, never met him never knew he would be a preacher. Unknown significances, in this life we never hear about, always God is doing more than u think!
As we look at the life of the apostle John, we can see a transformation. Throughout John’s 3 epistles we notice that he speaks of contrasts regarding darkness and light, or from lies to truth, a transformation he would have noticed in his own life. Would John have known the impact his letter might have had throughout history and into eternity.
2. Intro and Background
3 John is short, taking up an ordinary sized sheet of papyrus. The letter I suggested to have been written in A.D 80 but it may have been written earlier with 1 John in the 60’s or 70’s.
The main emphasis of 2 and 3 John is on truth and false teachings. In the ancient world many teachers would come in the name of missions and teach false doctrines to people in the area. John challenges the churches in 2 and 3 John to love but t also discern and condemn false teaching while continuing to offer Christian hospitality. 2 John was written to the elect lady concerning false teachers and guarding from offering hospitality to those who are ruining the faith.
Perhaps this letter seemed to be useless to us today, a mere 15 verses, sent out over 2,000 years ago. And there are those of us that feel our lives and this letter have so much in common. In a minute we will look at what God can do with a small book like John, but what about your life, what significance does a small life have, or perhaps a small beginning?
A fisherman was drawing up a net, which he had cast, into the sea, full of all varieties of fish. The littlest insignificant fish managed to escape through the meshing of the net while the other larger fish were unable to escape. Aesop’s fables.
Everything that exists has a purpose based on it’s existence. Some of you, although you may feel small and insignificant now are created with dignity and have a purpose similar to this small epistle.
Christopher Columbus was the son of a weaver, Homer was the son of a farmer, Whitefield was the son of an innkeeper at Gloucester, Shakespeare was the son of a woodcutter, Vasco de gamma was just a sailor, Abe Lincoln was a rail splitter, Napolean finished 42nd in his class at military school, Booker T Washington was a slave, born to slaves. Coca cola was made in the kitchen of a broken down home, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, Mark Twain was thrown out of his house and John Mc Donald, Canada’s greatest statesman, his father sold scotch whiskey on the streets.
Who might have thought that this small letter, just 15 verses in the English, would have been inspired by God and would have been ministering to Christians for 2,000 years? No work for God will ever go unnoticed by him. Even the smallest accomplishments and pains we take in the ministry, although maybe not recognized by man, will be noticed and used by our God.
God in his ordinances is concerned with a certain small letter. Our small ordinances fall within God’s mighty care.
Example 2- Epaphras – Plants a church in Colossi, where there is false teaching, legalistic religious festivals and angel worship. What in the world was Epaphras doing there? Paul writes the letter to the Colossian church, God inspires it and now it ministers to people around the globe and throughout eternity.
Small letters like 3 John as well as your small acts of faith, service and worship are noticed and used by God’s in ways we will not know until we arrive before the throne for our rewards.
v 1- The elder, the beloved Gaius whom I love in truth-
elder- presbuteros- identification similar to that of 2 John. A much aged John would have considered himself a father figure to those Christians under his care, This is common amongst the apostles and in the examples of Paul.1 Cor 4:14- I do not write these things to make you ashamed but to admonish you as little children. 1 tim 1:2- To timothy, my true child in the faith. 2 tim 1:2- TO timothy my beloved child. It is clear throughout the text that Paul was setting up governing elders in the churches he had planted, this is were we get the term Presbyterian which means there is a certain class of officers within each of these churches, John would have been a special class over the churches in 2 and 3 John.
Who is John
The name John is from the Hebrew “yahochanan” meaning God is gracious. Throughout the scriptures of the New Testament we see just how gracious God is to the apostle.
He is the son of Zebedee and Salome, who was perhaps the sister of Jesus’ mother (Matt 27:56, Mark 15:40) and is traditionally known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He is the author of the fourth gospel as well as 1-3 John and Revelation. He was more than likely 10 years younger than Jesus and was partners with Peter, James and Andrew in the fishing trades.
John would have accompanied Jesus to Galilee, witnessed his miracle in Cana (water into wine) becoming a member of the inner circle of the twelve that is Peter, James and John. He witnessed the transfiguration, (Matt 17) and was in the trio that accompanied Jesus to Gethsemane. John and James would have been known as the “sons of thunder” because of there over zealous temperaments.
A. These men were not larger than life rather human beings just like you and I. Throughout the gospel of Mark we can see how foolish the disciples could be at times.
Let’s take a quick glance at the bloopers in John’s life before 3 John.
The only direct utterance attributed to John in the gospels is found were he wants to rebuke a man casting out demons who is not following Jesus. (Luke 9:49).
Most famous of all is the instance were the sons of thunder volunteer to call down fire from heaven on villages in Samaria that would not receive Jesus (Luke 9:52).
Lastly, John and James rashly asked their mother to request that Jesus grant them the most honored seats in heaven. (Math 20:20).
As we look at the letter of 3 John we can see a definite transformation in the life of the apostle, a transformation that does not come by will of the flesh but by a transformation of the spirit.
Who is Gaius?
The New Testament knows a number of men named Gaius. There is a Gaius of Macedonia, who together with Aristarchus was seized in Ephesus (Acts 19) There was a Gaius who accompanied Paul on his last trip to Jerusalem Acts 20, Finally there was a Gaius in Corinth in whose house Paul lived while writing to the Romans.
Gaius was a common name in Rome and would have been like Mike in America today. It is not sure which Gaius this is but one thing is sure, he was a dear friend of John’s, united in truth and therefore in a supernatural love. Throughout this letter we see that the church was becoming more and more an outpost of heaven.
2. Beloved, I pray that all will go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
The Latins abbreviated this greeting to SVBEEV or “Si vales, bene est; ego valeo” If you are well, it is good I am well.
John was explaining to Gaius that he wished his physical health was as good as his spiritual health not mentioning his suke or soul because he already heard it was in good form. Another mark of Christian love is the evidence of well being on the soul.
Interesting verses-
1. Spiritual growth and self mortification or denial
2. Physical prosperity , being healthy wealthy and wise is not always a mark of spiritual progress and christians are not always promised health and success, Physical prosperity is not a measure of spiritual health, nor is its absence a hindrance to spiritual progress. Often times the suffering are the ones with the purest worship. In this case John was praying safe health to a brother in truth.
3. The main point is that we are not supposed to neglect either but are to maintain a balance. 1Tim 4:8- for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and the life to come. Obsession with vanity and bodily form can lead to self righteousness and sin and spending more time in the gym than you do about spiritual matters is dangerous, but neglecting the body completely is wrong as well and it is a lack of self control.
The change in John- Mentions love 3 times before the middle of verse 2
The scriptures do not leave us with a foolish John but a disciple who was the only one present at the crucifixion of Christ being assigned with taking care of Jesus’ mother by Jesus himself. In John 20:8 he looked into the empty tomb and saw and believed. He was present at post resurrection appearances, and was with the church at the day of Pentecost. John is referred to by Peter as a ‘pillar in the Jerusalem church” Gal 2:9.
John is the only disciple to not die a martyrs death being exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel were he writes the book of Revelation.
Although John grew in peace and love and humility, he never did lose his thunder. Throughout the epistles of 1-3 John we read “everyone who dishonors Christ is a liar”, everyone who runs to sin is a child of the devil and he forbids Christians to even extend salutations to the antichrist. This is evident in his life long fight for truth.
4. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in truth.
2 John: 4- I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in truth just as we were commanded by the father.
Gnosticism- Coming from the work Gnosis or knowledge, a form or mixture of hellenisistic philosophy, Judaism and some Christianity, it was a form of an imperfect god. Mystic, revealed esoteric knowledge, the lost gospels or the gospel according to Judas. The Mary magdelene we never knew. All information you need about Mary is in the scriptures but people turn to lies and fallacies like Judas knowing he was to betray Jesus. All matter is evil. This teaching was permeating the church and hurting all under its grip.
Postmodernity – There is no truth, truth is oppressive and we cant know anything for sure.
Solomon says “Buy the truth and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23)
“the church is the pillar and ground of truth” 1 timothy 3:15
“Ultimate truth is an objective reality, Truth exists outside of us and remains the same regardless of how certain individuals perceive it. Truth is fixed in the same way that God is immutable” John Macarthur the truth war
Growing epidemic where chrsitians are not speaking out against false teaching and apathy. Remember that a good majority of the New Testament was written to guard the truth. And Jesus himself rebuked the churches in Revelation 2-3 because they tolerated false teachers. Chrsit demands that we guard chrsitians against false teaching.
Truth mentioned 4 times in first 4 verses, Love mentioned 3 times. Christ is the message John was portraying to Gaius, Christ is the combination of both love and truth.
“I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me. (John 14:7)
If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8: 31-32).
Jesus before Pilate
“For this reason I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of truth listens to my voice. Pilate said to him “What is truth?”
Gospel (New)
Gaius understood that the truth is not secret, he lived in such a way that people went and spoke of his good conduct. This is our goal.
5. For I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.
In a letter that might prove sorrowful, John emphasizes joy, joy that his child that he raised in the faith is walking in truth. Above all, Gaius is walking in love, demonstrating hospitatlity to missionaries and fellow Christians. John commends Gaius for his service, his service that is still bearing fruit even now.
God will take your life, maybe a small sermon over a radio that made a John piper. He will take your dark life and transform it into light. He will take this small epistle, just 4 verses tonight, imagine what he can do with all 66 books? Give your lives to Jesus.