"elder" = John was in later years the pastor of the Ephesian church
Written around 85-95 AD
1st epistle theme is "love"
2nd epistle the theme is "truth"
"elect Lady" Two views
an individual lady whom John knew
figurative designation for the church
We need to know the truth (Jesus), believe the truth, and walk in the truth
Exegesis of the introduction:
"with us forever" = eternal security
"dwelleth in us" = indwelling of the Holy Spirit
"in truth and love" = these two concepts are perfectly balanced in God. Jesus was "full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
The love of God alone did not save us. It took the mercy and truth of God also. God is holy. Need Rom. 3:26 as well as John 3:16.
It is not enough to believe, we must believe the truth.
Key Concept: We are not to "entertain" false doctrine.
Truth and Love Balanced
v. 4 "walking in
truth" = continuing, practicing in the present and future
v. 6 "walk in love"
Truth predominates love, not vice versa. Love is defined by truth. Truth is not defined by love (i.e. situation ethics)
Joseph Fletcher and Situation Ethics
Truth precedes moral decisions.
cp. John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commandments." True love is wrapped up in obedience.
Christ’s law is on a higher plane than the 10 commandments
Truth In Practice
Anti-Christ (against Christ and instead of Christ)
denies the incarnation
denies the deity of Christ
denies the truth by watering down doctrine, ecumenical (doctrine divides they say, so let’s forget it)
Examples of Anti-Christ
John’s day it was the gnostics or gnosticism
man’s body, which is matter, is evil. It is to be contrasted with God who is Spriti and is therefore good.
Salvation is the escape from the body achieved through special knowledge that the gnostics claimed to have.
Christ’s humanity denied in two ways: seemed to have a body (Docetism) Divine joined Him at baptism and left at the cross (Cerinthianism)
Since the body was evil, it was to be treaeted harshly. It becamse ascetic in nature.
Conversely, since matter was evil, it didn’t matter what you did with the body. Thus, many became licentious.
Our Day
"isms" always follow the gospel, they never precede it.
JW’s
Mormons
humanism
new age
proagw
= to go before, to go beyond. The gnostics claimed a special knowledge that the rest didn’t have. They went beyond the doctrine of Christ. We must be careful not to go beyond the teachings of Scripture. We shouldn’t lag behind or add to it.
Doctrine of Christ: the fundamentals
Doctrinal purity and Separation: don’t be a co-laborer with those who are anti-Christ. Be careful who you send money to and make allegiances with.
Conclusion:
Balance is the key. Illus. of the waffle that was burned on one side and frozen on the other.
Truth without love is overbearing, mean-spirited and divisive.
Love without truth is sentimental, wishy-washy, weak, and really isn’t love.