Most of the books of the Bible have many chapters in them
and may take days to read and study. Yet there are four in the New Testament
that are 25 verses or less that would take ten minutes or less. But these four letters have a lot to teach
us. I call these four letters postcards
from the first century because as you will see the letters can fit on a
postcard.
The four
letters are 2John, 3John, Philemon, and Jude. And although there all small
enough to fit on a postcard you
will see after a thorough study there is much to be gleaned from these
postcards. At least I hope you do.
2nd John
The Elder to the elect lady and her 7 For many deceivers
have gone
children, whom I love in truth and not out into the world who
do not
only I but also all those who have known confess Jesus Christ as
coming
the truth
in the flesh. This is a deceiver
2 Because of the truth which abides in us and an antichrist
and will be with forever 8
Look to yourselves that we do
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you not lose those things we worked for
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus but that we may receive a
full
Christ the Son of the Father in truth and love. Reward.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found some of your 9 whoever transgresses and does
children walking in the truth, as we received not abide I the doctrine of
Christ
commandment from the Father. does not have
God. He who abides
5 And now I plead with you, lady,. not as in the doctrine of Christ
has both
though I wrote a new commandment to you, the Father and the Son.
but that which we have had from the: beginning: 10
If anyone comes to you and
that we love in another does not bring this doctrine do
6This is love, that we walk according to his receive him into your house nor commandments.
This is the commandment
greet him. ,
that as you have heard from the beginning. 11 For he who greets him shares
you should walk in it. In
his evil deed
12 Having many things to write to
:
you I did not wish to so with
paper and ink; but I hope to comet
to you and speak face to face that,
our joy may be
full
13 The children of your elect sister
greet you. Amen.
The first
postcard we will look at is 2John written by the Apostle John. Although we should first tell why we believe
the Apostle John wrote this postcard. It
is the fact that John refers to himself
as The Elder in his introduction and the writer write with apostolic
authority. Also the literary style is similar to his other letters.
And who is
the Apostle John writing to when he opens in verse 1 “Greetings to the Elect
lady” First we must understand John is not speaking to a church. WE know this because he speaks of the elect
lady’s children and at the end of the of the letter he tells her that her “
elect sister send her greetings.” As we
continue to study we find in verse 2 makes this statement “ because of the
truth abides in us and will be with us forever” should be undersrstood by all
Christians that Gods truth never changes or alters the word of God. His Son the Lord Jesus Christ or the
Holy Spirit that lives within us does not change because times change. This should reassure Christians that as the
Word of Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
In verse 3
John conveys “grace, mercy and peace will be in you from God the Father and
from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father in truth and love.” This
should teach us that grace, mercy and
peace are the actions of a Christian who shows truth and love to this world of
darkness.
In verse 4 John
“rejoice that he has found some of your children walking in the truth as we
received commandment from the Father.” Do we as Christians today rejoice when
the young walk in obedience, truth and love for God. All of us should encourage and rejoice when
the young walk in grace, mercy and peace.
Verse 5
John reminds us that we should love on another as Christians. Something today’s
churches need reminded of. And I believe
the love John is talking about practicing love not just speaking it. For instance helping the Christian widow is practicing love.
In verse 6
John reminds us that love is that we are obedient to God and His commandments.
Obedience to God is to love God.
Its in
verse 7 that the tone of the letter changes when he speaks of “many deceivers
have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the
flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist
This is one
of the greatest heresies there is to deny Jesus was fully a man at the same
time being fully God goes against the teaching the Bible. That is why John refers to them as antichrist. There are many people today who believe the
same thing and they to John would refer to these people as antichrists as well.
In the
following verse 8 John tells us to”Look to yourselves that we do not lose those
things we worked for that we may receive a full reward.” This is a warring to
all of us not to give in to false teaching.
We must look at ourselves and make sure we are not
following any teachings of apostasy. Whatever you here
during a sermon or read in book look to your Bible to ensure it is on line and
not a false teaching.
John
further goes on in verses 9 through 11and states that “Whoever transgresses and
does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.. He who abides in
the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine,
do not receive him into your house nor greet him, for he who greets him shares
in his evil deeds.”
John could
not have put this any simpler for us as Christians. Those who do not believe as the Apostle Paul
stated in Romans “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God raised from the dead you will be saved Romans10:9.Those who do not believe in this, but teach a different doctrine we
are not to let him in our house or even greet them as we would share in their
evil. We are not to invite heretic in
our home or even offer them Godspeed. In today’s world this would include the
Jehovah Witness who altered the text of the Bible or the Mormon who has added other holy books
they say are equal to the bible are both heresies. Do not even invite them even to debate their
doctrines.
But the one
who simply believes as John wrote in his gospel” For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16
And remember
Paul words in Ephesians “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and
that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God not of works lest any one should
boast” Ephesians 2:8, 9
This is
sound doctrine and it is a simple faith.
If this anyone brings this doctrine to you greet them with Christian
truth and love. Also we must continue to
abide in the doctrine of Christ and not
get caught up in movements such the word
faith doctrine, or the prosperity doctrine- john would consider theses
heresies, Remember dealing with these
people we share in their evil deed sand
we lose a full reward in heaven as well.
In verses
12 and 13 John close his letter by saying he would have many more things to
write. But instead he hopes to come and see
and speak with her face to face so “that
our joy may be full. This joy happens
when two Christians , who believe in sound
doctrine, the result will be genuine joy. John then follows up by letting her
nieces and nephews send her greetings through John. This must bring her even
more joy to know the close relationship they have with the Apostle John
2nd
John may fit on a postcard but as you have seen in 13 verses the Lord inspired
him to teach us many things and to help grow in our faith as children of the
Living God lets take a look at John’s other postcard 3rd John.........next
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