3 John 3 KJV [3] “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.” I heard a preacher say years ago, “you cannot win every battle, everybody and every brother”. I think this is a statement that has proven to be true in my life. In regard to the brethren, there are some that, seemingly, can never be satisfied. We go crazy trying to please them, or meet their standard of approval. When I make these statements I am not talking about lowering our standards of …
“What Is Your Number One Wish?”
3 John 2 KJV [2] “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” In this verse the apostle uses the phrase, “I wish above all things”. This phrase seemed to catch my eye as I read it. I’m interested in what his number one wish would be concerning our brother Gaius. We can clearly see that John wastes no time in revealing what he wished for. John desired for him to prosper financially and physically, just as he had prospered spiritually. I’m sure the health and wealth, name it …
“Elderly Encouragement”
3 John 1 [1] “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” There is no doubt that John is an aged apostle in this brief epistle. He is in the final stretch of his ministry, and is preparing to make his grand exit soon. He uses the word “elder” in this verse, which can describe the apostle both spiritually and physically. He has something to say to a dear Christian brother that will certainly be a great encouragement to him. I thought about how important it is to have the encouragement of elders. I use the …
“Time Has Made a Change”
2 John 13 KJV [13] “The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.” John has penned his final verse in this small epistle, and I have to say that he has not disappointed us with his closing remark. This verse is unique in the fact that it contains both a farewell and a greeting. John is saying goodbye with his pen, but he extends a greeting thru this elect lady’s nieces and nephews. Some believe the elect sister, and the elect lady, are two local churches in the same neighborhood. This may very well be true, but they could …
“I Wonder If He Got to See Her?”
2 John 12 KJV [12] “Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” You will have to decide for yourself who you believe the identity of this lady is. Is she Mary, the mother of Jesus? Is she a well-respected lady in the community? Is she the local church? These are questions for you, the reader, to sort out. However, we do know that John had a strong desire to see her. He has many things …
“Hooking Up With the Heathen”
2 John 11 KJV [11] “For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” Most of us would never see ourselves hooking up with the heathens of this world. We do not worship the same God, nor do we have the same interest in mind. The big question is not how we see it, but rather how God sees it. He always sees things more clearly than we do. In this verse, the Lord draws a narrow line for those who would show a false teacher hospitality. The Bible says if you will show him kindness, …
“Do Not Let Them In Your House”
2 John 10 KJV [10] “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:” There are several things to consider in our verse when it comes to false teachers. For starters, you don’t have to worry about finding cults, they will find you. In fact, the Bible says they will come to your residence. I think this verse should also shame anyone that does not believe in door to door visitation. How sad it is when the average Mormon, or Jehovah’s false witness, will spend 15-plus hours a …
“Get Off The Fence”
2 John 9 KJV [9] “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” We must remember that John is older, and is coming to the shoreline of life and eternity. He does not have many days left on this earth, and has no time for wasting words. He makes his statement both bold, and clear. You are either in or out. You are either saved or lost. You either have God or you don’t. He makes no exceptions, and …
“Threats and Thieves”
2 John 8 KJV [8] “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.” We are quickly given the admonition in this verse to keep our eyes open! Do not allow heresy to overtake you. False doctrines and teachers are nothing to take lightly. They are everywhere, and should be considered both a threat, and a thief. False teachers never produce, or build anything. They simply prey on the weak and vulnerable, and steal from the fold. They should be regarded as thieves, and avoided like the plague. If …
“Watch Out For Imposters”
2 John 7 KJV [7] “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” John uses the word “deceivers” twice in this verse. The word is planos, and it is a word suggesting “imposters”. These were men who denied the incarnation of Jesus Christ. John even goes so far as to call them “antichrist.” As deceivers they became the enemy of men, and as antichrist they became the enemy of God. We know that these imposters still exist today. There are false teachers, …