Have you ever been in a situation in which the truth that you had believed for so long—that truth that was offering you hope—was suddenly and surprisingly false? This was the situation with a family from Caledonia, MI. On April 26, 10 students from Taylor University were in a fatal accident when they collided with a truck on Interstate 69 killing five of the ten students on the van. Two of the students involved in the accident were Laura VanRyn and Whitney Cerak. After the accident, it was reported that Whitney Cerak was among the five killed and Laura was placed in the hospital in critical condition. Laura VanRyn’s family watched over their daughter spending sleepless nights in the hospital thankful that their daughter was not dead while spending as much time working with her in hopes of her recovering. The VanRyn family kept a blog during this time giving daily updates on the progression of their daughter. This particular blog became a constant witness to the outside world as many checked in to see how she was doing. Some of the updates had as many as 600 people respond to the posts. I say it was a witness because each day began with some sort of Scripture giving the highest esteem and hope to God. Their faith has been evident throughout the entire process. Meanwhile, the students at Taylor University mourned the loss of their friends and prayed for those in critical condition. A strange turn of events, however, occurred on May 31. This story made national news but I think it is best stated by the commentary of Laura’s mother on their blog. She writes:

“What may come to us as a shock, does not shock the One who made us. We have some hard news to share with you today. Our hearts are aching as we have learned that the young woman we have been taking care of over the past five weeks has not been our dear Laura, but instead a fellow Taylor student of hers, Whitney Cerak. There was a misidentification made at the time of the accident and it is uncanny the resemblence that these two women share. Their body types are similar, their hair color and texture, their facial features, etc. Over the past couple of days, as Whitney had been becoming more aware of her surroundings, she'd been saying and doing some things that made us question whether or not she was Laura. Yesterday, we talked with a Spectrum staff member and began the process of making a positive ID. We now know without a doubt, that this is Whitney.”¹

On May 31 the Grant County, Indiana Coroner announced that they had indeed made a mistake and mixed up the identities of these two girls. This news was indeed tragic. For weeks, the truth that was offering the VanRyn family hope and caused the Cerak family to mourn was no longer the truth. The real truth, then, caused these two families to reverse roles leaving the VanRyn family to mourn while the Cerak family began hoping once again in the return of their daughter.

I do not tell you this tragic story because it is interesting but to highlight the very thing that I believe both families desire to communicate. Regardless of the outcome of these two daughters, it was not their lives that gave them hope and unified them, but it was their faith in Jesus Christ. The day after the announcement of the mistaken identity, the VanRyn posted this on their blog:

“And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! Therefore I will praise you amoung the nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to your name. (Psalm 18) This is our prayer this morning, as we continue to trust Jesus Christ our Savior. He is there for all of us and for you. God's Word is sufficient, no matter what your circumstance.”

The Cerak family did the same and still does as they observe the recovery of their daughter. Their ultimate hope and desire is that God be glorifed. In the end the Truth of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only thing that can offer them hope, comfort, joy, assurance, and peace.

Many other illustrations could be used here to teach one thing—there is only one Truth that is forever, which binds His saints together and shows us how to live. John in his Second Epistle writes about this Truth. In a day in which “truth” is in trouble since most believe and want to argue that it is strictly subjective, I believe John’s letter has very timely lessons for all of us. There are five points I believe he is trying to make about this Truth. Before we look at those points, though, a bit of context is needed.

Look at verse 1. The author writes, “to the elect lady and her children.” As you can imagine, many have discussed and debated who this lady and her children are. “Elect lady” in the original manuscripts transliterates to elekte kyria, which have led some to suggest that John was writing to a specific person whose name was either Electa, Kyria, or both. Some have argued that the elect lady and her children refers to the Church universal. The majority of scholars today, however, believe that John is using the language “to the elect lady and her children” to refer to a local congregation and its members. Many believe that the language of love in verses 1 and 2 and then the admonishment about love in verse 5 indicate that he may be writing to more than one family. Regardless of who you believe John is writing to, the entire epistle can be said to any child of God. Therefore, as we discuss this epistle this morning, we will simply seek to apply this to the Church, which could and should be interpreted a number of ways—the Church universal, our local congregation, and our own personal walks with God. We believe that John, the apostle who spent time with Jesus on earth and wrote a Gospel and the letter preceding this one, is the same one writing this letter. Let’s look again at the text and see these points God reveals to us through his servant John.

1. Truth Creates the Bond among the Church (v.1-3)

The Truth that will be discussed throughout is the absolute, perfect, and inerrant Truth about God revealed by God primarily in His Word. John in his greeting states his love for this church but highlights that this love is “in truth” and then indicates that it is not only John but all who know the truth. Why? He answers this question in the remainder of the verse—because the truth abides within them now and forever. John continues in his greeting stating that grace, mercy, and peace will be with them from “God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son”—this language of God and Jesus will be important later—and he states that this is with them in truth and love. Because of the truth that dwells within them and comes from both the Father and the Son, there is a common bond among them.

When I read this I get this feeling of great unity among them. It’s a similar feeling that I get when I email back and forth with family. Laura’s family sends family emails out all the time. Every time that we receive or send those emails there’s this feeling that no one can touch. We are communicating in a way with one another that not everyone will understand and appreciate but is special to just us in the family. A think a wedding illustrates this as well. On May 27 Laura and I celebrated 6 years of marriage and as we have done in the past we watched our wedding video. As we looked at all the people who attended we were amazed by the randomness of individuals who were together in one room. At one particular point in the video we noticed about 4 people gathered around a table for snacks during the reception. Laura and I both responded by noting that it would be extremely rare to see those 4 people in the same room ever again. It’s strange to look back and see who was gathered together to rally behind one truth—someone that they cared for was getting married and they were going to honor that wedding.

The truth of Jesus Christ brings about a unifying bond among all believers. This church is a perfect example of this. It is unlikely that I would have such a commitment and love for all of the members of this church if we were not members of this church. We simply come from so many walks in life that it must take something very powerful and beyond us to bring us together. I believe this Truth that John is talking about brings about that bond among us. It is a bond that must be recognized, treasured, and maintained.

2. Truth Commands the Walk of the Church (v.4-6)

This point, I believe, gets to the heart of not just this epistle but First and Third John as well. In verse 4 he talks about those walking in the truth and he talks about a command from the Father. In verse 5 he tells them to continue walking in that truth and reminds them of the command. He states that it is a command they have had from the beginning which is to “love one another.” In verse 6 he defines love as obeying the command and walking in it. In studying this I found what John was saying to be odd. It’s like a parent saying, “Johnny, do what I tell you. What I told you is to be nice to everybody. The way you are nice is by doing what I tell you.” I think if a mother said that to her child the kid would just look at her and say, “huh?” I believe what John is saying here is that the best and only way to love one another is to obey the law, or God’s commands. Jesus said the Law is summed up in loving God and loving people. Therefore, the way to love one another is to do exactly that obey that command. What stands out more in this letter than in John’s First Epistle, although this is taught, is that there is no separation between obeying the commands of God and loving one another. The command of God is to love one another. In I John we find that loving one another is evidence of us being of God. In this epistle we are reminded that it is a command. I believe the best way to know that you are obeying that command is when you find yourself loving the “unlovable.” There will always be people in our life that we will love, but that is not the true indicator that we are loving one another. Seeing this as a command reminds me that there is more to loving one another than simply being in those natural loving relationships. Loving one another requires sacrifice and seeking to love everyone. John tells us that this is the command and we are to walk in it. He continues this thought in the third point.

3. Truth Confirms the Faith of the Church (v.7-9)

We just saw that the Truth of Jesus commands us to walk according to his commands. In verses 7-9 we see Truth defined and that it shows us if we are truly in Christ. John is writing these epistles during a time in which many false teachings regarding Jesus were arising. The most basic form of this false teaching is the denial that Jesus Christ came in the flesh as John notes in verse 7. John says of this person that he is a “deceiver and antichrist.” Let me help make this clear: the Jesus of the Bible is the eternal Truth that most be believed and no other special revelation of Jesus. Even though it may be difficult in our human minds to grasp this truth must be believed—Jesus Christ was fully God and fully Man. I can see why John would use such hard language seeing as how he spent time with Jesus…in the flesh! John highlights the unity and identity of the Father and the Son in verse 3 when he states the Jesus Christ is the Father’s Son. In verse 9 we read that by walking in this Truth we have both the Father and Son. Therefore, John is indeed highlighting his divinity in showing that we have access to the Father through the Son, but make no mistake we must believe He came in the flesh as well. It is SO important that have a right understanding of Jesus. John writes here that to believe something other than the Truth of Jesus makes that person a deceiver and antichrist.

John writes in I John 4:2-3, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”
He writes in I John 2:21-22, “I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.”
Paul writes in Galatians 1:6-9, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”
It is absolutely essential that you have a right understanding of Jesus. In verse 8 you can see John’s plea with them stating that there is an eternal reward for abiding in this teaching and to not abide in that is to indicate that you were never of God in the first place. John is using hard language here to make a point that those outside of the church that are teaching something other than what was originally taught to them they are not of God. Ultimately, believing this Truth confirms our faith as we see in verse 9. If you abide in this teaching you have God and if you do not you not only have God but you have both the Father and the Son and he shows in his other writings that this happens by the work of the Holy Spirit.
John elaborates on this teaching in the next point by to a certain degree excluding fellowship from these false teachers.

4. Truth Cautions from Lies to the Church (v.10-11)

I do not believe verses 10-11 means that you may never let someone in your house or have conversation with anyone who is proclaiming a false gospel. First of all, to believe that would be strong contradiction to John’s calling to love one another as well as numerous other passages of Scripture with the mandate to love our enemies and to proclaim the Gospel to those who do not know God. Another thing that should be made about this verse is that house probably means church since most congregations met in homes. Therefore, the mandate here is to not give any place for those who profess a false gospel. F. F. Bruce writes in his commentary that “The injunction not to receive any one who does not receive any one who does not bring ‘the teaching of Christ’ means that no such person must be accepted as a Christian teacher or as one entitled to the fellowship of the church. It does not mean that (say) one of Jehovah’s Witnesses should not be invited into the house for a cup of tea on order to be shown the way of God more perfectly in the sitting-room that would be convenient on the doorstep.” He further comments that in the Didache, one of the early church fathers, it is written, “Whosoever then comes and teaches you all these things aforesaid, receive him. If, however, the teacher himself is perverted and teaches another doctrine to destroy these things, do not listen to him; but if his teaching promotes righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord receive him as the Lord.”² These verses have been set as a safeguard from lies that can come and corrupt the Truth presented in the Church. John is saying to not give any false teacher a foothold to proclaim teachings other than the truth because it can bring about deception among God’s people.

When I worked in Seattle I had a false teacher ask if he could come to my house and attend one of my Bible studies. I happened to be teaching on the life of Christ to mostly new or non-believers at the time and gladly allowed him to come and hear God’s Word. After several weeks, though, he began to take opportunities during question and answer time to insert his own beliefs about Jesus into the Bible studies. It did not take me long to ask him to leave and not attend these Bible studies any longer. I did not break off my personal relationship with him and continued to speak truth into his life, but I never allowed him into my house again.

I think if understood in this way it makes sense. Surely we would never let people that preach a Gospel other than what we believe come to our church, greet them, and allow them an entry to proclaim those false teachings. However, in a culture in which we want to be relevant and non-threatening this is happening all too often. In fact, I heard recently of one of the emerging church’s most prominent leaders encouraging churches to allow Dan Brown’s fictional Jesus from the Da Vinci Code brought into churches for discussion. He believes that this fictional Jesus that is so appealing to others can help us understand and teach our “conventional” Jesus. This is the very thing I believe John is addressing. You do not let false teaching into your church to help you understand truth. Instead you leave only the truth in the church so that you can combat the heresies presented beyond our walls.

5. Truth Completes the Joy of the Church

In verses 12-13 John writes that the Truth completes the joy of the believers. He is highlighting the fact here that there is great joy in the bond created between he and the church because of the truth. However, it is most complete when together. This is such a reminder to us that we have such a privilege to meet together week after week in person to celebrate the unity we find in the Truth of Jesus Christ. It is easy to take that for granted and to not be active in the church. So often we believe we can get our feel of fellowship among believers just on Sunday morning. However, I have found that every time I get together with this group of people that God has brought into my life there is a sweet completion of joy because of the bond that is brought among us.

In conclusion I want to offer a few points of application. What do we do with all of this?

1. Know the truth.

John writes this letter all on the focus of Truth. Know this truth because it is that which bonds the Church. It is that which shows us how to live. It is that which characterizes our faith. It is that which guards us from false teaching. It is that which makes helps make our joy complete. How do you know the truth? Read your Bibles. This should be a no-brainer to believers but I believe it is still one of the most neglected disciplines. The Word of God teaches us The Truth. We must spend daily time in God’s Word seeking to understand this truth.

2. Walk in the Truth.

We read in verse 4 that John “rejoiced greatly” when he found some walking in the truth. I believe that goes for anyone. When you know the Truth and find others walking in it brings much rejoicing. I am constantly discouraged as I look around at so called believers walking in sin. I know that we are still in battle with our flesh but how can we walk in sin while worshipping a holy God. I know the past several weeks through the study of Haggai I have done a great deal of reflecting upon my own life and seen myself walking in my flesh. God has convicted me, reminded me of His Truth and shown me once again that I must walk in that Truth.

3. Be Unified in the Truth

Once we know the Truth and walk in it should bring great unity among God’s people. We must all rally behind the truths of God’s Word, proclaim it, and allow it to draw us as a people closer together. I believe one of the greatest ways to be unified in this truth is to celebrate and honor corporately the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

¹This blog was deleted several days after the incident.

²F. F. Bruce, The Gospel and Epistles of John, (New York: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1994), 400.

THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF TRUTH FOR THE CHURCH

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