Bible Study PH

II John 1:1-6

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Keynote
Study Guide (HL)
Study Guide (EN)

Introduction

  • 1st – The Author…   
    • 1st – FISHERMAN…
      • John was a fisherman – along with his brother James…
      • They had a FISHING business along with Peter and his brother Andrew – Luke 5:10
      • Not that they were very GOOD fisherman – they never seemed to catch fish…
      • Both times we read about them fishing – they caught NOTHING – Luke 5:5 – John 21:3
      • Because God had not called him to catch FISH – instead catch MEN!
      • Luke 5:10 – “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”
      • We are only going to be EFFECTIVE in life – when we become what God desires…
      • When we use our GIFTS for His PURPOSES – we will have a life that is FULL!
    • 2nd – DISCIPLE…
      • John was one of the TWELVE disciples of Jesus…
      • Listed FOUR times in the New Testament – Mark 3:13-19 / Luke 6:12-16 / Acts 1:13
      • He was CHOSEN by Jesus to be see EVERYTHING – and go and tell EVERYONE!
      • Mark 3:14 – “Then He appointed twelve [Apostles] – that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach…”
      • The word APOSTLE – means to be sent out…
      • Is a picture of an ambassador – a representative of God to the world…
      • EVERYTHING we have SEEN Jesus do in our lives – we are called to go tell EVERYONE!
      • II Corinthians 5:20 – “We are ambassadors for Christ…”
    • 3rd – IMPATIENT…
      • Jesus gave both James and John the names – the SONS of THUNDER – Mark 3:17
      • Because when the SAMARITANS refused to let Jesus pass through their city…
      • James and John wanted to call down FIRE on them like Elisha did – II Kings 1:1-15
      • Luke 9:55-56 – “[Jesus] turned and rebuked them and said – You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For [I] did not come to destroy mens lives but to save them.”
      • We need to remember – people who do not know Jesus – are NOT our ENEMIES…
      • They are our MISSIONS field – they are the ones we are called to LOVE!
    • 4th – PRIDEFUL
      • When Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem for the FINAL time…
      • Jesus told the DISCIPLES everything that would happen – Mark 10:32-34
      • But James and John completely missed what Jesus SAID – He would be CRUCIFIED…
      • And instead ASSUMED He was on His way to establish His KINGDOM – conquer the WORLD!
      • Mark 10:37 – “Grant us that we may sit – one on Your right hand and the other on Your left…”
      • Leadership in the church should not look like the leadership in the world…
      • It is the opposite – a leader in the church does not tell others what to do…
      • A leader is the one who lives his life to serve everyone else!
      • Mark 10:43 – “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.”
    • 5th – SPECIAL…
      • John was one of the inner THREE: Peter – James – and John
      • Jesus resurrects the little girl – Mark 5:37 – Mount of Transfiguration – Matthew 17:1
      • Only they went with Jesus when He prayed in Gethsemane – Matthew 26:37
      • This leads us to believe these disciples were SPECIAL – SUPER disciples…
      • But they were NOT better than the rest – they were more TROUBLE…
      • Jesus ALWAYS had these three with Him – because He was afraid to let them be alone!
      • We may think that God only uses those with great gifts – ability…
      • But God uses the FOOLISH – ignorant and unlearned FISHERMEN…
      • Which is a HUGE encouragement – because that means He can use us – I Corinthians 1:27-29 
    • 6th – Full of the SPIRIT…
      • John was there in the UPPER room on the day of Pentecost – Acts 1:13
      • Which explains HOW – because John was FULL of the Holy Spirit…
      • God was able to take a man who was IMPATIENT – PRIDEFUL – SPECIAL…
      • Who could not even catch a FISH – and make him an APOSTLE!
      • Being used by God is not a matter of EDUCATION – John had THREE years with Jesus…
      • And yet the final words of the LORD – do NOTHING until the Spirit comes – Acts 1:4
      • It also does NOT matter how many times we FAIL – or how recently [Peter]
      • It is simply about being filled with the Spirit of God – then we have POWER!
      • II Corinthians 4:7 – “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
    • 7th – AUTHOR…
      • John the APOSTLE – not the same as John the Baptist – wrote MANY books in the NT…
      • He wrote the Gospel of John – as well as I – II – III John – and the book of Revelation!
      • Because he wanted to make sure to tell EVERYONE about Jesus!
    • 8th – ELDER…
      • II John 1:1 – “The Elder…”
        • ELDER [πρεσβύτερος] – speaking of someone who is OLDER – spiritually WISE…
        • There are THREE words used to describe a LEADER in the church…
        • These terms are used interchangeably in the New Testament…
        • BISHOP – describes their RESPONSIBILITY – to PROTECT the people – I Timothy 3:1-7
        • PASTOR [ποιμήν] – describes their PURPOSE – to TEACH the people – Ephesians 4:11
        • ELDER – describes their EXPERIENCE – so they can LEAD the people – Acts 14:23
      • God established LEADERS in the church – to establish order…
        • Imagine a Sunday service were everyone was trying to share all at once…
        • There would be chaos – and ministry cannot happen effectively in chaos!
        • I Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace… But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.”
  • 2nd – The Audience…
    • 1st – ELECT lady…
      • ELECT [ἐκλεκτός] – to be CHOSEN…
        • Could refer to a TITLE [position in the church] – or our SALVATION – Colossians 3:12
        • LADY [κυρία] – only found in II John – feminine form of [κύριος] – MASTER or Lord
        • And her CHILDREN [τέκνον] a term used by teachers for their disciples – John 13:33
      • FIRST view…
        • This was a LADY – whose name was [κυρία] – who had a Bible study in her house…
        • The CHILDREN – refer to her KIDS who attended the Bible study…
        • This would explain why John makes reference to her SISTER – II John 1:13
      • SECOND view…
        • The LADY – refers to the CHURCH and the LEADERS [κύριος]
        • The CHILDREN – refers to the CHURCH and the BELIEVERS [τέκνον]
  • 3rd – The Theme…
    • 1st – TRUTH and DECEPTION…
      • The book of II John is broken up into TWO sections…
      • II John 1:1-6 – Walking in the TRUTH
      • II John 1:7-13 – Walking away from DECEPTION
    • 2nd – LOVE…
      • The word LOVE – is 62 time in – I – II – and III John
      • LOVE [ἀγαπάω] – verb – to give unconditional LOVE…
      • LOVE [ἀγάπη] – noun – to have unconditional LOVE…
      • BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – adjective – to receive unconditional LOVE!
      • The way we know the difference between the TRUTH and DECEPTION…
      • Is by obeying the COMMAND to LOVE!
      • II John 1:5-6 – “Now I plead with you – Lady – not as though I wrote a new commandment to you – but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love – that we walk according to His commandments…”
  • 4th – The Location…
    • 1st – EPHESUS…
      • Although we do NOT know for certain – there are TWO possibilities…
      • FIRST is the city of EPHESUS – in what is now modern day Turkey…
      • A commonly held church tradition states John was the PASTOR there in his later years…
      • The assumption is he would have written FOUR of the FIVE books there!
    • 2nd – PATMOS…
      • We do KNOW – John wrote the book of Revelation from Patmos – Revelation 1:9
      • Again church tradition states John was exiled here by the Romans…
      • While on the Island he received the VISION that is the final book of the Bible…
      • It is possible he also wrote the GOSPEL and THREE letters while he was there!
  • 5th – The Time…
    • Although we do NOT know the time – the best guess is between 95-100 A.D.
    • There are TWO reasons given to help establish this timeline…
    • FIRST – the writing of some of the early church fathers – Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria
    • SECOND – the fact John calls himself OLD in his letters – II John 1:1 – III John 1:1
    • ELDER [πρεσβύτερος] – speaking both of being MATURE in the LORD and OLD in years!

Walking in TRUTH…  

  • 1st – Knowing TRUTH… vs. 1-3
    • 1st – Who is the TRUTH… vs. 1
      • The Elder – to the elect lady and her children – whom I love in truth!
        • It was TRUE [ἀλήθεια] – John LOVED [ἀγαπάω] both the LADY and her CHILDREN…
        • That could either mean a SPECIFIC person [κυρία] and her KIDS…
        • But more likely it was the CHURCH in general – and her LEADERS…
        • Because John was NOT the only one who LOVED the LADY!
      • And not only I – but also all those who have known the truth!
        • [πᾶς] EVERYONE who has a RELATIONSHIP [γινώσκω] with THE [ὁ] TRUTH [ἀλήθεια]
        • TRUTH is NOT an idea – it is a PERSON – it is Jesus Christ!
        • John 14:6 – “Jesus said… I am the way – the truth [ἀληθινός] – and the life.”
        • When we have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus – we KNOW [perfect] the TRUTH…
        • When we KNOW the TRUTH – we will LOVE [ἀγαπάω] the CHURCH and her LEADERS!
    • 2nd – Abide in the TRUTH… vs. 2
      • [Through] the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever!
        • WHY do we LOVE others who are in the CHURCH and her LEADERS…
        • Through [διά] the TRUTH [Jesus] who is ABIDING [present] in us – John 15:4
        • And Jesus is not just in us TODAY – He will be with us FOREVER!
      • ABIDING…
        • ABIDE [μένω] 120x in NT – a word that John REALLY liked – 68x in his FIVE books…
        • ABIDE – means to CLING to something – and never let go!
        • A person is NOT a CHRISTIAN – what they WEAR – where they are on SUNDAYS…
        • What makes us a CHRISTIAN – is to have CHRIST abiding in us…
        • And the PROOF we have Jesus – is we LOVE [ἀγαπάω] the CHURCH and her LEADERS…
        • The ONLY way we can LOVE [ἀγαπάω] others is when Jesus LOVE overflows from us!
        • I John 4:7 – “Beloved – let us love one another – for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
    • 3rd – Grace from the TRUTH… vs. 3
      • Grace – mercy – and peace will be with you [with] God the Father…
      • GRACE [χάρις] – 156x in NT [important] – JUDGEMENT is getting what I DESERVE…
        • But GRACE is getting what I do not deserve – a FREE gift from God!
        • All of us are sinners – Romans 3:23 – all of us DESERVE judgment – Romans 6:23
        • But God gave us GRACE – the GIFT of SALVATION – through the CROSS!
  • MERCY [ἔλεος] – 28x in NT – NOT getting what we DESERVE…
    • Why does God not JUDGE the world TODAY – why does He WAIT…
    • In His MERCY – and it takes A LOT [πολύς] – God wants to give HOPE!
    • I Peter 1:3 – “Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope!”
  • PEACE [εἰρήνη] – 92x in NT – to STOP fighting – no more WAR…
    • This is NOT peace from GOD – this is PEACE with [παρά] God…
    • Because before we received GRACE – we were at WAR with God…
    • We lived in certain expectation of Gods wrath and judgment…
    • There was no PEACE in our lives – only the fear of death – and punishment!
    • Hebrews 10:27 – “There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of Gods judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.”
    • But the GRACE of God – that FORGAVE our sin – gave us PEACE with God…
    • We are no longer at WAR – our SINS are gone – and we are now at REST!
  • From the Lord Jesus Christ – the Son of the Father – in truth and love!
    • Do NOT miss where GRACE – MERCY – and PEACE comes from…
    • Lord [κύριος] – is His AUTHORITY – He is our MASTER…
    • Jesus [יְהוֹשֻׁעַ] – is His NAME – Yahweh Shua – God is Salvation…
    • Christ [Χριστός] or [מָשִׁיחַ] – is His TITLE – meaning the one called to REDEEMS us…
    • Son – NOT speaking of His Birth – but the SECOND person of the TRINITY!
    • The TRUTH is – ONLY Jesus who is GOD – can save us…
    • There is NO other way to get to heaven – but to OBEY Him – Acts 4:12
    • Because Jesus is the LOVE of God – who came down to REDEEM us!
    • I John 4:10 – “This is love – not that we loved God – but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the [sacrifice] for our sins.”

Choosing to live in a way that others might be able to see the Love of God in us!

2nd – Walking in TRUTH… vs. 4-6

1st – Walking… vs. 4

I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth.

As a commandment we received from the Father!

The JOY [χαίρω] of John – could NOT be measured when he found…

CHILDREN [τέκνον] – believers in the CHURCH…

WALKING [περιπατέω] – to continually [present] LIVE their lives in TRUTH [ἀλήθεια] 

Psalm 1:1 – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly – nor stands in the path of sinners – nor sits in the seat of the scornful.”

Do NOT miss the progression – WALK – STAND – SIT…

When we seek this WORLD – NOT the TRUTH – it STOPS our WALK with God…

We end up STANDING on the BROAD path – the way of destruction…

And in the END – we SIT – BITTER over how meaningless life is…

No wonder John REJOICED whenever he found BELIEVERS who were still WALKING in TRUTH!

2nd – The commandment… vs. 5

Now I plead with you – Lady – not as though I wrote a new commandment to you…

But that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another!

John wanted the CHURCH [lady] to continue WALKING according to the TRUTH…

NOW – to help them CONTINUE – he reminded them of an OLD [not new] command [singular]

Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Going back to the BEGINNING [when the Law was given] – LOVE is not NEW… 

LOVE has always been the MARK of someone who WALKED in the TRUTH…

But it is NOT enough to KNOW what the COMMAND is – we need to OBEY it!

3rd – Obedience… vs. 6

This is love – that we walk according to His commandments.

This is the commandment – as you have heard from the beginning – you should walk in it!

This is LOVE [ἀγάπη] – to WALK daily [present] according to the COMMANDMENTS [plural]

The same COMMANDMENT – we had from the beginning!

There are 613 COMMANDS in the LAW – 248 positive – and 365 negative…

Jesus was asked which COMMAND was the GREATEST – Matthew 22:36-40

FIRST – LOVE the LORD with all your heart – soul – mind – Deuteronomy 6:5

SECOND – LOVE your neighbor as yourself – Leviticus 19:18

John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you – that you love [ἀγαπάω] one another. As I have loved [ἀγαπάω] you – that you also [ἀγαπάω] love one another.”

WALK in LOVE…

Ephesians 5:2 – “Walk in love – as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us.”

If we say we are the children of God – but we look and act just like the world – problem…

We can say all the right things to sound like a Christian – come to church every Sunday…

But it is not about what we SAY – it is about the ACTIONS from our lives…

If we are the children of God – then our lives should reflect that TRUTH…

We should be following after God – doing those things that show we are His KIDS!

Be CAREFUL…

We love our kids – we tend to be very protective on whom they hang out with.!

I Corinthians 15:33 – “Bad company corrupts good character.”

In the same way God wants us to be careful whom we spend time with…

If we hang out with the wrong crowd – we are going to be negatively influenced…

Be very careful where we go – who we are identified with…

Choose VERY wisely whom we spend time with – we will become just like them!

Be like Jesus…

Jesus lived a life filled with love – He loved us so much He died to save us…

As we spend time with Jesus – then we will begin to follow His example…

Not living a selfish self-centered life – but giving our lives as a sacrifice to God…

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