2 John
The sermon emphasizes the importance of walking in truth and love, and warns against the dangers of false teachers and the importance of resisting antichrists.
Peter Hammond preaches on the balance between light and love, truth and deception, and the importance of recognizing and resisting false teachings. He emphasizes that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, offering salvation to the lost, truth to the deceived, and life to the spiritually dead. Drawing from 2 John and 3 John, he urges believers to walk in truth, love one another, and be discerning of false teachers, while also encouraging hospitality and love without compromising the truth.
Text
"To the elect lady and her children whom I love in truth, not only I, but all those who have known the truth because the truth which abides in us and lives in us forever. Grace, mercy and peace in truth and love". John is balancing light and love. The wrath of God and the love of God. Truth and love.
Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life
Jesus is the life (1 John)
Jesus is the truth (2 John)
Jesus is the way (3 John)
We are lost. Jesus is the way.
We are deceived. Jesus is the truth.
We are dead in our trespasses and sins. Jesus is the life.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me'." John 14:6
Recognise Deception - Resist Antichrists
"The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And 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. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. For 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. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 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. Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen." 2 John 1-13
Walk in truth (2 John)
Walk in love (2 John)
We should not invite false teachers into our home (2 John)
Do not reject the truth (2 John)
Walk in truth (3 John)
We should not imitate false teachers (3 John)
Do not refuse love and hospitality (3 John)
Do not be too softhearted (2 John)
Do not be too hard-hearted, do not neglect love (3 John)
Bibliography
A General Introduction to the Bible, by Norman L. Geisler and William Nix, 1968, Moody.
Before Jerusalem Fell - Dating the Book of Revelation, by Ken Gentry
Explore the Book, by J. Sidlow Baxter, 1960, Zondervan.
Halley's Bible Handbook, by Henry H. Halley, 1927, Zondervan.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, by Matthew Henry, 1710.
Survey of the Bible, by William Hendriksen, 1947, Baker.
The Annals of the World, by Bishop James Usher, 1658.
The Complete Who's Who in the Bible, by Paul D. Gardner, 1995, Zondervan.
The Oxford Companion to the Bible, by Bruce M. Metyger and Michael D. Coogan, 1993, Oxford University Press.
Ungers Bible Dictionary, by Merrill F. Unger, 1957, Moody.
Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, by W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger and William White, 1985, Nelson.
When Critics Ask, by Norman Geisler and Thomas Have, 1992, Victor.
Sermon Outline
- Introduction to 2 John
- Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life
- Recognising Deception and Resisting Antichrists
- The importance of truth and love
- The balance of God's wrath and love
- Jesus as the life (1 John)
- Jesus as the truth (2 John)
- The importance of walking in truth
- The dangers of false teachers
Key Quotes
“Jesus said to him, 'I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me'.” — Peter Hammond
“This is love that we walk according to His commandments.” — Peter Hammond
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;” — Peter Hammond
Application Points
- We should make a conscious effort to walk in truth and love, and to avoid false teachings.
- We should be careful not to receive false teachers into our homes or greet them, because they share in their evil deeds.
- We should prioritize our relationships with others and walk in love, just as God commands us to do.