Walking in the Love of the Truth~Reading 2 John~ Week15

Walking In True Biblical Love

Walking in the love of the truth. 2 John, 13 verses packed with so much truth. In this small letter, truth is the key word. In the first 4 verses, John uses it 5 times.  When a writer uses a word over and over he is trying to get our attention.  John is drawing our attention to walking in the truth. Then he goes on to explain what that truth looks like and finally warns each believer to watch themselves, test yourselves to see if you are walking in the truth, the real truth.

This letter was written to, “The chosen lady and her children.” most agree that John wrote this letter to a beloved sister in the Lord not to a church congregation. The principles that are taught in this letter most assuredly apply to the church and each individual member of it.  We are going to take it in context and read it as it was written to the chosen lady or the elect lady of God applying the truths to our own individual walk with the Lord.

Dear Chosen Lady:

Dear Sister in the Lord, whom I love in truth. There is a bond between sisters in the Lord. The truth of God abides in us and will abide in us forever. I do not know most of you who I have met through this blog. But there is a bond that I feel when we communicate with each other.  It is the bond of Christian love that abides in us! We love because He first loved us{ 1John 4:19} and we can continue to walk in that love because God’s grace, mercy, and peace are what enables us to do so.

John has written pleading with us to love one another. Love is the greatest and foremost commandment. Jesus commands  in John 13:34, ” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” A mark of a true believer is that they love one another. Unconditional love is something that is not always the easiest thing to do. When our feelings get hurt our flesh wants to pout or get even. In these times we need to draw on the grace of God that indwells us. Christ loved unconditionally. He gave His perfect life for our imperfect life that we may live in peace with God and walk in love with one another. By walking in love all men will know that you are Christ’s disciples.

Love Walks in the Truth:

Sister, many deceivers have gone out into the world. You will recognize them because they deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. These false teachers {that prey on the Christian} deny that Jesus was fully man and fully God. The Bible calls them deceivers and the antichrist. Our whole Christian belief rests on this truth, Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God. In John 1:1 we are taught, ” In the beginning was the Word and the word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14, ” and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” We need to use discernment in our day to day walk because the time we live in is running rampant with false teachers.

The premise of these last several verses is to call us dear sisters to walk in Biblical love, not a touchy feely love. Girls, you know what I mean. As women, we tend to act on our feelings instead of discernment. I know there are always exceptions to every rule, not every woman acts on feelings but in my experience most do. If you are one that does tend to react with your  feelings instead of discernment read these words carefully and pray for God to give you discernment. If you are one who has learned this lesson please be in prayer for your sisters in Christ! Praying for each other would be an act of Biblical love toward your weaker sister.

Our sister in Christ that John is writing to may have shown these false teachers hospitality. It could also be that he was giving her a warning and telling her not to show them hospitality.  Here are the words he spoke to her, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting.”  2 John 1:10. We know what that true teaching is. In this time period, there was itinerant, traveling, preachers. They relied on the hospitality of the churches for food and board. John is saying if this traveling preacher does not bring with him the truths about Christ do not entertain him nor give him a greeting. Do not go on your feelings. Walk in the truth.

In this time period, there was itinerant, traveling, preachers. They relied on the hospitality of the churches for food and board. John is saying if this traveling preacher does not bring with him the truths about Christ do not entertain him nor give him a greeting. Do not go on your feelings. Walk in the truth.

This is True love, walking in the teachings of Christ and not in the false teachings of the antichrist.  For the sake of the truth, we reject what is false and walk in love for our God. We fear Him and not man. Remember the greatest commandment? We are to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts, our souls, and our minds. Our first love should be Him and His teachings.

Sister, abide in the truth of the word, live wisely and with much discernment. Do not lose what you have accomplished. I want you to receive your full reward. You can never lose your salvation sister, for God holds you tightly in His hand. But be careful that you do not lose the reward for all the good you have done. 1 Corinthians 3:10-17.

Stay in your word reading, studying, and praying for discernment and wisdom. Learn what is pleasing to the Lord!

MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES

Why is it That Important to Memorize Scripture

Why I recommend the New Inductive Study Bible

I want to Know You… Studying the Attributes of God

Six Important Questions to Ask When You Study the Bible

PLEASE STAY CONNECTED:)

Thank you for stopping by the blog today!

I would love for you to join my blog community for weekly and monthly newsletters, freebies, and exclusive discounts.
And join me on instagram as we build a community of women cultivating the mind of Christ through in-depth Bible Study.