2 John 4 KJV [4] “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.” John is excited to hear of these believers walking in truth. He reminds them that it has been commanded by the Father. He encourages them, by letting them know how they have encouraged him, by simply staying on this path. He is going to deal with the danger of unscriptural ways in this epistle, so he begins by acknowledging their dedication to staying with what is right. We live in a day that is …
“Three Precious Friends”
2 John 3 KJV [3] “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” Our verse opens with, what I like to call, three precious friends. I want to introduce them to you. The first is Mr. Grace, the second is Mr. Mercy, and the third is Mr. Peace. If you are saved, then you can testify that you know each of them quite well. They have been sent to you from God the Father, and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in …
“Forever True”
2 John 2 KJV [2] “For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.” John is emphasizing the truth in the early verses of this epistle. He is wanting to warn this elect lady, and her children, concerning the lies of false teachers. In verse one, he speaks about a love for the truth, and a knowledge of the truth. Then in verse two, he speaks about the triumph of the truth. Truth will last forever! What a blessing to know that every lie will one day be washed away by God’s eternal truth! …
“A Mysterious Lady”
2 John 1 KJV [1] “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;” The lady that John refers to in our text is a mysterious lady. Her identity seems to be concealed in the text, and has been greatly debated among Bible students. Who is she? Why did John not call her name? These are only a few of the questions surrounding her. Let us consider this mysterious lady, and who she could possibly be. Some believe that she is …
“A Final Word”
1 John 5:21 [21] “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” John is closing this great epistle with a final word of warning. He reminds us to keep ourselves from idols. This may seem like a warning that would not be relevant for us today. I am sure that most readers would say that they do not have wooden statues, or graven idols, hanging on their wall, or sitting on the mantle in their living room. Most of us would agree that we do not bow down to an image each morning, or pray to idols of this kind. Although …
“Wrapping It Up”
1 John 5:20 [20] “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” Our verse contains two great finds, and two great facts. First, we that are saved have found the Son of God, and through him we have found spiritual understanding. These are riches that money cannot buy! To be saved, and have understanding removes all fear, and gives us hope in …
“A Wicked World”
1 John 5:19 [19] “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” When you read this verse, notice that there are two separate truths placed before us. The first truth is about the saved, and the second truth is about the sinner. We are reminded of the great difference between the child of God, and the world that we live in. While we may be in this world, we are definitely not of this world. As the song writer has said, “This world is not my home”. God’s children live in complete assurance …
“We Belong To Him”
1 John 5:18 [18] “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” I see two facts, in this verse, that prove that a believer belongs to Christ. What a blessing to be able to read the Bible and find the blessed assurance that we have been born again. This gives us great comfort, and victory, over the wicked one mentioned here in our text. The first fact is that a true child of God cannot continue on a course of sin, without …
“Is It Sin or Not?”
1 John 5:17 [17] “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” The question is often asked, “Does the Bible say this is wrong?” Or, you might have heard this one, “Where in the Bible does it say that this is sin?” Usually these questions are attached to hard subjects with little reference to them, if any at all. They are gray areas that most would rather avoid than try to answer. Others feel that if they cannot find a chapter and verse that spells it out in black and white, they can automatically assume that …
“A Deadly Path”
1 John 5:16 [16] “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” Three people in the Bible come to mind whenever I think about sinning a sin unto death. Moses was the meekest man in all the earth, but his patience ran thin, and he allowed the bad behavior of others to affect him. His disobedience to God cost him the promise …