Read: Second John 1:4-6
Focus: Second John 1:4
Knowledge
Answer the following
questions from the text:
Whom was John glad over?
Why was John glad?
What have we received?
From whom?
Understanding & Wisdom
With the salutation of verse 1-3 complete, John now moves into the body of his letter, where the core of his instruction is contained. Here is the heart of his message and why he felt compelled to write. Starting with verse 4-6, John affirms what is right and encourages the lady and her children to continue along that path.
A Spiritual Divide
So in verse 4 John expresses his great delight to discover that some of the lady’s children were walking in truth, a statement that reveals four important truths.
1. Godly environments don’t guarantee godly offspring.
Here we read that John is glad to hear some of the lady’s children are walking in truth. So what does it mean some were “walking in truth”?
Walking is a word that is defined more specifically as “to wander about to and fro.” Therefore, this word came to mean figuratively one’s conduct—the overall comportment, activity, and behavior of one’s life. Some of the lady’s children were conducting themselves, overall, “in truth”—that is, their behavior belonged to the realm of truth. So their conduct was done with open integrity, one which is rooted in the Truth of God, as the reference to the commandment of God in the following phrase indicates.
Therefore, John is glad because some of the lady’s children were conducting themselves with the integrity that springs from God’s Truth. However, implicit in that statement is that some of the lady’s children weren’t walking in truth.
This tells us that environment is not wholly responsible for the spiritual outcome of a child. Whether this refers to a family or a church, the principle is the same. Multiple kids can be raised in a godly home, and some may walk in truth while others don’t. A church can do everything “right” to foster spiritual growth, yet some members will rebel and refuse to do what is right. While a godly environment increases the odds of children walking in truth, it by no means guarantees it.
Question to ponder: What are some of the erroneous assumptions we make about the connection between godliness and environment?
Reputation Known
2. Our conduct will become known.
John most likely lived miles away from his readers, for otherwise he would have simply visited the lady and spoken directly to her about his concerns. John also lived in a world where travel and communication tended to be slow and unreliable. It wasn’t like he could hop onto Facebook and see the posts of the lady’s children. He couldn’t do a Google search and discover an article in an obscure newspaper about their behavior. He wouldn’t get a telephone call or text update from a friend who bumped into the lady’s children.
Yet despite the distance and unreliability, John still heard about what was going on. He heard about the good that the lady’s children were doing. He heard about the bad. The conduct of both became known, so much so that John, as far away as he was, heard of their doings.
This shows that how we conduct ourselves will become known to those around us. Our consistent pattern of behavior can’t be hidden long-term. Our lives will bear visible fruit, and that fruit will reveal to others what kind of tree we are, just as Jesus warned. (Matthew 7:16-20)
Rejoice in Good
3. We ought to rejoice
over those who are doing right.
When John heard about how the lady’s children were doing, he doesn’t jump in and chide those who did wrong. Nor does he lament their failure to walk in truth; he doesn’t let that override his joy nor does he overlook the good. Rather, he deliberately focuses on those who are doing right and declares his joy over the ones who are walking in the truth.
Sometimes, when we see the divide between those walking in truth and those who are not, the latter consumes our attention. We weep over their disobedience. We grieve their distance from God. We continually pray for their return. We ponder how we ought to confront them (or if we should), and we vacillate over what we should or shouldn’t say to them.
While these are normal and even good responses, John’s response shows us that we shouldn’t neglect affirming and rejoicing over the good in the midst of that.
Question to ponder: How can we remember those who are walking in the truth—especially when we’re also dealing with those who aren’t?
Mandatory Truth
4. Walking in truth is not optional.
While our behavior or conduct does not determine our eternal destiny, this does not make our obedience and integrity optional. We don’t get to pick and choose how we want to live. We aren’t free to determine our lifestyle. Look at how John puts it at the end of verse 4: These children were walking in truth according to the Father’s command.
A command implies a standard, an expectation, a requirement, an obligation. It is something we are to do, something we are obey and follow, regardless, whether we want to or not, whether we like it or not. There is no choice involved, just as a soldier, given a command, are to follow any order given to them—even if it should cost them their lives. So a command tells us what we are to do, no ifs, ands, or buts. And since this command comes from God the Father, it comes with the highest authority which will not be and can never be revoked, reversed, rescinded, or overridden.
So walking in truth isn’t a nice bonus or a good suggestion or a strong recommendation. It is not just something God desires us to follow because it will benefit us or even glorify Him. It is a command. God expects, requires, demands us to do this. Yes, we’re saved by grace, but that doesn’t nullify God’s commands. Having Christ’s imputed righteousness doesn’t change the requirement for me to live righteously.
Rather, we remain obligated by the Father Himself to walk in truth and in the Truth, to conduct ourselves with integrity and behave according to God’s Truth. Now, failing to do so will not lose us our salvation. But it will come with negative consequences, painful reprimands, and potentially devastating punishment.
Question to ponder: What do we do that reveals we’re treating walking in truth as optional rather than as the absolute command it is?
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