Walking in Truth and Love
Gist: Truth and Love are inseparable and should be lived through obedience to God’s Word, especially in the face of deceivers.
Scripture: 2 John 4-13
4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink.Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
Truth and Love Are Inseparable
In the context of the passage, some are walking in the truth. By implication, others were not. However, he does not dwell here, but rather focuses on those who are walking in the truth, admonishing them to also love. There are a couple points that really stuck out to me here.
1- He doesn’t just tell them to love, but includes himself in this command. “...that we love one another.” He does not consider himself above and beyond this necessity.
2- Love is demonstrated through obedience to the truth. "6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments…” Here we see this inseparability. Love and Truth, is they are real, must be present together. Alone, both destroy the gospel (the real TRUTH of Christ demonstrated through love). Let’s look at this real quick, and I’ll explain what I mean. The gospel, the Good News, can be summarized like this:
1- God is Holy and Loving.
2- Man is sinful and deserves Hell as punishment.
3- Jesus came and willingly took our punishment.
4- If we believe in Jesus and give Him control of our lives, we will be saved.
Now, trying to hold tight to the truth without love errs on the side of cruelty. Why? Only wanting to make sure you know the right things and everyone else does too, ignores the love of Christ which is fundamental to the truth. How did Jesus summarize the Law? Love God. Love people (Mark 12:30-31). On the other side, trying to love without a commitment to the truth fails to be loving because it encourages people caught in Hell-sending lies. Unless we hold people to the Truth, and live that Truth ourselves, are we really being loving? No. They are inseparable.
John Stott further pointed out the inseparability of truth and love by means of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit who is called the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13), and the first of the fruits of the Spirit (evidences of His indwelling) is love (Galatians 5:22-23).
Truth and Love Are Lived
Furthermore, they are lived. Love and Truth cannot be simply mental activities. We have been given this command to love " so that [we] should walk in it.” (verse 6). This is a life style. We live truth and love. The truth impacts our decisions. Love tempers our actions.
Truth and Love in the Face of Deceivers?
Why is this important? There are several reasons, not least being that we are witnesses to Jesus Christ who is TRUTH and LOVE. However, in this letter, John emphasizes the need to be committed to truth and love "7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world…” These deceivers are identified as anyone bringing any truth other than the gospel. Specifically, we see they were denying that Jesus is God.
How do we then live truth and love in this context? I see two admonitions in this text.
1- 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
First, we are to be on guard. Deceivers deceive. The less we know the truth, the more easily we are deceived. Therefore, as Proverbs 23:23 asserts, we are to "Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.” Knowing and understanding the truth of Scripture and how it is demonstrated through love needs to be our life ambition.
2- 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
This portion gets a little more tricky. So, are we not to even have these people come to our houses? What if a Jehovah’s Witness comes by, should we simply close the door? No. I have been chewing on this passage for several weeks now. In this time, I have even heard a teacher claim this means we are not to love unbelievers. That is not what the passage is saying. We have to understand the context here. Churches at this time were held in people’s homes. Pastors would travel around and teach in these home-churches. False teachers were doing the same. They were coming into these churches and spreading lies. That is what is meant by not letting them into your house. Don’t permit them to teach lies in the house of truth! As far as the “do not greet them” part, in Greek he uses the traditional greeting which wished someone success. Much like saying, “I hope everything you do goes well.” John isn’t telling us not to talk to these people. How else can we show truth and love? He is telling us not to encourage their sin. In our words or actions, we cannot seem to be encouraging them to continue in their lies. Otherwise, we are promoting their “wicked works” ourselves.
Closing Thoughts:
1. Are love and truth inseparable in your life?
2. Are there any ways you are encouraging false teaching in your actions or attitudes?
Truth and Love are inseparable and should be lived through obedience to God’s Word, especially in the face of deceivers.
SIDE NOTE: For a great sermon on this passage, check out this one by John Stott. I am indebted to him for the connection he drew between balanced truth and love.
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