Speaker: Pastor Neil Lindwall

NIV 2 John 1-3 The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

Truth = alētheia, Reality & Jesus is the Ultimate Truth.  

225 alētheia (from 227/alēthēs, "true to fact") – properly, truth (what is true to fact); reality. In ancient Greek culture, 225 (alētheia) was synonymous for "reality" (the opposite of illusion, i.e. fact). … Truth (225/alētheia) is supremely embodied in the Person of Jesus Christ. Christ is "the perfect revelation of God the Father, in Himself manifesting all divine reality in being, the law, and the character of God" (WS, 485). Jesus is "the way, the truth (225/alētheia), and the life" (Jn 14:6, note the threefold use of Gk definite article). – excerpts from the HELPS Lexicon.

BE LOVED

Grace = xáris, God Favoring Us In Christ. 

(5485/xáris, "divine favor") is the unearned, free basis of joy (5479/xará, the cognate-noun). The two cognate verbs – "giving thanks" (2168/euxaristéō) and "rejoice" (5463/xaírō) – likewise derive from the same root (xar-, favor). All four therefore share the same core-meaning ("God's favor") in the life of the believer…

5485/xaris ("grace") conveys God freely extending favor towards us – literally, leaning towards us (favoring us) in Christ. Indeed the Lord is always inclined (disposed) to birth faith in believers, offering their highest opportunity (divine favor) for eternal gain (cf. Ro 14:23; Heb 11:6; Hab 2:4) – excerpts from the HELPS Lexicon.

Affections: We Love In The Truth, v. 1. We Love Because of Truth & Christ is Truth.

Associations: We Have a Bond with Those Who Know The Truth, v. 1. (ginōskō)

Abiding: The Truth Lives In Us, v. 2.

Atmosphere: Grace & Peace Flow from the God of The Truth & Love, v. 3.

Actions: We Live Out The Truth, v. 4.

Mercy = éleos, Covenant-Loyalty With Christ

1656 éleos (translating OT 2617/ese, "covenant-loyalty," "covenant-love" used over 170 times (in the OT-LXX) – properly, "mercy," as defined by loyalty to God's covenant. … 1656/eleos (1653/eleéō) is a "two-edge sword" (it "cuts both ways"). It means to mete out judgment (when God directs it) or to spare – as God sovereignly determines it (cf. Ro 9:15-23). 1656 (eleos) flows out of God's faithfulness to His own covenant. 1656/éleos (1653/eleeō) shows God acting according to His own standard (Himself, His own nature). Ps 136:14,15: "14And God made Israel pass through the midst of it (the Red Sea), For His lovingkindness ('mercy,' OT 2617/ese) is everlasting; 15But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness ('mercy,' OT 2617/ese) is everlasting" (NASB). … For centuries 2617a (ḥesed̠) has often been translated "mercy" or "lovingkindness." But the essence of the term is "loyalty to God's covenant" – hence translated by the LXX, Greek 1656/éleos ("mercy," "covenant-loyalty"). "Mercy," "pity," "kindness," or "loving-kindness" all come short if not including this central idea. – excerpts from the HELPS Lexicon. 

ESV Psalm 136:13-15 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; 14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; 15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;  

Peace = eirēnē, Reconciled Wholeness With God By Receiving Christ.

1515 eirēnē (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, with all essential parts joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness). In Scripture, peace (1515/eirēnē) is God's work from start to finish. Salvation (conversion) starts with "peace with God" (divine reconciliation, Ro 5:1) – i.e. being reconciled to God in true covenant-relationship with Him, actively interfacing together. Out of this flows "peace from God" (cf. Phil 4:7; 2 Thes 3:16) which constantly operates in believers who walk in faith ("the Lord's inbirthed persuasions," 4102/pístis). … In sum, the primary (literal) meaning of peace (1515/eirēnē) is wholeness, like its equivalent Hebrew counterpart, OT 7965/šhālōm (literally, "wholeness"). Biblical peace (1515/eirēnē, "wholeness") begins with a believer receiving Christ – bringing peace with God through His gift of salvation (Ro 5:1).

NIV 2 John 4-6 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

BE TRUE.  

Love, agapáō = Doing What God Prefers. Love here is agapáō – properly, to prefer, to love; used of the believer preferring to "live through Christ" (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing His will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapaō) preeminently refers to what God, who "is love" (26/agápē), prefers (1 Jn 4:8,16). See 26 (agápē). – HELPS Lexicon.

NIV 2 John 7-11 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. 

BE CAREFUL.  

Deceiver = plános, Working to Make Others Wander Off God’s True Path. 

plános (a substantival adjective, derived from 4105/planáō, "wander") – a deceiver, trying to get others to also veer off God's course (path of safety). See 4105 (planáō). 4108/planos ("deluded wanderer") focuses on the inevitable pains of wandering off the Lord's path, i.e. His "best-plan" (cf. 2307/thélēma). Reflection: Spiritual wandering always brings pain! The Lord gives His joy and power to those who stay on His course which brings His fullness and safety (cf. Jn 10:10). Only God's inbirthings of faith prevent us from getting off-course (being aimless). – excerpt from the HELPS Lexicon.

How To Defend Against Deceivers

• Know Jesus. 
• Know the Word. 
• Know the Enemy.

NIV 2 John 12-13 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.  

BE JOYFUL.  

PRACTICE LOVE / PROTECT TRUTH