Think about going to the Dr., or to the Pharmacy, or even on an airplane for your summer holiday…who do you want in charge of those things? You want a Dr. who knows what they are talking about, a Pharmacist that is going to give you the right medication, and you want a Pilot that can competently and safely deliver you to your destination. At the core of those people’s ability to do their jobs well is their knowledge of truth. Surely, if truth is so important in our day to day human lives, surely truth of an eternal nature is even more important?
In the first three verses of 2 John, we read of truth four times.
1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
Most likely written to a real congregation but under anonymity due to persecution (v.1a), John is writing to address error and false teaching on a collective level.
John’s solution to false teaching is simple – truth. He talks about truth 37 times in his New Testament writings, and essentially John is saying that truth is what binds us together. Error will cause division, truth will not.
He loves this congregation in truth, as do all who know the truth, this is because of the truth that abides in us, and John is confidently sure that grace, mercy, and peace will be with us in truth and love. Error will cause division, truth will not.
The big truth here is the truth of Jesus; who He is, what He did, what He does, and what He will do again.
Truth never changes, truth is absolute, truth is narrow and tight, truth is noncontradictory, and truth is, simply, true!
John’s opening address shows us that those who hold to this truth are joined by common bonds of love for and from this truth. As John continues, we will see those purporting to bring truth but actually bringing error, but for now, and for us, we are to love those who share in the glorious truth of Jesus. Error will cause division, truth will not.
Point to ponder – Am I loving all who know the truth?
Prayer – Father, we pray that you give us the discernment and understanding to be both wise and innocent, wise to the truth and innocent of error. We know your Word is truth, we know you only speak truth, and we pray that you help us develop an appetite for your Word that fills us with your truth, for your glory and for your good will and pleasure. Amen.
James Travis 