To the Beloved
Notes
Transcript
To the Beloved
To the Beloved
Today, we are going to close out our study of the letters of John
Last week John wrote to another church, but this week he is going to write a personal letter
And we are going to see something interesting, that John learned from his time with Jesus how to walk with, teach, and encourage others.
Last week John’s concern were people who come to the church that do not confess Christ came in the flesh, who does not abide (live) in the teaching of Christ.
And if you find one like this, then don’t let him com to your house or church, and don’t greet them.
As usual with John, he is going to flip the script and give an example of commending one for receiving Christians and he will call out one who does not receive Christians.
In both cases, John does not spell out any DOCTRINAL issues.
He concentrates on loving, helping, and receiving one another in love.
A couple of nerd notes:
This is the shortest document in the entire NT, in its original Greek
Also, nowhere is Jesus or Christ mentioned in the letter.
The letter is an example of how people and churches were in communication with the Apostles.
Here is how the letter open...
The Elder to beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
Beloved, I pray that all is going well with you, and that you are every bit as healthy physically as you are spiritually. I was absolutely delighted, you see, when some of the family arrived and bore witness to your truthfulness, since clearly you are walking in the truth. Nothing gives me greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
The language, immediately, will catch the student of scripture.
The term ‘beloved’ is a term that John uses of himself in his gospel.
****NEXT SLIDE****
Again, John is not concerned with what Gaius’ doctrinal belief system is.
John can ascertain Gaius’ belief and loyalty based on how he walks (behaves).
John wants his ‘children’ to understand the difference between guarding yourself from deceivers and welcoming family and those who are in need.
Too often, we con confuse the two.
Beloved, when you are doing all that you do for family members, even when they are strangers, you are doing a faithful work. These people have borne witness to your love in the presence of the assembly, and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. They went out for the sake of the Name, not accepting help from outsiders. We ought to support people like that, so that we may become fellow-workers with the truth.
John is calling attention to Gaius who has received Christian workers.
He is helping them
He is housing them
He is equipping them as they are sent on their way
I mentioned how the name of Jesus nor his title, Messiah or Christ, is used in the gospel. That is true, but John drops another term that means the same thing.
They went out for the sake of the Name...
This does not mean the actual written letters.
Rather, it is as an emissary
Like, I come in the name of the U.S., or the President
What is the Name?
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
When John told us his reason for writing his Gospel, this was the reason...
That by believing we may have LIFE in his Name.
And these Christians who are going out, to whom Gaius is giving shelter and support are simply following the instruction Matthew.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
And here, the name is comprised of all three. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
They went out for the sake of the Name, not accepting help from outsiders. We ought to support people like that, so that we may become fellow-workers with the truth.
The issue, for John, is to give aid to the Gospel and taking the Name into all nations.
And when you do that, you become a fellow-worker with the truth (Jesus).
But, what happens when you say you believe in the Name, and you can help, but you don’t?
We are used to the concept of an ally not helping, but still remaining friends with them.
But this does not last for long, and is not easily forgotten.
When you say you believe but don’t help...
You become one who is hindering, resisting the truth, making it difficult for the gospel to go out to all the nations.
What do you think awaits one who does that?
I have written something to the assembly. But Diotrephes, who wants to be the most important person there, refuses to acknowledge us. So, then, if I come, I will refer back to what he has done, and the slanderous words he has spoken against us. Not being satisfied with that, he doesn’t welcome family members himself; and, when others want to do so, he forbids them and throws them out of the assembly.
You know, there are people whose name or actions have been recorded in scripture.
Some have been honorable
Others dishonorable
Can you imagine your actions leading to your name being included in scripture as an example?
Turns out, this guy is, according to John, putting out evil gossip against John and his disciples and the faithful.
But notice this, and this is important.
With Gaius, John does not commend his words or that he did not slander the church.
John commends Gaius’ welcoming and helping those who are of the Name
With Diotrephes, John acknowledges his evil gossip
But he concentrates on rejecting Christians
AND forbidding Christians in the fellowship from doing so, up to throwing them out of the church!
Diotrephes, as it turns out, will be an example John will use...
Beloved, don’t imitate evil; imitate good! Someone who does good is from God; someone who does evil has not seen God.
Diotrephes has become, in scripture, for the last 2,000 years, an example of evil in how you treat fellow Christians.
John says that when you expel one who is a loyal believer in Jesus from the fellowship, you have not seen God.
These are strong words.
There have been many, including church fathers, who have done this kind of thing.
For me, when a Christian desires to engage in evil against a brother or sister, specifically refusing aid, it causes me to wonder if they have seen God.
John will close out his letter...
Demetrius has been well attested by everybody, and by the truth itself. We join in this testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
I have much to write to you, but I don’t want to do it with pen and ink. I am hoping instead to see you very soon, so that we can talk face to face.
Peace be with you. All the friends greet you. Greet all the friends by name.
Now, in closing out these letters, first, I want to say thank you.
Often, I feel like Gaius.
Someone who does not follow the norm, steps outside the pattern of trying to enrich himself, and just help how he can.
When we have helped others (personally and through the church) and we hear the thank you, it makes me feel like Gaius.
It should make you feel like Gaius too.
Imagine the Apostle John writing a letter to you, when you feel like you are alone, standing against a loudmouth, taking the arrows, and this letter shows up.
It would hit you that a man who walked with Jesus, heard his words, saw his crucifixion, was a witness to his resurrected body, is spending a few hundred dollars (in our days money) to send you a letter. To affirm you are doing the right thing.
Will it make it easier? No
Will it make it worth it? Yes
Some Sunday’s I hear from you about how something you heard helped you understand something. Or it helped you get through something.
I feel like Gaius. Like I just received a letter from a witness.
I encourage all of you to be like Gaius, standing against the norm, welcoming those who are part of the family who are taking the Name into the nations.
Not to welcome the deceivers or dividers, you can shut your door on them without concern.
But open your doors, your pocket, your time, your gifts to those who are taking the name into the world.
To the Beloved
To the Beloved