Truth and Love: They Go Together Like Hand in Glove
SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus
PLACE: Beacon Church in Goddard, KS.
Introduction: It’s good to be back with you this morning. I gave Pastor Eric a list of possible passages for these two weeks he has asked me to fill in while he and his family are on vacation. Among the list I gave him were what I call the NT Postcards, the one-chapter books of the New Testament, of which there are four—Philemon, 2 and 3 John, and Jude. He chose 2 John and 3 John, so that is where we are going today and, Lord willing, next week.
These are the shortest and probably the most neglected books of the NT. In fact, the last time I personally preached on these books was in 1976 during my first year as pastor, so I was glad when Eric chose them. It forced me to do some new study, since when I looked back at those sermons, I was somewhat embarrassed at the quality of what I preached 49 years ago. The study has proved personally valuable, and I hope it turns out to be that for you.
The salutation
Please turn with me in your Bible to Second John, just a couple of pages before the book of Revelation. In the salutation of this brief letter the writer identifies himself as “the elder,” indicating probably not only his age but also his office as an appointed leader in the church. Though he doesn’t give his name, his identity was apparently well known and his authority well recognized by the recipients of the letter, for he refers to himself “the elder.” The Apostle John is almost universally recognized as the author, as well as of 1 John, 3 John, the Gospel of John, and the Book of Revelation. By the number of words, John wrote the third-most of the NT after Paul and Luke. The time of writing is probably late in the apostolic age, as John was the last of the Apostles to pass from the scene.
The recipients of the letter are identified as “the chosen (or elect) lady and her children.” This is the only letter in the New Testament addressed to a woman, a mother with several children, perhaps a widow. However, most NT scholars believe the “elect lady,” or the “chosen lady,” is actually a reference to a church in the region of Ephesus, near where John resided on the Isle of Patmos, and “her children” are the members of that church. At the end of the letter John adds, “The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.” This, then would refer to the members of a sister church, perhaps the one where John himself worshipped. I think this is likely the case and I’m going to proceed on that basis.
But why would the Apostle speak so indirectly, instead of simply addressing his letter to “the church”? Probably because of persecution. It was safer to speak in guarded terms, and as long as the recipients know who he is, that was all that mattered. The threat of persecution might also explain why John calls himself “the elder,” rather than using his given name.
Nearly every letter contains a greeting of some sort, and John’s is found in verse 3. It is neither a prayer nor a wish but rather a confident affirmation: “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” Grace speaks of God’s free provision of salvation, mercy of our great need of it, and peace the result of it. All of these are gifts from God and are grounded in truth and love.
The focus on truth and love
The focus of the letter is bound up in those two terms, “truth” and “love,” and I want you to notice how frequently they are used in the first six verses. If you mark up your Bible, I suggest you underline these two words as we read the first six verses:
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.
4 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.
“Truth” and “love” each appears 5 times in these opening verses. (The term “command” is also used 4 times, and it is closely related to truth, as we shall see). It’s obvious that John wants us to focus our attention on these terms.
There seems to be a tension in the minds of some people between truth and love. Have you ever heard anyone say, “I love him too much to tell him the truth,” or, perhaps, “I’m going to tell the truth, and I don’t care who it hurts.” The assumption behind such statements seems to be that truth and love are in opposition to one another, and so one must choose which one to pursue at any given time. But the Bible doesn’t see it that way. Do you recall Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians to “speak the truth in love”? We are to pursue both truth and love at the same time, all the time.
I have adopted as my sermon title today, “Truth and Love: They Go Together Like Hand in Glove.” Some of you who are old enough to remember the musical, “Oklahoma.” One of the songs went like this:
“Love and marriage, love and marriage,
they go together like a horse and carriage.
Let me tell you, brother;
you can’t have one without the other.”
I would say the same applies to truth and love: you must not pursue one without the other. Christian love is founded upon Christian truth, and we shall never increase the love which exists between us by diminishing the truth which we hold in common. Let me say that again: we shall never increase the love which exists between us by diminishing the truth which we hold in common.
This is the great error of the ecumenical movement of the 75 years or so. Major Christian denominations—the Methodists, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, United Presbyterians, United Church of Christ—all apparently decided that the way to build love in the family of God was to compromise on doctrines that seem to separate people. It’s as though they said to one another, “You give up the inerrancy of Scripture and we’ll give up our insistence that Jesus is the only way, and then we can reach the world better because they will see how much we love one another.” It doesn’t work that way, does it? Virtually every one of these denominations has radically declined in attendance, declined in evangelism and missions, declined in holy living.
John affirms that he loves the lady and her children (i.e., this church and its members) in the truth and because of the truth. And he’s not alone—he says that all who know the truth love them also. The love relationship among believers of widely different cultures and backgrounds is held together by the glue of truth.
Consider the phrase John uses in verse 1, “know the truth.” Friends, truth can be known only if it is objective, not subjective. It drives me crazy to hear activists in our day constantly talking about “my truth” versus “your truth.” Friends, there is only the truth. Something is either true or it isn’t. It’s either historical or it isn’t. It either corresponds to reality or it doesn’t.
In His high priestly prayer in John 17:17 Jesus asks this of His Father: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Christ did not say that God’s word contains truth; rather it is truth. Psalm 119:160 states, “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” Scripture is the result of the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit on the human authors of the Bible so that they were protected from error as they wrote God’s revelation. And what they have given us is not partial truth or incomplete truth. Rather it is the full, accurate, and complete revelation of all that God wants His church to have.
John goes on to say in verse 2, “the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.” We don’t have to be concerned that truth is unattainable, nor that what is true today is going to be false tomorrow. For example, if God “made them male and female,” as Jesus Himself claimed, that doesn’t suddenly change in the 21st century because sociologists discover 78 new genders. If marriage was designed between a man and a woman, as Jesus claimed, that doesn’t suddenly become irrelevant because activist politicians decide that some other arrangement is a marriage.
Now certainly mankind’s perception of truth can change. We understand more today about the size of the universe, the cell structure of the human body, and the nature of mental illness. But none of these areas of knowledge contradict what God says in His Word; they simply elaborate on it because God has allowed humanity to understand more about His created universe.
Now in verse 4 John begins the body of his letter as he exhorts us regarding what we are to do with truth and love. We are to walk in them.
The exhortation: walk in truth and in love (4-5)
Verse 4: “It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth.” “Some”implies “not all,” but for now he will focus on the positive. He will give us an example of someone who isn’t walking in the truth in his next letter, Third John, which we will examine next week. “Walking in the truth” speaks of aligning one’s life with what God has revealed in His Word—believing it, living it, obeying it. That’s why the word “truth” in verse 4 is followed immediately by the phrase, “just as the Father commanded us.”
If you want to walk in truth, you need to know the Father’s commands and obey them. And one of the Father’s specific commands is that we “love one another.”
And how exactly do we love another? John defines love in verse 6: “And this is love, that we walk in obedience to his commands.”
A few of you may be old enough to remember a movement back in the 70’s called “situational ethics,” made famous by a philosopher/theologian named Joseph Fletcher. He told us that whether an act is loving depends upon the situation. Adultery can be a loving act. Abortion can be a loving act. Euthanasia can be a loving act. It all depends on whether you are seeking the other person’s highest good. The Apostle John says, “Baloney! Love is obedience to God’s commands, and God says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not take innocent life.” Jesus Himself said, “If you love me, then do what I say.” (John 14:15)
Now in verse 7 we come to the specific issue that generated this brief letter, and it has to do with false teachers—like Joseph Fletcher, I might add.
Warnings against false teachers (7-11)
In NT times, before the written Scriptures were widely available, the church was often dependent upon prophets and traveling teachers, really missionaries, who went from place to place teaching the truth to God’s people. And since travel was difficult and inns were generally disreputable, hospitality to such travelers was considered a sacred duty. But evidently some traveling teachers had shown up in this church who were teaching things that were troubling the believers. Not knowing quite how to handle it, someone in the church had apparently written to the Apostle John to ask for his advice. This letter seems to be his response to the following question: how should we treat people who teach false doctrines in the church?
Based upon what he has already shared, it seems to me that John’s overall counsel is, “When faced with doctrinal error, emphasize both truth and love.” Frankly, this is not an easy thing to practice. In fact, one of the major challenges in Christian ministry is to keep truth and love in balance. Some pastors tend to emphasize truth at the expense of love. They teach doctrine in a very dogmatic, even judgmental way. It’s “my way or the highway.” They may be wrong but they’re never in doubt.
On the other hand, there are those who so emphasize love that they end up accepting everyone and everything, even showing tolerance for serious doctrinal error. You rarely hear them mentioning sin or challenging their people regarding the cost of discipleship. Love grows soft and mushy when it is not strengthened by truth. At the same time, truth grows hard when it is not softened by love. Another way to put it is that “Truth should make our love discriminating, while love should make truth attractive or palatable.”
Starting in verse 7, John gives his answer to the church’s question. We’ll read through verse 11:
7 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.”
First, John makes it clear in verse 7 that false teachers are present in the church.
The presence of false teachers. (7) He warns against those who are deceived, and are deceiving others, about the person of the Lord Jesus, especially His incarnation, the fact that He is God come in the flesh. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was fully human (i.e., He was born, lived, learned, ate, slept, was tempted, suffered, died, was buried) and yet He was also fully God. Biblical theologians have expressed the doctrine of the incarnation this way: undiminished deity, perfect humanity, united in one person forever.
Jesus was not just a godly man; he was not a human god. He was the God-Man. This truth of the incarnation is fundamental to Christianity. It is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. John says that if a man does not teach that, he is a deceiver, a heretic; in fact, he is an antichrist.
There have been many heretical views of the person of Christ down through the centuries. There was Apollonarianism, Monarchianism, Eutychianism, Docetism, Gnosticism, and many other heresies. Some taught that Jesus was not really human, others that He was not really divine, and still others that He was neither human nor divine but something in between.
These heresies may be unfamiliar to you, but do not assume they have disappeared from the Church. They just go under different names today, like Jehovah’s Witness, Mormonism, Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity, to say nothing of world religions like Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism. Every one of these cults and religions denies the true incarnation, i.e., they deny that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ, and in Him alone.
Now move ahead to verse 9 (we’ll come back to verse 8) where John further describes and warns against these false teachers: “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.” The point here is that the false teacher doesn’t accept the Bible as an adequate revelation of God. He “runs ahead;” he is progressive. Ironically, it is possible to progress so far that you leave God behind. The result is not really progress but apostasy, not enlightenment but darkness. Such a person may be very persuasive and sincere. But this is the test: if he does not abide in the truth taught about Jesus in God’s Word, then he does not have a relationship with God.
So, how dangerous are these false teachers? Let’s go back to verse 8, where John lays out the danger of following both of these errors—denying the incarnation and progressing beyond the truth.
The danger of receiving false teachers. (8) “Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.” What do you lose, as a Christian, if you get involved with heresy and with progressive approaches to the Scripture that are so widespread today? Will you lose your salvation? Not if you are a true believer. But you will nevertheless lose something very precious, as John makes clear. You throw away opportunities for growth, maturity, for ministry, and for rewards. And you lose the privilege of hearing the Father one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Here I think John is teaching something very similar to the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3. That passage sheds so much light on the issue John is dealing with that I want us to turn to 1 Cor. 3 and read verses 10-15:
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (the Day of the Lord) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
Paul says that every true believer is involved in one way or another in building Christ’s church. He builds either with gold, silver, and precious stones, or he builds with wood, hay, and straw. If the latter, his work will be consumed with fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The person himself may be saved. In other words, he will get into heaven by the skin of his teeth, but he will have no rewards to lay at Jesus’ feet.
In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John says something similar: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Rev. 3:11) These crowns or rewards are symbols of authority and honor given to those who have served faithfully. If you succumb to false teaching, all your efforts are wasted.
So, what should you do when faced with those who deny the incarnation and deny the sufficiency of God’s Word?
The proper action to false teachers. (10-11) Look at verses 10-11 again: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching (i.e., the truth about Jesus), do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.” Now if this letter is written to an actual lady and her children, the meaning may be that if a cultist comes to your door, you should not let them in.
But as I have said, I think this is addressed to a church, so the “house” mentioned in verse 10 is probably the place where the church meets. The essential message is that the church must be very careful who it platforms, who shares the pulpit, who teaches S.S., who leads the Youth Group. Once again, we are reminded that truth and love go together. The loving thing for a congregation is to provide them truth and to make sure they are always receiving a good, nutritious meal from God’s Word.
So, suppose someone comes to a local church and volunteers to teach? What should the elders do? They must examine the person—both his character and his beliefs. Hard questions must be asked. Perhaps character references should be sought. For pastors in the Free Church we have a process known as “ordination,” a process your pastor has just completed. This is a rigorous process of examining a man’s theology and character so that when a church is looking for a pastor, they can have confidence that he will not lead them astray.
Of course, not every person who teaches or preaches in a local church is going to be ordained (e.g., missionaries or Sunday School teachers), so other processes must be put in place by the elders to assure that the church is protected. At the very least, before a person is granted permission to teach, he should be asked to affirm the church’s Statement of Faith. References may be valuable. Background checks are important for those who working with our youth.
Now perhaps all that may seem to generate suspicion rather than love. But the stakes are high, friends. Look at verses 11: “Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.” If you welcome a false teacher, if you affirm him, of you let him share the pulpit, he will simply take your affirmation to the next church and continue to sow his false teaching there.
Still, the Apostle is not asking us to hate the false teacher. None of his advice rules out the need for common courtesy, or for a gracious spirit. It does not even forbid all relationship with a false teacher, but as we treat him graciously, thoughtfully, and kindly as a fellow human being, we must not endorse his wrong ideas.
Now let me return to the question of whether we should invite Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons into our home. They almost always come in two’s, you know. That is because one is always in training. While I don’t think this passage is speaking directly to this issue, I would say it’s generally not a good idea. You don’t have to slam the door in their faces, but it’s probably not wise to welcome them in and try to witness to them. I have never heard of anyone winning a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness to Christ while they are on their mission. After all, if a vacuum cleaner salesman comes to your home, what chance do you have of selling him your vacuum cleaner? But if you have a Mormon neighbor or fellow employee, that’s another matter. Surely you should befriend them and try to witness to them.
Final greeting (12-13)
John wraps up his brief letter in verses 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. The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.”
Letters are useful, but personal contact is much better. After all, the tone of voice and facial expressions are lost in the mail. So, John expresses his hope and desire to visit with this church soon. That will profit them and bring joy to their hearts. Then he extends greetings from the church he is worshipping with and thus underscores the need in Christian life for both truth and love.
Conclusion: Friends, the nature and character of Jesus Christ as the God/man, Lord and Savior, is the most important truth in the world. He said of Himself, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me.” And Peter said of Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). These are the most exclusive claims made by any religious person in all of history. They are also the most egotistical and ridiculous claims, unless, of course, they are true. It was Josh McDowell, an atheist who converted to Christianity, who asked of Jesus, “Was He a liar? Was He a lunatic? Or was He Lord?” You must choose one because He didn’t leave any other options open. Friends, I trust you affirm, with John, that Jesus is Lord.
Prayer: Father, help us to keep truth and love foremost in our lives and ministry. Help us to keep them in balance. Help us to live out the truth in our daily lives, and to demonstrate love by being obedient to your commands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DATE: May 18, 2025