WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:00.719 Evening. 00:00:00.719 --> 00:00:05.040 Hi, Jenny. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:11.039 I've been asked to uh give an overview, as uh Pastor Doug said, of three John. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:15.119 Uh but before I do, uh let's go in prayer just one more time. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:21.120 Oh Father, what a what a joy you've provided for us. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:32.640 We gather here tonight with our fellow believers uh to study and learn your word, and what a precious gift that is. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:34.159 Thank you, Father. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:38.240 And may all who are here tonight hear your voice and not mine. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:53.759 And may you give us a glimpse of your glory that will buoy our souls right through this week, and and may your word take root in us, and and may we be as you have purposed us to be, and may we glorify you. 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:54.719 Amen. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:58.240 Well, 3 John. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:05.760 Uh I when I looked at it, I a question popped into my head. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:11.040 And the question that popped into my head is why is Third John in the Bible? 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:16.640 And I wasn't being disrespectful, but I mean, it's just a short little book. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:19.599 In fact, it's the shortest book in the Bible. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:27.200 It's one chapter, it's barely half a page, it's just 219 Greek words. 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:34.319 I mean, what could be established in such a short little letter that would require it to be in the Bible? 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:35.519 Why is it here? 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:41.120 There's no big theological treaties, it's not written to a church for instruction or warning. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:44.239 It's written to one guy, Gaius. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:46.560 It's a personal letter. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.599 Not even a letter, it's really more like a quick note. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:53.280 So, so why is three John in the Bible? 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:57.280 Well, I have three reasons why it's in the Bible. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:02.959 The first one is that it's written by the apostle John, and that's a pretty big deal. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:06.400 John wasn't an elite apostle, you could say. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:09.039 He was part of Jesus's inner circle. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:13.680 Peter, James, and thank you. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:18.800 John was with Peter and James. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:23.120 They were the only ones Jesus allowed at his transfiguration to see that. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:28.240 They were the only ones that Jesus asked to go deeper into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with him. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:33.520 John was the apostle who rested on Jesus' chest during the Last Supper. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:38.800 And Jesus entrusted the care of his mother to John at the cross. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:44.319 So when someone this close to Jesus writes something, it's worth considering. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:56.560 The early church fathers in charge of the canon of the Bible, putting the Bible together, selecting the books, they placed very strong emphasis on writings that could be traced directly to the apostles. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:57.680 So that's one reason. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:06.960 The second reason was it was included in the canon of the Bible because it was read and used in the early church as scripture as far back as the second century. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:13.919 So this little letter was revered, it was passed around from church to church, and it was read as scripture. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:20.560 And finally, the third reason it's in the Bible is because it contains themes consistent with Christianity teaching. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:24.879 It deals with hospitality and support for traveling missionaries. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:32.719 Uh, there's warning against pride and divisiveness, and it encourages faithfulness and love within the church. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:36.639 Therefore, we should be diligent to consider it as well. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:37.919 So, what do you say? 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:38.960 We open up our Bibles. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:41.360 If you got the Pew Bible, it's on 1087. 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:45.120 And let's read this uh letter. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:59.520 The elder, my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth, dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:06.639 For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth, how you are walking in the truth. 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:11.120 I have no greater joy than this to hear that my children are walking in truth. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:18.160 Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:21.279 They have testified to your love before the church. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:32.160 You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, since they set out, since they sent set out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from pagans. 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:38.720 Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be co-workers with the truth. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:47.040 I wrote something to the church, but Diatrophes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:55.439 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words, and he is not satisfied with that. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:04.480 He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:09.439 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:14.480 The one who does good is of God, the one who does evil has not seen God. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:24.240 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, even the truth itself, and we also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:29.279 I have many things to write you, but I don't want to write to you with pen and ink. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:33.279 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:35.120 Peace to you. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:37.680 The friends send your send you greetings. 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:40.560 Greet the friends by name. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:47.759 So, a short little letter, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope I don't run over in time. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:49.759 So here we go. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:54.240 Before jumping into the text, though, I'd like to establish something before we do that. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.439 Uh, I'd like to get a little bit of the context of the letter. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:03.439 Um, the major theme here in John, as you can kind of tell, is hospitality. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.639 And I want us to look at why that was such a big thing. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:10.480 Why was John so concerned about hospitality? 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:15.279 What was happening in the first century that made hospitality so critical? 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:24.000 Well, hospitality was the necessary ingredient that propelled the proclamation of the gospel. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:25.759 How did it do that? 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:29.839 How did hospitality propel the spread of the gospel? 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:32.720 Very much as you might imagine. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:43.120 First thing is, keep in mind that in the mid to late first century, a large populace of the Roman Empire had not even heard of Christianity yet. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:48.399 And there was large swaths of territory that were oblivious to Christianity. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:58.800 Those areas needed to be evangelized, and there was this sense of urgency to proclaiming the Christian message because there was a widespread belief that Christ's return was imminent. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:05.680 So they wanted to get out there before Christ came back, and people didn't get the chance to hear this gospel. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:15.279 So, secondly, there were Christian, the Christian communities that did exist at that time, they were in their very early formative stages. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:20.240 Christian doctrine was actually kind of being formed as they went along here. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:27.120 And it was still a few centuries away from established creeds that laid out all the key tenets of Christianity. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:33.360 Therefore, as you can imagine, a church was susceptible to incorrect or false teaching. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:36.399 Who was propagating the truth, who was not? 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:41.920 So there weren't established formal doctrinal statements and other apostolic letters. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.800 So two things that propagated the gospel. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:49.360 One were missionaries, or they call them sometimes itinerant preachers. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:52.560 They were sent out to areas where the gospel hadn't been heard. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:58.160 And secondly, there were these emissaries or representatives who were under apostolic authority. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:02.560 They were sent out to the early developing churches to establish key doctrine. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:04.879 Sometimes we don't think about those people as much. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:08.160 We think about, you know, the itinerant preachers going out and preaching. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:15.759 Um, and sometimes they were one and the same preachers and these emissaries that were um bringing this doctrine to some of these early churches. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:22.800 There is a great example of uh sending emissaries to establish correct doctrine in the book of Acts, chapter 15. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:28.000 If you want to turn in your in your Bible, if you have it there, to Acts chapter 15. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.879 And we're going to start in verse 23. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:36.159 But as you're getting there, I want to just give you, again, kind of the background of what was going on. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:39.440 This is an account of the first church council. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:44.799 And from that council, the first letter, the first official document stating a doctrine. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:46.399 It was a set of beliefs. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:53.279 And what's happening in Acts 15 is that there is a big disagreement going on in the church in Antioch. 00:08:53.279 --> 00:09:01.840 What happened was Judaizers from Jerusalem came to Antioch and they were teaching that unless you're circumcised, you cannot be saved. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:06.080 Well, as you can imagine, Paul and Barnabas had exception with that. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:08.879 And they got into a big argument about this. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:19.840 So the church peoples decided, hey, let's send Paul and Barnabas and some of the others to the elders and the apostles in Jerusalem, and let's get a decision on this disagreement. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:35.679 After a big discussion in Jerusalem, James, the head of the church in Jerusalem, he decides to release a letter, a decree, a church statement on doctrine that is to be carried to the other churches by these emissaries to standardize the doctrine. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:38.159 So look at verse 23 with me. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:49.919 They wrote, From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:10:07.039 Since we have heard that some of them without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts, we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:30.480 Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas who will personally report the same things by word of mouth, for it was the Holy Spirit's decision and ours not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements, that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:34.240 You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:35.600 Farewell. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:46.639 So, Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas, just to name a few, they would travel around with this letter, and they would read it to the churches to establish doctrine. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.320 And that's exactly what happened. 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:54.960 Just turn over, since you're in Acts 15, if you are, just turn over to chapter 16, and you'll see this happening. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.159 Look at verse 4. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:08.799 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for the people to observe. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:12.320 As they traveled through the towns. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:15.759 So now, back to three, John. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:21.200 So you got these emissaries out there, you've got these evangelists out there spreading the gospel. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:23.840 These preachers and teachers, they had to travel. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:30.399 And having to travel, they had to make arrangements, and they needed to find homes where believers would welcome them. 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:38.799 And they depended upon Christian friends, Christian acquaintances, and sometimes Christians they hadn't met, strangers. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:44.480 And they needed to be provided with lodging, food, and possibly some financial support. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:50.720 And without hospitable believers, the gospel would have stalled in its spread. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:58.639 And early churches without traveling emissaries might have struggled more than they did with incorrect doctrine and false teachers. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:03.120 These travelers couldn't rely on staying at inns. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:07.120 You know, it was difficult to make like reservations like we do today. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:14.240 You know, I'm coming to this town, you know, can you slow, you know, they got there and they had to search for a room, kind of like, you know, Joseph and Mary did. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:18.080 They they they couldn't uh make arrangements always ahead of time. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:22.639 And inns would drain their funding anyway if they would have to always stay at an inn. 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:28.720 And most inns were really glorified brothels, dangerous places with criminals and disease. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:35.440 So it was critical that people would make themselves, their homes, their resources available to these itinerant preachers. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.159 You know who else was an itinerant preacher? 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.279 Jesus was an itinerant preacher, right? 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:47.840 He was not a permanent resident of Jerusalem, but he needed a place to stay when he came to Jerusalem for those feasts. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:58.799 And the Bible records that Jesus stayed in a town less than two miles from Jerusalem in Bethany at Martha, Mary, and Lazarus's house. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:02.480 This was his home away from home, his home away from Capernaum. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:08.080 Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are the early examples of this kind of hospitality. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.799 They opened their homes to Jesus. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:20.559 Luke 10, 38 writes, While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:26.720 How about Lydia being hospitable to Paul in Acts 16, 15? 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:36.799 It says, After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house, and she persuaded us. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:40.159 How about Peter when he stayed with Simon the Tanner in Joppa? 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:44.159 How about Jason welcoming Paul and his crew when they came to Thessalonica? 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:58.000 Acts 16, 6, it says, When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, and Jason has welcomed them. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:04.639 Many times this act of kindness was not only extended to acquaintances, but to strangers. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:12.159 And these strangers had to be vouched for by a reliable source, because it was dangerous just to take in a stranger with no credentials. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:18.799 And that's what John is doing for Demetrius in 3 John and verse 12. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:21.600 He is vouching for Demetrius. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:31.440 Verse 12 reads, Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, even the truth itself, and we also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:37.279 So hospitality was extended to preachers and teachers by believers. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:42.799 It was essential for the proclamation and the achievement of the gospel in the early church. 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:46.639 And that's why hospitality in the Bible is given as a commandment. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:50.639 It's not just referred to as a spiritual gift someone receives. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:58.559 Believers from a spirit-led heart would make their resources available to missionaries and emissaries of Christianity. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.679 So Christians were commanded to be hospitable. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:05.360 And you find this type of encouragement throughout the New Testament. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:14.240 In Romans 12, starting in verse 9, Paul begins a list of Christian ethics, how a Christian is to conduct himself. 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:18.480 And number 12 on that list comes in verse 13. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:23.919 Share with the saints in their needs, pursue hospitality. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:30.559 Pursue means to go after, chase, always be looking for opportunity to be hospitable. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:34.159 1 Timothy 3, verse 2. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:37.519 Paul is telling Timothy the qualification for elders. 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:48.399 He says, An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:52.000 1 Peter chapter 4, verses 7 through 9. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.120 And this is interesting. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:59.039 Peter here is warning that the end is near, that the end of the world is coming. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:03.840 And he's telling him how Christians should be acting when the Lord appears. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:10.159 And one of the things he stresses is for us to be found by Christ being hospitable. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:12.240 The end of all things is near. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.440 Therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:21.120 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:25.360 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.279 And then Hebrews. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:30.639 Hebrews chapter 13, verses 1 and 2. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:33.200 Let brotherly love continue. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:43.440 Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this, some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:50.399 Yet the early church leaders warned that you shouldn't be hospitable to everybody. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.120 We learned this in 2 John. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:56.399 You have to be very careful who you welcome. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.279 Remember? 00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:00.720 2 John verses 10 and 11. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:12.559 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home and do not greet him, for the one who greets him shares in his evil works. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:20.160 So those who went beyond the teachings of Christ, or those who added to the teachings of Christ, do not greet them, because they are teaching false doctrine. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:25.440 And if you're giving support to them, you are aiding and abetting false teaching. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:30.319 So that's the context I wanted us to look at for 3 John. 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.759 Hospitality. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.759 So now let's get into the text. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.039 Verse 1. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:44.240 So our CSB and the NIV translation says in verse 1, the elder to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:51.680 And the ESV and the NASB translation says, Gaius, the beloved, whom I love in truth. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:58.960 I kind of prefer the NASB because it says Gaius, the beloved, instead of Gaius, my dear friend. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:02.720 It's like John has given him a title, the beloved. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:07.599 It indicates to me, anyway, that the church loved him, the church community. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:10.400 He was the beloved Gaius. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:21.279 Secondly, I also like the NASB translation at the end of that first verse, whom I love in truth rather than whom I love in the truth. 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:34.480 I know it's a small difference, and it's ostensibly it means the same thing, but I don't know, Gaius, the beloved whom I love in truth, just sounds more noble, more exceptional. 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:41.599 And it seems that that word truth is pretty important in this short one-chapter letter. 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:43.599 John uses it seven times. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:46.240 Verse 1, whom I love in truth. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:50.720 Verse 3, fidelity to the truth, and walking in truth. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:53.599 Verse 4, again, walking in truth. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:57.599 Verse 8, co-walkers, co-workers with the truth. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:04.319 Verse 12, the truth itself speaks well of Demetrius, and our testimony is true. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:07.519 So what does truth mean here in John's letters? 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:09.759 What is he talking about? 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:14.880 What is the definition of truth in this context? 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:20.400 Well, truth here encompasses more than just being true or not being false. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:27.839 This word truth encompasses a message, a message that produces a way of thinking, but not just a way of thinking. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:35.599 Here, truth expresses an announcement of what God has done, which then calls for a response. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:39.200 So truth is really synonymous with the gospel. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:49.839 I think if you look at Colossians chapter 1, I think it provides a pretty good understanding of the truth/slash gospel that we believe. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:55.839 So in verses 4 and 5 of Colossians 1, it introduces this truth. 00:19:55.839 --> 00:20:06.319 It says, For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love you have for all the saints, because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:13.359 You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:22.160 So all those things listed there at the beginning, you have heard of your faith in Christ, you have the love you have for all the saints, the hope reserved for you in heaven. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:23.519 That's the truth. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:25.599 That's what we believe in. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:29.759 And I think that's what John is talking about when he talks about the truth. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:42.559 And then in verses 12 and 14 of that same chapter, it describes what that truth looks like: giving thanks to the Father, number one, who has enabled you to share in the saints' inheritance in the light. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:49.519 Number two, he's rescued us from the domain of darkness, and he's transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:55.039 And number three, in him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:03.359 So when John says in verse one, Gaius, the beloved, whom I love in truth, what is he conveying? 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:12.799 John's love for Gaius is based on a connection through a mutual understanding of who God is and what he has done. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:20.559 That truth about God, which is shared by John and Gaius, is what creates that bond. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:24.559 It is that truth which unites them and us. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:32.640 That is to say, all believers are linked together by a common knowledge of and belief in the truth. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:39.680 The true view of God, the true view of Christ, the true view of our salvation, and the means of that salvation. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:45.839 True believers are linked by a common knowledge and belief in the actual gospel. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:51.359 I'm sure you extra, I bet you ladies experience that this weekend. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:54.559 You experience this from time to time when you meet a believer. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:22:04.160 You go into another environment, you maybe go to another city, another gathering, you get together with other believers in Christ, and there's this immediate, profound affection. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:09.279 There's like a longing, there's a knitting together of our hearts around the truth. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:15.279 Many of you here, I think, each September go to a conference on the Jersey Shore, right? 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:17.599 In Ocean City, right? 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:23.839 And you go to listen to great preaching and you go sing great hymns and you walk along the beach at sunrise. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:28.960 But isn't it a glorious feeling to spend uninterrupted time with other believers? 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:33.839 United in a common knowledge of the great things our Savior has done. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:38.400 What an act of benevolence by our God who's granted that to us. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:45.200 He's given you a little taste of heaven, giving you a little glimpse of what he's prepared for those who love him. 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:51.119 Well, it was that truth that bound John to Gaius. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:56.559 John then is motivated to offer up a beautiful prayer for Gaius in verse 2. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:23:02.160 Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:04.160 And then he makes a comparison. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:16.319 Just as your whole life is going well, the NIV translated this way, even as your soul is going along well, and ESV is similar, even as it goes well with your soul. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:22.880 And the NASB says, just as your soul prospers, that's a great prayer. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:24.960 That's a great sentiment, isn't it? 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:30.559 Gayus, I pray that your physical health would be as good as your spiritual life. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:33.519 How often do we pray for somebody to get healed? 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:36.799 Or how often do we pray for someone to get relief from some problem? 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:40.160 Health, loneliness, heartache, provisions they need. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:44.319 I mean, and we should, and that's and that's what we do, and those prayers do get answered. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:48.000 But how often do we pray that our friend's spiritual health would be well? 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:52.000 I mean, I've had people ask me, you know, Mark, could you pray for my nephew? 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:57.200 His ankle, you know, he's twisted it and it's hurt and it's no, you know, he needs, he needs healing. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:59.920 And I say, well, sure, of course, we'll we'll pray for him. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:03.200 But I also want to say, well, how is he spiritually? 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:11.440 Because I don't want him, God forbid, he ends up in hell and he goes, yeah, Mark prayed for my ankle, but hey, nobody prayed for my spiritual health. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:23.680 So coming out of that bond, which is grounded in truth, is John's prayer that Gaius be blessed in health and prosperity as much as he's blessed in spiritual life. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:27.759 Now, how did John know that Gaius' spiritual life was prospering? 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:33.440 Well, verse 3 says that the brethren, believers, they came and said that Gael was faithful. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:42.480 Gaius was faithful to the truth, he showed fidelity to the truth, that he was acting in accordance with the truth, that he was walking in truth. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:48.240 And verse 4 says that John is most joyful to hear that Gaius is walking in truth. 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:51.039 What is this walking in truth? 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:52.640 What does that mean? 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:54.400 And how can we do this? 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:57.519 How do we walk in truth? 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:02.720 Well, let's look to the Bible to see if it gives us a picture of what it means to walk in truth. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:06.880 And there's some in the Old Testament, particularly 1st and 2 Kings. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:13.519 So let me just read you a couple, and I think it clearly tells us what it means to be walking in truth. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:17.599 So 1 Kings chapter 2, verse 4 says this. 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:28.799 And so that the Lord will fulfill his promise that he made to me, if your sons take care to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and all their soul. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:47.599 Staying in 1 Kings chapter 3 and verse 6 says, And Solomon replied, You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:50.960 And then 2 Kings chapter 20. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:52.400 This is Hezekiah. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:57.200 This is when he was mortally ill and he was praying to be saved from dying. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:06.960 He says, Please, Lord, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly, and have done what pleases you. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:09.119 That's walking in truth. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:16.079 Now in Galatians chapter 2, we get the negative of walking in truth. 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:18.480 What is it like to not walk in truth? 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:21.680 That helps also define what it means to walk in truth. 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:41.599 And that says, But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compelest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:49.599 So John is never more happy, more joyful than when he hears that his children are walking in truth. 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:52.799 What else did the brethren report about Gaius? 00:26:52.799 --> 00:27:05.920 Besides he's being faithful and he's walking in truth, he's hospitable to the brothers and sisters, not just his service to the brothers and sisters he's familiar with, but it says, especially when they are strangers. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:13.920 Verse 5, dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:19.039 Gaius had a special place in his heart to serve the brothers and sisters that were strangers. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:21.359 He had a special compassion for them. 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:29.359 And John was told by these congregates in verse 5 that Gaius loves those in the church, especially when they are strangers. 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:33.279 Man, that's so convicting to me. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.640 I thought about that. 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:37.359 The Spirit had me examine my hospitality. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:39.279 And I thought about it. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:44.400 So Gaius loved those missionaries or teachers that he hadn't met. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:48.079 Even when they would show up to wreck his weekend. 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.440 Right? 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:52.000 You didn't know when they were coming in the first century. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.839 They could just show up at any time. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:28:01.440 But he would open up his own home to them, he would give them food, he would give them supplies, he'd give them a place to rest. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:07.200 And today, when we talk about hospitality, I think we think of about a different type of hospitality. 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:13.359 Today, when we talk about hospitality, it's like, well, let's invite some friends to our home. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:29.039 Let's clean up the place, shine up the china, have some good food, make a nice presentation of the food, so that when we usher them out of the house before bedtime, we'll hope that they'll reflect and say, wow, that was a nice spread. 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:33.920 They really sacrificed a lot for us and we're hospitable. 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:39.440 You know, that's kind of our definition of hospitable these days. 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:44.640 But I think the meaning of hospital, hosp hospitality in the first century was quite different. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:47.200 And this far too often is not me. 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:51.279 I have trouble being hospitable to the people that I know, let alone strangers. 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:53.680 And I don't want to be inconvenienced. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:58.559 I just want to be left alone on the weekend, or most other days of the week. 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:02.799 But not gayest. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:04.400 No, no. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:12.319 He loved helping the missionaries that were out trying to proclaim the gospel, and he especially liked it when they were strangers. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:18.720 God helped me to be less selfish and more hospitable, like they were in the first century. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:25.039 Well, the second half of verse 6, John encourages Gaius to continue to serve them. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:32.880 He even says to that send them on their journey in a man in a manner worthy of God. 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:38.720 Send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:47.359 Because he says, provide for them, help them, comfort them, and support them as God would. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:51.920 Because it says they are not accepting anything from pagans. 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:53.279 That's in verse 7. 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:59.200 These missionaries are dependent on the hospitality of believers, they're not looking for support from non-believers. 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:06.559 Uh, you know what, this reminds me of the instructions Christ gave the apostles when he sent them out in Mark chapter six. 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:12.960 Verse 7, he said, He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:22.559 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff, no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on an extra shirt. 00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:26.559 He said to them, Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:34.400 If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:41.839 So John says to Gaius, those strangers that you're providing for, when you send them out, send them out in a way that is worthy of God. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.599 That's what we're supposed to do. 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:51.359 That's the hospitality we are to show to those who are evangelizing, to those who might be strangers and are out trying to advance the proclamation of the gospel. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:56.000 We're to send them out worthy of God to provide for them in that way. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:31:00.720 We are to provide for them as if God were visiting us. 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:04.319 That's the way I took it. 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:10.160 I'm reminded of the very first account of hospitality in the Bible. 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:15.039 The very first time hospitality is presented in the Bible. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:17.519 Of course, we need to go to Genesis. 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:19.039 So turn with me to Genesis. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:21.440 Take a look at this very familiar story. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:23.519 The very first book of the Bible. 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:29.279 It's a wonderful example of how we are to be hospitable. 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:35.119 It starts in verse one. 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:39.440 Genesis, I'm sorry, 15. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:41.279 No, eighteen. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:43.519 Sorry. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:50.160 Can I get an amen when you're there? 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:53.039 Verse one. 00:31:53.039 --> 00:32:03.440 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:08.640 Verse 2, he looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:13.759 When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them. 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:16.799 He didn't wait for them to come to him. 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:18.160 He ran to them. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:24.640 He bowed to the ground, which is showing respect, and humbled himself. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:31.440 Verse three says, And said, My Lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant. 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:34.480 He implored them so that he would he could serve them. 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:46.400 Verse four Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:52.000 Verse five, I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:56.880 This is why you have passed your servant today this way. 00:32:56.880 --> 00:33:05.200 The purpose of this encounter for Abraham was so that he could serve these people. 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:08.799 This is why you have passed your servant's way. 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:14.720 It goes on and says later, you can continue on. 00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:17.599 Yes, they replied, Do as you have said. 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.559 Verse 6. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:26.400 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, Quick, need three measures of the flour and make bread. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:30.559 Abraham wasn't reluctant to serve, but was quick to serve. 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.839 Verse 7. 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:37.039 Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender choice calf. 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:40.000 Abraham didn't serve leftovers, right? 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:41.440 He served the best. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:46.079 He gave it to a young man who hurried to prepare it. 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:47.519 Do you hear the verbs? 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.799 He ran to meet them. 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:50.240 He hurried into the tent. 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:52.000 Abraham ran to the man. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:54.640 The young men hurried to prepare it. 00:33:54.640 --> 00:34:01.200 There was no reluctant, no reluctancy to be hospitable. 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.079 Verse 8. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:08.960 Then Abraham took curds and milk as well as the calf that he had prepared and set them before the men. 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:12.880 He served them as they ate under the tree. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:17.519 He served them as they ate under the tree. 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:19.440 What a picture of hospitality. 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:22.960 Abraham stood at the ready to serve as the men ate. 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:26.400 A beautiful picture of hospitality. 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.280 One more thing. 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:30.880 Look down to verse 16 of this same chapter. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:34.159 At the end of the meal. 00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:41.119 The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off. 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:45.920 That kind of thing happened a lot in ancient Near East. 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:49.679 The goodbyes were long and they were heartfilled. 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:53.519 This was an important act of hospitality. 00:34:53.519 --> 00:35:02.639 They would not only walk until you, you know, were out of the edges of town, but sometimes they would walk a mile or two with them to see them off. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:14.880 Today we might linger at the door front, you know, saying our farewells, or if we're really fond of them, maybe we'll step out onto the porch and and send them off. 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:18.719 That's how we are to be hospitable. 00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:26.320 Maybe, maybe you you offer to drive them to the train station or you pick them up at the airport, something. 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:31.920 Anyway, that's what I thought about when he says send them off in a manner that's worthy of God. 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:47.920 So we're to do this not only because it's an act of kindness, but we're to do it because it is in a it is to assist in the advancement of the gospel. 00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:50.960 Look at verse 8 now, back in 3 John. 00:35:50.960 --> 00:36:00.239 So we're to do this not just for the kindness, but to assist in the advancement of the gospel. 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:08.880 Verse 8 says, Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be co-workers with the truth. 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:12.559 That's the main reason, so that we can be co-workers with the truth. 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:14.000 You know, we got to get in the game. 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:23.039