Gtcotr/ss012719
John, surnamed Boanerges, was born around the
year 6AD in the fishing
village of Bethsaida. Bethsaida was a town situated just at the point where the
Jordan River empties into the northern waters of the Sea of Galilee. Some
scholars imagine John to be the youngest of the 12 disciples whom Jesus called
to follow Him. One thing we know for sure is that John
Boanerges, known to us as John the Apostle of
Jesus, outlived all of the other Disciples. John died in the town of
Selcuk which was adjacent the older, much larger Roman port city of Ephesus, in
Turkey. John died in about the year 100AD at about 94 years old.
John
is remembered for many things, none greater than the fact he is called “the
disciple whom Jesus loved”. In depictions of the Last Supper, painters continue
to place John closest to Jesus, he is the one leaning on Jesus’ chest. John is
also known for writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He has 4 books
in the New Testament which bear his name and then, there is the book of
Revelation which he penned as the great Apocalypse yet to come.
About
the year 90AD, perhaps 10 years before his death, John was about 84 years old.
At that time he decided to write a personal letter to a beloved friend Gaius.
Some imagine Gaius to be the Bishop whom John had appointed over the Church at
Pergamum. We do not know for certain who Gaius was, but we can see from John’s
letter that he was a well-respected leader who taught,
lived and supported the truth.
The
letter John wrote was in response to a missionary report he had heard in
Church. It seems the Church in Ephesus where John attended had sent some missionaries
out to evangelize the Gentiles who lived in what is now the country of Turkey.
When report got back to the Church in Ephesus concerning of the hospitality and
support the missionaries were receiving from Gaius, the elder Apostle John
decided to write his friend and commend him for his willingness to help spread
the Gospel even though he did not personally know these missionaries. John had
evidently taught Gaius well and still considered him to be one of his spiritual
sons. Now, let’s see what John has to say to, and about Gaius in his letter.
3 John 1
1 ¶ THE ELDER, To the beloved
Gaius, whom I love in truth:
2 Beloved, I pray that you
may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 ¶ For I rejoiced greatly
when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as
you walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than
to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Beloved, you do faithfully
whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,
6 who have borne witness of
your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey
in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,
7 because they went forth for
His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to
receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
There
are three clear highlights from these first verses of Third John. Remember as
we read this 1900-year-old letter from John, we should not see it as merely a
historical record or a letter intended by God to only be read by Gaius, rather,
it contains holy instructions for our lives today.
1. It is the will of God that we prosper and be
in health.
2. There is no joy greater than to hear that your
children walk in truth.
a. Truth = Objective
Truth free from falsehood, pretense or deceit
b. What is truth?
c.
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the
Father but by Me.”
i. Truth is not
determined by:
1. A Show of Hands
2. Popular Opinion
a. Jesus was popular
with some and not with others…
b. However, it was not
popular opinion that made Him the Son of God … or the Truth
3. Social Acceptance
4. Personal Preference
5. Individual
Experience
6. Long Established
Practices
7. Scientific Research
8. Archaeological Discoveries
9. Religion
ii. Truth is determined
by God
iii. Truth is revealed in
Christ
iv. Truth is imparted by
the Holy Spirit
v. Truth is accepted or
rejected by man
d. Everything must pass
the Jesus test.
i. WWJD
ii. I should think,
feel, believe, say and do the same.
e. v. 4 There is no
greater joy than to hear that your children walk in truth.
i. There is One Truth
1. Truth does not
change (Malachi 3:6)
2. Truth is no
individual truth – there may be individual experiences
3. Truth is greater
than glorified opinion
4. Truth filtered
through the subjective opinions of man is not truth
5. Truth does not
change – (Hebrews 13:8)
3. We will do well to support those who share the
Gospel truth.
v.6 … If you send them forward on their
journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,
v.8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we
may become fellow workers for the truth.
a. We become fellow
workers with those whom we support
b. Walking in the truth
demands we serve, and we send
This
morning God wants to encourage us all to:
·
Live
a prosperous and healthy life
·
Teach
and live the truth according to Christ
·
Support
the work of God
Close
