WALKING IN TRUTH
3 JOHN 1-4
FOCAL POINT: WALKING IN TRUTH IS WALKING IN GOD’S TRUTH!
INTRODUCTION:
THIS LETTER GENERALLY ACCREDITED TO THE APOSTLE JOHN (ELDER), WRITTEN TO GAIUS, A DEVOTED DISCIPLE OF CHRIST, TO ONE OF THE CHURCHES IN A PROVINCE IN ASIA. THE INTENT WAS TO CORRECT A CHURCH MEMBER, DIOTREPHES, AND A DICTATORIAL AND DOMINEERING MEMBER. THIS RADICAL CAUSED MUCH CONSTERNATION IN THE CHURCH AND NEEDED CORRECTION, PARTICULARLY IN FOLLOWING THE APOSTLE’S TEACHING. JOHN’S CENTRAL POINT WAS TO TEACH AND WALK IN THE TRUTH. VERSES 1-4 USE THE WORD TRUTH FOUR TIMES. THE APOSTLE COMMENDED GAIUS FOR REMAINING STRONG UNDER ADVERSITY. WHAT A LESSON FOR THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH!
EXHORTATION ON 3 JOHN 1-4
GAIUS WAS A COMMON ROMAN NAME. THE APOSTLE JOHN SPOKE HIGHLY OF GAIUS ALTHOUGH HE MAY NOT OF KNOWN HIM INTIMATELY. THIS LIKELY CAME FROM REPORTS FROM OTHERS REGARDING THIS MAN’S DEVOTION TO CHRIST. THE APOSTLE EXPRESSED IN DEEP LOVE AND DEVOTION TOWARD GAIUS IN VERSE 1. GOD SETS HIS DEEPEST AFFECTIONS ON BELIEVERS WHO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. 1 JOHN 4: 11 “BELOVED, IF GOD SO LOVED US, WE ALSO OUGHT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. “ (NKJV)
WALKING IN TRUTH MEANS WALKING IN CONSISTENCY WITH THE TRUTH YOU HOLD. IF YOU BELIEVE, YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD THEN WALK LIKE A CHILD OF GOD. A FORGIVEN BELIEVER MUST WALK FORGIVEN.
WALKING IN TRUTH MEANS LIVING IN A WAY THAT HONORS AND PLEASES GOD. IT COULD EVEN REFER TO LIVING “IN CHRIST” SINCE HE IS “THE TRUTH” 1 JOHN 5: 20 “AND WE KNOW THAT THE SON OF GOD HAS COME AND HAS GIVEN US AN UNDERSTANDING, THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM WHO IS TRUE, AND WE ARE IN HIM WHO IS TRUE, IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS THE TRUE GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE.” (NKJV) JOHN 14: 6 “JESUS SAID TO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” (NKJV)
PSALMS 86: 11 “TEACH ME YOUR WAY, O LORD, I WILL WALK IN YOUR TRUTH; UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR YOUR NAME.” (NKJV)
2 JOHN 1: 4 “I REJOICED GREATLY THAT I HAVE FOUND (SOME) OF YOUR CHILDREN WALKING IN TRUTH, AS WE RECEIVED COMMANDMENT FROM THE FATHER.” (NKJV)
APPLICATION: WALKING IN TRUTH IS WALKING IN GOD’S TRUTH. THAT WALK IS GENUINE, WITHOUT PRETENSE, PHONINESS, COMPROMISE OR CONCEALMENT.
REF: HCS STUDY BIBLE, COMMENTARY BY DAVID GUZIK, F. B. MEYER DEVOTIONAL COMMENTARY, NKJV STUDY BIBLE BY RADMACHER, ALLEN & HOUSE, BLUELETTERBIBLE.COM
