Though I have much to write to you, I
would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face
to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13
The children of your elect sister greet you.
.
THE STUDY:
The theme of joy appears in all the letters (1 John 1:4; 2 John 4, 12; 3 John 3,
4). This joy likely was associated
with the friendship of the elder and his churches. He rejoiced in their growing
doctrinal clarity.
The letter ends with a hopeful
tone. The outcome from the exchange of this letter, and the expected face to face visit must have had
positive result. Had the “chosen lady and
her children” (v 1) not embraced the elder’s views, the letter probably
would not have survived.
The word for complete (peplērōmenē)
carries the sense of “filled up”—their mutual joy was nearly overflowing. The tense indicates an event with
continuing effect: we receive joy and continue to live in that joy. Such complete joy among Jesus and his followers is
characteristic of John’s writings (John 3:29; 15:11; 16:24; 17:13; 1 John 1:4).[1]
WHAT WE CAN WALK
AWAY WITH ….
- We walk away this morning with the understanding that John’s readers were not believers who didn’t understand the teachings of Christ. They were believers who understood the teachings of Christ and through that understanding they found JOY. Not just a good feeling for the moment but a joy that was fulfilling and lasting.
CONCLUSION:
A. W. Tozer wrote:
George Mueller would not preach until his heart was happy in the grace of
God; Ian Ruybroeck would not write while his feelings were low, but would
retire to a quiet place and wait on God till he felt the spirit of inspiration.
It is well-known that the elevated spirits of a group of Moravians convinced
John Wesley of the reality of their religion, and helped to bring him a short
time later to a state of true conversion.
The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful. I pray
that we pursue Christ more and more each day so that our Joy will be found in
Him and poured out through our obedience. I close 2 John with the lyrics from
a childhood song: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Where”? I
pray for joy this morning for us all.
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3
John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary
(196). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.
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