KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS

SESSION 6 – KELLY MINTER // WHAT LOVE IS

IN THIS EPISODE

• Day 1 discussion of 2 John 1:1-6 | 3:50
• Day 2 discussion of 2 John 1:7-13 | 18:24
• Day 3 discussion of 3 John 1:1-8 | 30:09
• Day 4 discussion of 3 John 1:9-14 | 38:11
• Day 5 wrap-up discussion | 48:37

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | The link between truth & love

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— 2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 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. 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. | 2 John 1:1-6

John points out that because believers have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us we then have love and truth in us. So as we live out our lives, we should strive to love with truth and inversely to give truth with love. The two will always be better received when given together and follow the example of how Christ loves us.

2 | The constancy of the Gospel

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. Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 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. 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. 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 sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings. | 2 John 1:7-13

In this letter we see John urge the recipient (& us) to remain in the Gospel message, to not fall prey to the idea that new thoughts are out there in regards to enlightenment. God’s truth and his word is unchanging. All the fullness of life that we will ever need is only found in him.

3 | Practical application

READ 3 JOHN 1:1-14

In John’s 3rd letter he gives us 3 examples of believers and their relationship to the body of Christ and he shows us what we can learn from them. From Gaius & Demetrius we see believers that are being commended for walking in the truth and strengthening the fellowship of believers. With Diotrephese, John warns us not to follow his example as his selfishness & gossip do not glorify the Lord or bring unity to the church.

SHOW NOTES

In our 6th & final study session of Kelly Minter’s book “What Love Is: The Letters of 1,2,3 John” we cover the books of 2 & 3 John. Some themes we see in this week’s study include the link between truth & love, the constancy of the Gospel & some ways we can practically live these truths out on a daily basis. Grab a cup of coffee and join us for this discussion!

Below are some links we mentioned in the episode in case you want to take a closer look:

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