A Christian’s Response to the Truth Study based on Mike Winkler’s book on 1 John, 2 John, 3 John & Jude in the Life Changing Studies with an Open Bible Series Lesson 12: A Christian’s Response to the Truth

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Know the truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1) How does one come to “know the truth”? “Be diligent [Study] to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Know the truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1) Confess the truth (1 Jn 2:22-23; 4:2-3, 15; 2 Jn 7) Confess = “to speak the same thing, agree” To agree with God and to make an open and free declaration of one’s deep conviction The “truth” John calls his readers to confess: Exactly what the “antichrists” had denied (2:22-23) The incarnation (4:2-3) and deity of Jesus Christ (4:15; 5:5)

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Know the truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1) Confess the truth (1 Jn 2:22-23; 4:2-3, 15; 2 Jn 7) Obey the truth (1 John 2:3-6; 3:22-24; 5:1-4) Obedience is a choice. We choose whether to keep His commandments or not keep His commandments. “Keep” is in the present tense=continuous action

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Know the truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1) Confess the truth (1 Jn 2:22-23; 4:2-3, 15; 2 Jn 7) Obey the truth (1 John 2:3-6; 3:22-24; 5:1-4) Practice the truth (1 John 1:5-10; 2:29; 3:7) “Practice” describes the habit of doing something For the Christian, truth & practice are inseparable Truth is not a simple intellectual exercise, but it dictates the actions of our entire being Truth, when properly held, will exhibit itself through its actions (cf. John 8:32)

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Know the truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1) Confess the truth (1 Jn 2:22-23; 4:2-3, 15; 2 Jn 7) Obey the truth (1 John 2:3-6; 3:22-24; 5:1-4) Practice the truth (1 John 1:5-10; 2:29; 3:7) Walk in the truth (1 Jn 1:6-7; 2 Jn 4-6; 3 Jn 3-4) Our walk is our life style, our way of living We should walk as Jesus walked (2:6) We should encourage & rejoice when others walk in the truth

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Know the truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1) Confess the truth (1 Jn 2:22-23; 4:2-3, 15; 2 Jn 7) Obey the truth (1 John 2:3-6; 3:22-24; 5:1-4) Practice the truth (1 John 1:5-10; 2:29; 3:7) Walk in the truth (1 Jn 1:6-7; 2 Jn 4-6; 3 Jn 3-4) Abide in the truth (1 Jn 2:13-14, 24; 2 Jn 9-11) Direct correlation between Christians abiding in truth and the truth abiding in Christians (Abide = “dwell or settle”) Abiding in the truth provides spiritual strength (2:14; 3:9), victory over the devil (2:13-14) & a relationship with God & Jesus (2:24; 2 John 9).

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Know the truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1) Confess the truth (1 Jn 2:22-23; 4:2-3, 15; 2 Jn 7) Obey the truth (1 John 2:3-6; 3:22-24; 5:1-4) Practice the truth (1 John 1:5-10; 2:29; 3:7) Walk in the truth (1 Jn 1:6-7; 2 Jn 4-6; 3 Jn 3-4) Abide in the truth (1 Jn 2:13-14, 24; 2 Jn 9-11) Work for the truth (3 John 5-8) Some work on the “front lines” (3 John 7) Some work “behind the scenes” (3 John 5-6) All are “fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 8)

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Know the truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1) Confess the truth (1 Jn 2:22-23; 4:2-3, 15; 2 Jn 7) Obey the truth (1 John 2:3-6; 3:22-24; 5:1-4) Practice the truth (1 John 1:5-10; 2:29; 3:7) Walk in the truth (1 Jn 1:6-7; 2 Jn 4-6; 3 Jn 3-4) Abide in the truth (1 Jn 2:13-14, 24; 2 Jn 9-11) Work for the truth (3 John 5-8) Contend for the truth (2 Jn 9-11; 3 Jn 4; cf. Jude 3) We do it by living acc. to His teachings (3 John 4) We do it by not approving of error (2 John 9-11)

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Overcome enemies of the truth We must abide in God & Jesus Practice righteousness (2:28-29; 3:7) Listen to God through His Word (4:4-6) Maintain & nurture our faith in God & Jesus (5:4-5) Remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus (2 John 9) Keep ourselves in the love of God

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Overcome enemies of the truth We must abide in God & Jesus We must persistently & honestly evaluate ‘selves “Look to yourselves” (2 John 8) “Look” = “to observe, discern, perceive” Implies doing so with fervency So that “we may receive our full reward” (2 John 8)

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Overcome enemies of the truth We must abide in God & Jesus We must persistently & honestly evaluate ‘selves We must “test” every teacher & their teachings 1 John 4:1-2 – “test” = prove, determine genuineness Objective = determine “whether they are of God” (4:1) As Christians, we must never leave the impression that we endorse or in any other way encourage false teaching (2 John 9-11). Must never receive, fellowship, endorse or encourage a false teacher (2 John 9-11) Never imitate them (3 John 9-11) Always be ready to confront them (3 John 10)

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Overcome enemies of the truth We must abide in God & Jesus We must persistently & honestly evaluate ‘selves We must “test” every teacher & their teachings We must consistently walk in the truth ourselves “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father” (2 John 4). “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 3-4).

A Christian’s Response to the Truth Overcome enemies of the truth We must abide in God & Jesus We must persistently & honestly evaluate ‘selves We must “test” every teacher & their teachings We must consistently walk in the truth ourselves We can conquer enemies of the truth if we will: Identify them (1 John 4:1-2) Test them (1 John 4:1) Refute them (Jude 3) Isolate them (2 John 9-11; 3 John 9-10)