Introduction

2 John 1:1-4:

1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

From this passage want to notice five things.

There is a state into which all people enter who obey truth.

The elect lady and her children were in truth. John knew they were in truth by revelation. We can know who are in truth by their fruits (Matthew 7:20).

There is a correlated body of teaching known as truth which is understandable by man.

John and others knew truth. Truth has identity; is definite. Jesus also taught this (John 8:32). Truth was once a mystery, but now it has been made known and can be understood (Ephesians 3:3-4). Anything that differs in any way with this correlated body of truth is a lie (1 John 2:4; Romans 3:4).

Truth furnishes man’s motivation.

John did things for truth’s sake (2 John 1:2). Many who are members of a local church that says it is of Christ have not learned this. They use many things other than truth for motivation. They use such things as kitchens, youth camps, ball teams, etc. for motivation. They have not learned that a thing cannot be done for truth’s sake if truth has not authorized it. Let us use some examples of doing things for truth’s sake. Abraham offered his son for truth’s sake (Genesis 22). Noah built an ark for truth’s sake. Abel offered a blood offering for truth’s sake (Genesis 4). Israelites, for truth’s sake, had to offer their offerings at the place where God had put His name (Exodus 20:24). We must do many things for truth’s sake. One who believes is baptized in the Name of Jesus for truth’s sake. We must, for truth’s sake, exalt Christ’s local church over manmade institutions that are made for religious work and worship. In short, we must contend for the truth (Jude 3).

Truth is the governing principle of the Christian’s life.

The people of our text walked in truth. Truth dwells in the Christian (2 John 1:2). Truth is to be believed. It is to be loved. It is to be obeyed.

Note: The silence of the scripture must be respected also.

Truth is indestructible.

Truth will be with us forever (2 John 1:2). Truth endureth forever (1 Peter 2:25).

Also, truth will judge in the last day. John 12:48:

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

From 2 John 3, we learn that it will be grace and peace for those who have walked in truth.

Let us be sure we believe, love and obey the truth now, and make it the guide of our lives. If so, it will be our salvation.

Jesse Jenkins

Introduction

• Proverbs 10:9; 11:3, 5; 20:7
• The English word “integrity” does not appear in some English translations, but the concept is present in the Bible.
  • Strong’s number: H8537 – blamelessness, integrity

Integrity involves righteousness in all areas of life.

• Psalms 15
• Psalms 101
• I Kings 9:4-5 – David was help up as an example of integrity, despite his sin. Integrity doesn’t mean completely sinless. This should give us hope!
• Job lists areas in his life where he has had integrity:
  • Job 31:1, 9-12 – Moral purity
  • Job 31:5-8 – Not guilty of falsehood
  • Job 31:13-15 – Just in dealing with others
  • Job 31:16-23 – Care for the poor and needy
  • Job 31:24-28 – Not guilty of materialism
  • Job 31:29-30 – Has not cursed his enemy
  • Job 31:31-32 – Hospitality
  • Job 31:33-34 – Has not tried to hide sins like Adam

People of integrity live by God’s code of honor (even when others don’t like it)

• I Peter 2:13; 3:5, 17
• Psalms 26

You enjoy a clean conscience!

• Psalms 32:3
• Living with integrity helps us protect our conscience.
• Psalms 24:3-5
• Acts 24:16
• Romans 13:5
• Hebrews 13:18
• I Peter 3:16

Integrity makes you an incredible employee!

• Colossians 3:22-24
• Ephesians 6:5-8
• Proverbs 16:11
• Proverbs 19:1
• Proverbs 28:6
• Luke 3:13-14

Introduction

• Romans 12:10-13

Service to God

Time

• Acts 24:25-27

Money

• Matthew 15:4-6

Effort

• Haggai 1:2-5

Prayer

• Daniel 6:10
• I Thessalonians 5:17

Meditation

• Joshua 1:8
• I Timothy 4:15
• Do we ever just sit an think about spiritual things?

Worship

• Malachi 1:8, 13

Warning!

If things are tight, is it spiritual things that we cut first? If so, we are making Satan’s work easy!

Strategies to help:

Love God more!

• II Corinthians 8:1-5
• Spend time thinking about what God has done for us (Psalms 77:11-15).
• Read the Bible (Psalms 119:159-164).

Sacrifice self more!

• Matthew 16:24-25; Acts 4:34-37
• Jesus must be our first priority!

Make spiritual things important and urgent in our lives.

• Luke 12:17-23, 29-31
• The four quadrants of the important/urgent matrix.
• Luke 9:57-62 – Move earthly things back to the important but not urgent category.
• Luke 8:14; 10:40-42 – Limit not important, but urgent things as much as possible.
• Make sure spiritual things don’t end up in the not important and not urgent category!

II Corinthians 6

• II Corinthians 6:1-2 – Compare I Corinthians 3:9. The quote is from Isaiah 49:8.
• II Corinthians 6:3-6 – Paul was very cautious of his behavior so that his critics could not speak against him. See II Corinthians 11:23-28. Paul spelled out all that he had to go through to bring the gospel to them.
• II Corinthians 6:7-10 – See I Thessalonians 5:8. Paul spoke often of spiritual warfare.
• II Corinthians 6:11-13 – See Philippians 4:15. He had been open to them. He wanted them to be open in return. See I John 3:16-17. We must be willing to open our hearts to others an to serve them.
• II Corinthians 6:14-15 – This is a prohibition against fellowship with unbelievers. See Romans 1:29-32.
• II Corinthians 6:16-18 – Paul is showing how our relationship with God should work.

II Corinthians 7

• II Corinthians 7:1 – We should work to perfect our relationship with God. Is every part of my life glorifying God?

Introduction

• Matthew 4:23-25
• This sermon was a great departure from what most people thought true religion was at the time.
• This sermon was not a call to arms for physical warfare.

It is easy to misunderstand and misapply (if we ignore context and harmony)

• Matthew 5:14-16 – Jesus spoke in a way that everyone could understand.
• Matthew 5:29
• Jesus was practical and to the point.
• Matthew 5:44
• Matthew 6:7, 24
• Jesus was the perfect teacher, but it is still possible to take his words out of context and misuse them.
• Matthew 6:19; 7:1 – Is it wrong to have a bank account or judge others?
• If we fail to understand, the mistake is ours!
• Matthew 7:15, 7
• Matthew 6:33

There is a balance of dos and don’ts.

• Matthew 5:3, 11-12
• Matthew 5:13 – Be salty, don’t be tasteless.
• Matthew 5:20
• Matthew 6:2
• Matthew 7:13-14
• We want to have this same balance that Jesus had.

Jesus taught with obvious authority.

• Matthew 7:28-29
• John 7:45
• Matthew 5:17
• There was nothing physically unique about Jesus. It was the context of His teaching.
• Matthew 5:21
• Matthew 5:43-44
• Matthew 7:21-23 – Jesus is saying He will be there and be in charge at the judgment.
• Read with reverence!