3 John 1:1-15

Good morning, church. It is a joy to get to preach here. If you guys will take your copy of God, God's word. We're going to be in the book of third John. We're going to preach through the whole book, all 15 verses. But as you're turning there, I want to ask you guys a few questions.

Who do you imitate? Who do you look up to and desire to be like? And don't say nobody, because we all look up to someone. We are all influenced by someone. But are those who influence us influenced by Christ?

This text will call us to imitate good and not evil. And if we are not careful, we will slowly be shaped and molded by those who do not walk according to the example we have in Christ.

So let's read our text today from third John verses one through 15.

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health as it goes well with your soul.

For I rejoice greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church.

You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.

For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

Therefore, we ought to support people like these that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us and not content with that.

He refuses to welcome the brothers and also stops those who wants to and puts them out of the church.

Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good.

Whoever does good is from God and whoever does evil has not seen God.

Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself.

We also add our testimony and you know that our testimony is true.

I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.

I hope to see you soon and we will talk face to face.

Peace be to you.

The friends greet you.

Greet the friends each by name.

Amen.

So here we have a letter from the elder John and he is writing a personal letter to a man named Gaius,

who most likely came to faith through John's witness.

And Gaius is a member of a church along with this man named Diotrephes.

And we don't really know much information about Diotrephes.

We don't know if he was a pastor or just a regular church member with way too much influence.

But one thing is clear about Diotrephes is that he was a man of evil character.

So I'm going to break up today's sermon into four parts.

Part one is going to be the love and joy of John.

Part two, the good example of Gaius.

Part three, the evil example of Diotrephes.

And then part four, the conclusion, who do you imitate?

So part one, the love and joy of John.

So I want you to look closely at the way that John talks to Gaius.

In verse one, he calls him beloved.

And then he says, whom I love in the truth.

In verse two, he refers to him again as beloved and mentioned how he is praying for him.

And what is the content of his prayer?

John prays that Gaius would be in good health as it goes well with his soul.

So what is John saying here?

He is saying that Gaius is spiritually healthy.

And his desires that Gaius would be in good physical health as well.

We don't know exactly the context.

But it is very possible that Gaius suffered from some kind of physical ailment that constantly plagued him.

We don't really know.

But here is a lesson for us.

It is good for us to pray for the physical health of others.

But may this not be our primary concern.

May their spiritual health be our fervent prayer.

Good health is a blessing, but it is not promised to us.

And I would rather see someone with a broken body heading to the celestial kingdom

than a man or woman of excellent physical health heading to the place of eternal torment.

There it will not matter whether your body is healthy, strong, or fit

because the flames do not show partiality to those they will burn without consuming.

So how is your spiritual health?

Would John be able to say the same of you?

And I'm thankful that there are many here at church who are concerned about physical health.

But do not make physical health your idol.

If it were stripped away from you, could you still rejoice in the Lord?

Would someone still look at you and say,

My heart really aches for that brother and sister, for the pain that they are feeling.

But I rejoice because they are spiritually well.

So be diligent in taking care of your physical body.

But of far more importance is the diligent care of your soul.

So next, let's look how he rejoices in verse 3.

He says,

I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth,

as indeed you are walking in the truth.

It brought John great joy to see how Gaius was not just talking,

but was actually walking in the truth.

And he demonstrated this through the way that he treated these traveling gospel workers.

And we will touch on this more when we look at the example of Gaius.

But in verse 4, John proclaims,

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

It was his greatest joy to know that those he shared the gospel with

and discipled were faithfully walking in the truth.

Gaius might have been physically ill,

but John rejoiced that Gaius was spiritually well.

As followers of Christ, this should be the same for those who we've had the opportunity

to share the gospel with or disciple.

And for pastors, this should be your greatest joy to see the members under your care

faithfully walking in the truth.

And so while this text is referring to spiritual children,

it can also apply to physical children.

Charles Spurgeon, he used to use this text not only to challenge ministers of the word,

but also parents.

He used to walk into the home and look parents straight in the eyes,

and he challenged them to make spiritual children in their own families.

He said,

It is a very grievous thing to see how some professedly Christian parents are satisfied

so as long as their children display cleverness in learning or sharpness in business,

although they show no signs of a renewed nature.

If they pass their examinations with credit and promise to be well fitted for the world's battle,

their parents forget that there is a superior calling involving a higher crown

for which their child will need to be fitted by divine grace and armed with the whole armor of God.

When a man's heart is really right with God,

and he himself has been saved from the wrath to come

and is living in the light of his heavenly father's countenance,

it is certain that he is anxious about his children's souls,

prizes their immortal natures,

and feels nothing could give him greater joy

than to hear that his children walk in the truth of God.

So parents, is it your greatest joy to see your children walking in the truth?

Mothers, on this Mother's Day,

may your greatest joy and prayer be to see your children walking in the truth.

As moms, you get to spend a special amount of time with your children,

instilling in them the truths.

And when your kids reflect on all the things that mom used to say,

don't let the phrases that they think of be,

don't forget to wash your hands,

or don't talk to strangers,

or use your manners,

or eat your fruits and veggies.

This would be a tragedy

if this is all you are remembered by.

But let your children remember

how mom used to say,

you cannot love Christ

and hate the church.

Or,

if God cares for the birds, little one,

do you not think that he will care for you?

Or,

remember, my child,

that in Christ,

all your sins can be forgiven.

Fathers,

fathers,

lead your wives and kids

in a way that instills these truths

deep into their soul.

Love your spiritual children

and physical children

as John loved Gaius.

So lastly, in part one,

let's actually skip down

to verses 13 through 15.

Most of you guys won't have to turn your page,

but some of you may.

And let's read what John says here.

He says,

I had much to write to you,

but I would rather not write

with pen and ink.

I hope to see you soon,

and we will talk face to face.

Peace be to you.

The friends greet you.

Greet the friends,

each by name.

We can see here

John's deep longing

to be face to face with Gaius.

It wasn't enough for John

to just communicate it

with pen and ink.

He loved him too much.

He wanted to see him soon.

He wanted to be face to face.

This was indeed his spiritual child,

and what parent

who truly loves their child

would be content

only see them over a computer screen

or hearing from them

in an email or text

every once in a while.

It would be heartbreaking

because there is a deep longing

to be together,

to be in the presence

of one another.

So in this letter,

we see John's immense love

and joy

to see his spiritual child,

Gaius,

walking in the truth.

And honestly,

this reminds me of last Sunday,

seeing one of our own elders,

Clay,

tearing up as Jake Hughes

and his wife were moving away

and would no longer be gathering

with Christ Family Church.

Why such tears

from a tough Irishman?

Because Clay was experiencing

the immense joy and love

to see his child

walking in the truth

and the pain

of no longer

being face to face with him.

So now we're going to move

to part two,

the good example

of Gaius.

So let's return back

to verses one through four.

And I want you to notice

how many times

the word truth

is used here.

Verse one,

it says,

whom I love

in the truth.

And in verse three,

he says,

testify to your truth

as indeed you are walking

in the truth.

And verse four,

my children

walking

in the truth.

So Gaius

was walking

in the truth.

But what does this mean

that he is walking

in the truth?

Well,

if we actually go back

to John's first letter,

we will get a clearer picture

of what he means here.

So let's go to

first John

chapter two

and we're going to read

verses three through six.

First John chapter two

verses three through six.

it says,

and by this,

we know that we have

come to know him.

If we keep his commandments,

whoever says,

I know him,

but does not keep his commandments

is a liar

and the truth

is not in him.

but whoever keeps his word

in him,

truly the love of God

is perfected.

By this,

we may know

that we are in him.

Whoever says he abides

in him

ought to walk

in the same way

in which he

walked.

Notice how

if someone says

they know him,

but does not keep

his commandments,

the text calls him

a liar

and says the truth

is not in him.

So the one who

knows him

obeys his commands

and thus walks

in the truth.

And notice the last part

of verse six.

It says,

whoever says he abides

in him

ought to walk

in the same way

in which he

walked.

In other words,

Jesus

is the example

in which we should

be striving

to imitate.

We should

love the way

that he loved.

We should obey God

the way that he did.

But first John

is clear

that we will not

do this perfectly.

But this should be

our heart's desire

and aim

to be more

like Christ's.

Like the words

of a good old hymn,

O to be more,

O to be like thee,

blessed Redeemer.

This is my

constant longing

and prayer.

gladly

I'll forfeit

all of

earth's treasures

for thy

perfect likeness

to wear.

And so it was

with Gaius.

He not only

confessed the truth,

but he actually

walked in the truth.

He not only

said he had

fellowship with God,

but he showed

the truth

that he believed

by the way

he lived.

And this is

contrary

to the way

of

diatrophies.

he probably

confessed the truth.

He was a member

of this church.

But it seems

as if he lived

contrary

to his

confession.

And this is

a great place,

brothers and sisters,

to remind you

that you are only

saved by grace

alone,

through faith

alone,

in Christ alone.

Walking in the

truth does

not save you.

But let me

be clear.

If you

genuinely

believe that

Jesus Christ

died as a

perfectly

righteous

substitute

on your

behalf

to save

you from

the wrath

of God

and that

he gives

you his

righteousness

so that

you can

stand before

God

righteous

and justified,

out of

love for

God,

you will

walk in

the truth.

You will

walk in

the truth

because you

have been

saved,

not in

order to

be saved.

we are

too quick

to forget

the gospel

and try

to earn

right standing

before God.

By faith

you have

right standing

before God.

So live

for him

and walk

in the

truth.

And if

you are

trying to

earn

right standing

before God

by being a

good enough

person,

then repent

and believe

the gospel.

people,

I've had

too many

conversations

with people

where they

say they're

Christians,

so then I'll

ask them,

I was like,

so why do

you think you

should get

into heaven?

And the

most common

answer I've

heard from

these supposed

Christians is,

well, I think

I'm a good

enough person.

And to that

I tell you,

no, you

are not

good enough.

Only Christ

is good

enough and

he died

for you.

Believe in

him alone

for salvation.

Trust that

his sacrifice

is enough

and let

him change

you as

you keep

your eyes

fixated upon

him and

his word.

So Gaius

was not

merely talking,

but he

was also

walking in

the truth.

And verses

five through

six, so

we're going

to go back

to third

John.

And we're

going to

read verses

five through

six, which

give us a

tangible example

of how he

walked in

the truth.

So let's

read verses

five through

six.

Beloved,

it is a

faithful thing

you do in

all your

efforts for

these brothers,

strangers as

they are,

who testified

to your love

before the

church.

you would

do well to

send them on

their journey

in a manner

worthy of

God.

So back

then, those

who would do

traveling ministry

depended upon

the hospitality

of others.

And here's an

example of a

church that

should be

receiving these

gospel workers,

but because of

deatrophies,

they are

unwelcomed.

And deatrophies

tries to put

out of the

church anyone

who would dare

to welcome

them.

But Gaius

boldly welcomes

these brothers

and shows them

an extreme

amount of

hospitality,

even though he

barely knows

them.

To Gaius,

they are

strangers in

one sense,

as the text

says,

but they are

beloved brothers

in another

sense.

Gaius shows

his faith in

action by the

way he receives

these brothers,

risking getting

maligned and

wrongly put out

of the church.

His faith was

evident in

his actions.

So let's

read verses

seven and

eight,

which say,

for they have

gone out for

the sake of

the name,

accepting nothing

from the

Gentiles.

Therefore,

we ought to

support people

like these,

that we may be

fellow workers

for the truth.

here we have

these gospel

workers,

or we could

even say

missionaries,

who have gone

out for the

sake of the

gospel.

And John is

saying that we

ought to support

people like

these.

They aren't

receiving their

support from

the Gentiles,

that is,

the non-believers,

because their

work is for

the building up

of the church.

And since it

is for the

building of

the church,

it should be

from those

within the

church.

And so,

John says we

ought to support

workers like

these,

who are going

out for the

sake of the

name,

but he doesn't

leave it at

that.

He gives us

the reason

why we

should.

He says

that we may

be fellow

workers for

the truth.

As you support

workers who

have gone out

for the sake

of the gospel,

you are actually

joining,

partnering,

in their

work.

And as my

wife and I

were just

starting to

raise support,

I remember

complaining about

having to raise

support to a

good friend who

was actually

already supporting

us.

And I was

complaining just

kind of about

the process.

And he

looked at me

and sternly

but lovingly

rebuked me,

saying,

I work really

hard to make

extra money

so that I can

support those

taking the

gospel to the

nations.

this is my

way of

getting to

be a part

of the

great

commission.

In other

words,

what he

was saying

was,

shut your

mouth and

see it for

what it

truly is.

You are

inviting

people in

to be a

part of

the gospel

going to

the ends

of the

earth.

And this

totally

changed my

perspective

and made

raising support

actually a

joy because

we realized

we were

inviting

others to

take part

in the

great

commission.

And is

this not

what John

is talking

about here

in verse

eight?

Is he not

saying that

those who

support people

like these

are fellow

workers for

the truth?

So praise

God that

though you

may not

go,

you have

the opportunity

to go in

your giving,

in your

praying,

and in your

encouragement.

commitment.

But,

there's also

a warning

here.

If your

support means

that you

are partnering

in that

work,

should you

not know

what you

are partnering

in?

Should you

not be

careful and

intentional in

the work you

are supporting?

I've known

too many

people who

are giving

to different

ministries and

I'm sure

they have a

good heart,

they're giving

and they

just want to

be generous,

but they

have no

idea what

are the

aim,

what is the

aim and

mission of

these ministries.

Maybe they're

given to feel

good or maybe

they're given

because they

like the guy

and they

couldn't say

no,

but for all

they know,

they might be

supporting a

work that is

actually contrary

to the

gospel.

So be

careful who

you do

support and

be intentional

who you are

supporting,

because in

your support,

you are

also partnering

in that

work.

So we

see in the

example of

Gaius that

he believed

the truth and

thus walked

in the truth.

And one

example that

evidenced his

walking in the

truth was the

way that he

cared for and

supported these

gospel workers.

Maybe you look

to Gaius as a

good and

faithful example

of someone

walking in

the truth.

part three,

the bad

example of

diatrophies.

So verses

9 through 10

in 3 John

turn our

attention to a

man named

diatrophies.

And as I said

earlier, it

seems as if he

was a leader in

the church, but

we don't actually

have too much

information about

his position.

One thing is

clear, though.

It says he

was a man who

liked to put

himself first.

first.

And in his

putting himself

first, the text

says he does

not acknowledge

our authority.

It says that he

is talking wicked

nonsense against

us and not

content with that.

He refuses to

welcome the

brothers and

also stops those

who wants to

and puts them

out of the

church.

He does all

of these evil

deeds because

his self-idolatry

was under

attack.

But does he

not contradict

the very life

and words of

Jesus when

Jesus said in

Matthew chapter

Matthew 20:27–28

20 verses 27

through 28, and

whoever would be

first among you

must be your

slave, even as

the son of man

came not to be

served, but to

serve and to

give his life as

a ransom for

many.

Or Paul's

teaching in

Philippians chapter

two, verse

three, when he

says do nothing

out of selfish

ambition or

conceit, but in

humility count

others more

significant than

yourselves.

We must be

like Gaius, who

though he was

probably ill,

though he could

have been put

out of the

church and

maligned, he

did not put

himself first,

but cared for

these traveling

gospel workers.

He put them

first.

Do not be like

diatrophies, who

put himself first.

And this is so

easy to do.

I think about

this past week as

I was preparing

for this sermon,

how many times I

had don't be like

diatrophies playing

in the back of my

brain, especially

with everything

going on where I

was tempted to

put myself first.

But we must not

be like diatrophies.

we need to deny

ourselves, take up

our cross, and

follow him.

So fathers and

husbands, putting

yourself first will

cause you to be

unkind to your

wife and kids.

It will cause you

to be short

tempered, easily

irritated, slow

to listen, and

quick to speak.

Mothers and

wives, putting

yourself first will

cause you to

neglect your kids

when they need

you the most, to

see your kids as

a burden rather

than a blessing, to

see them as getting

in the way of what

you really want to

do.

It will cause you

not to submit to

your husband or to

try to subvert his

leadership.

Bosses, putting

yourself first will

cause you to see

your employees as

just tools of making

more money or

creating more

leisure for

yourselves rather

other than people

made in the image

of God.

Employees, putting

yourself first will

cause you to not

work diligently, to

grumble and

complain, to text

or be on social

media or play games

when you probably

should actually be

working.

Students, putting

yourself first will

cause you to go for

a career that will

benefit you the most,

not considering your

family, your church

or how it could

serve the Lord.

It may cause you to

be focused on grades

to the point that you

ignore the people God

has put in your life

or you would rather

spend time studying or

working on projects or

paper when you should

probably be gathering

with the church on

Sunday.

Children, putting

yourselves first will

cause you to disobey

your parents, be mean

to your siblings, to

grumble and complain

and argue when they

ask you to do

something.

Lastly, church

members, putting

yourself first will

cause you to grumble

and complain when at

a member meeting

there's a decision put

forth that isn't

convenient or

comfortable for you.

It will cause you to

vote in such a way

that benefits you the

most, not considering

your brothers or

sisters or your

leaders who God has

put in charge of

shepherding your soul.

people.

These are just a few

examples and there's

so much more that could

be said about this

section, but I hope you

see the danger of

putting yourself first.

It does not glorify the

Lord and walks contrary

to the example we have

in Christ.

Do not imitate

diatrophies who like to

put himself first, but

imitate Gaius as he

walked in the truth.

part four conclusion.

Who do you imitate?

Verse 11 gives us the

main command in third

John.

It says, beloved, do

not imitate evil, but

imitate good.

Whoever does good is

from God and whoever

does evil has not seen

God.

He follows this by

pointing to another

brother, Demetrius,

saying Demetrius has

received good testimony

from everyone and

from the truth itself.

We also add our

testimony and you know

that our testimony is

true.

Demetrius had a good

and faithful reputation

and he was another one

to be imitated, but we

obviously don't have

many details surrounding

his life.

But what we do have is

an example of Gaius and

the example of diatrophies

and a call to imitate

good and not evil.

And as I said earlier,

we all imitate someone.

So my question is, who

do you imitate?

Who is the person that

captures an ideal that

you desire?

Is it a famous person or

singer?

If you would pay a lot

of money and drive hours

to go see this person, it

might be a sign that you

are greatly influenced by

them.

And if you aren't

careful, you will start

to imitate their way of

living.

Maybe you desire to

imitate someone that

isn't evil, but who

should not be your

ultimate desire to

become like.

Maybe it is the

Instagram influencer

mom.

Maybe it's a certain

successful businessman,

a certain professor,

hunter, or athlete,

or soldier.

You fill in the blank.

If the person you are

seeking to imitate

isn't helping you grow

in godliness and

holiness, should you

ultimately be imitating

them?

Could you say, as Paul

said in 1 Corinthians 11,

follow me as I follow

Christ?

In other words, look at

my example in so much

as I am following

Christ.

He also says in

Philippians 3 17,

join in imitating me

and keep your eyes on

those who walk

according to the

example you have

in us.

We have the truth

and this truth

teaches us how to

live and we need

human examples

of those truths

lived out.

Do you have

brothers and sisters

in the faith that you

could point to

and say,

be like so-and-so,

consider the way he

follows Christ?

Parents, as your kids

are growing up,

who can you point to

and say,

if you want to be a

businessman,

consider this person

and the way his faith

is at action in his

work.

Or if you want to be a

mother,

don't only look to my

example, but consider

this mom and how she is

faithfully discipling

and training up her

children.

We need the church

on this journey

to look to one

another and to learn

how to live out the

truth.

And parents, if your

children do not have

godly examples to

look to, they will

look to the world.

Be careful of the

role models you put

before them.

Be watchful of who

you idolize in the

home, who is on

your TV, and who is

on your speakers.

Your kids are

watching, they're

learning, and they're

imitating.

This is also my

plug for reading good

Christian biographies,

for the sake of your

soul and your

families, to have

these imperfect

examples of

believers striving to

live like the perfect

example, Christ.

So I'd like to end

with the command of

3 John verse 11.

Beloved, do not

imitate evil, but

imitate good.

So ask yourself, who

do you imitate, whether

secretly or openly?

And if this person

does not point you to

Christ, to the

gospel, if this person

is not walking in the

truth, ask yourself,

should you be

imitating them?

And ask yourself, who

should you imitate?

Beware of those who

walk in the way of

deatrophies, who

walk contrary to the

truth.

But look for those

like Gaius, who

walk in the truth, to

those who not only

believe the truth, but

live lives that

evidence the truth

that they believe.

Let's pray, church.