The Close Bonds of Christianity

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 104 (selected verses)
• Hymn — Bless the Lord, O My Soul (#104)
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 126
• Hymn — Sing Choirs in New Jerusalem (#358)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Scripture Reading — 2 John 1–13
• Sermon
• Hymn — May the Mind of Christ My Savior (#488)
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: The Close Bonds of Christianity

Scripture: 2 John 1–13

I. The Close Bonds of the Church

A. John addresses "the elect lady and her children" — most likely a reference to a local congregation, a subunit of the one Church Catholic

1. The Greek word for "lady" (kyria) was used for a subunit of a larger body
2. John identifies himself as "the Elder" (Greek: presbuteros), not "the Apostle," consistent with 1 Peter 5:1

B. The close bonds between congregations are representative bonds — mediated through elders corresponding and gathering together

1. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 illustrates elders representing their congregations
2. The greeting from "the children of your elect sister" (v. 13) indicates a sister church — likely the congregation in the Ephesus region where John resided
3. Modern parallel: General Assembly, where elders of many congregations and presbyteries gather as a church court

C. Application — our prayer lives should be as extensive as the apostles' vision of the church

1. Pray for the regional presbytery (Mississippi Valley Presbytery) — for camaraderie among elders grounded in the truth of Christ
2. Pray for the denomination (Presbyterian Church in America) — for faithfulness to Scripture, the Reformed faith, and the Great Commission
3. Pray for and support missionaries sent out by the church, nationally and internationally

II. The Close Bonds of Truth

A. In John 18:37, Jesus declares he came to bear witness to the truth; Pilate's response — "What is truth?" — reflects the Greco-Roman view of truth as elusive and abstract

B. John's view of truth stands in contrast: truth is not a formula to be climbed toward but a person who comes to us — the Logos made flesh (John 1)

1. Truth "abides in us and will be with us forever" (v. 2)
2. To walk in truth is the command of the Father (v. 4); the command to love one another echoes John 13 — Jesus's new commandment after washing the disciples' feet

C. Richard Yarbrough identifies five dimensions of truth found across John's letters

1. Truth is possessed and imparted by the Holy Spirit, who is truth
2. Truth refers to the ethical standards God has established, expressed in his commandments
3. Truth is God's sanctifying presence, giving believers the capacity to reflect God's character — love and aversion to sin
4. Truth refers to conformity to the way things are in God's omniscient wisdom
5. Truth refers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the sphere of eternal life into which it ushers believers

D. Jonathan Edwards illustrates the proper integration of truth

1. As a young man Edwards was drawn to Newtonian science and Enlightenment philosophy (Locke), feeling caught between the sovereignty of God and the supremacy of human reason
2. He came to embrace God's sovereignty as a "delightful conviction," experiencing "inward sweet delight in God"
3. George Marsden summarizes: Edwards saw that God's sovereignty extends to the very essence of all reality — the universe is essentially personal, created and sustained to communicate love, supremely expressed in Christ's sacrifice
4. All truth — in science, history, mathematics — is the personal expression of the God of love, meant to draw us to Christ; Colossians 1 — all things were made through him and for him

III. The Close Bonds of Discernment

A. Close bonds must not erode discernment — the love John calls for is a truth-anchored, discerning love, not blind loyalty

B. The reason for discernment: "many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh" (v. 7)

1. In 1 John 4, John combated Docetism (from Greek dokeō, "to seem") — the denial of Christ's first coming in the flesh, rooted in Greek dualistic thought
2. The language in 2 John appears to address denial of Christ's bodily second coming — his return to judge the living and the dead
3. The simple discerning formula: Christ died — Christ is risen — Christ will come again

C. Abiding in the teaching of Christ (vv. 8–9) contrasts with "going on ahead"

1. Christianity is founded on the settled, finished work of Christ and the apostolic explanation of that work
2. Discernment requires a sharp eye for novelty — the temptation to chase new doctrines has been a recurring thorn throughout church history
3. Closed canon; abiding in established apostolic truth

D. The practical application of verses 10–11 — do not receive false teachers or give them greeting

1. This is not a contradiction of the hospitality commended in Hebrews 13:2
2. In the ancient world, breaking bread and welcoming someone into your home signified oneness with them; John forbids signaling oneness with those who publicly deny Christ
3. Modern application: what ministries are we associating with? Do our fellowships give a confused message about the doctrines we proclaim?
4. The key word is public — discernment is not a witch hunt of suspicions, but a response to organizations that publicly codify positions out of accord with God's word
5. Historical parallel: the Reformers were willing to work with Rome until the Council of Trent codified its errors — at that point separation became necessary
6. Creeds and confessions give clarity to what we believe, enabling Discerning fellowship

E. Conclusion: the confession of truth should translate to the fellowship of truth — who we are one with ought to reflect the doctrines we proclaim, so the watching world sees a clear and consistent witness