New Woodstock Community Church Sermons

9/15/2024 - "A Warning to the Lady" (2 John 1:7-8) by Elder Owen Simiele at New Woodstock Community Church.

Sermon Outline:
“A Warning to the Lady” (2 John 1:7-8)

1. A Warning Against Deceivers (v. 7a)

  a. They come from a specific location

  b. They come with a specific purpose

  c. They come with a specific motivation

2. A Specific Deception (v. 7b)

3. The Antichrist? (v. 7c)

4. The Cost of Being Deceived (v. 8)
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There is no audio for next Sunday's sermon since we'll be at the lake. You can find the sermon transcript below along with its outline.

9/22/2024 - "John Gets Practical " (2 John 1:9-13) by Elder Owen Simiele at New Woodstock Community Church.

Sermon Outline:
"John Gets Practical" (2 John 1:9-13)

A)To Abide or Not to Abide? (v. 9)
B)A Practical Response to Wrong Teaching (v. 10) 
C)A Practical Warning for a Wrong Response (v. 11) 
D)A Joy Made Full (vv. 12-13)

-  Introduction of the Elder, the lady and her children.

-  What it is to love in truth

-  We saw John request something of the lady.

-  This request involved a command that she heard from the beginning:

- That we love one another 

- We did a deep dive into false teachers,
- For this was the concern of John, that out of love for the brethren, the lady

would be cautious of false teachers and false doctrine. This week we will see John continue his warning to the lady :
1) concerning those who do not abide in teachings of Christ,
2 ) and her reaction to their arrival.

READ 2 John
A)To Abide or Not to Abide?

This week we see that our first verse contains a contrast between those who hold to the teachings of Christ, and those who don't.

Before we get any further, It is important to note that in John’s estimation, no one is exempt from this standard, No one's teaching is exempt from examination. John says “Anyone”. As Christians, and especially those of you who are my age, we get tired of seeing teachers who have reached a level of fame, or notoriety who have no accountability, no team of elders, or at least none who will tell them they have gone too far.

As we know, the Holy Spirit carried John along to write this, we can set this in stone that no man in God’s economy is above having their teaching examined by those who hear it.

John's use of this word here is unusual as it is the only time it is used in a negative sense. This word is normally used in the sense of something or someone going ahead, such as:

-  Matthew 2:9 - “......and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over [the place] where the Child was."

-  Matthew 14:22 - "Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side....."

-  Matthew 21:9 - “The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David.....”

Here John uses this word in the sense of those who go on ahead beyond what is correct teaching.

One example that came to mind when I was thinking on this was when I was hiring new employees as Stickley. I had three CNC machines, computerized machines that cut out parts and did all the routes and holes in one step versus multiple machines. I had no issue training new people on them, as they were terrified to go beyond what was taught as they could crash the machine into itself if they input a wrong command or setting. What I dreaded the most was when we hired someone with CNC experience, who did not know our standards or processes. They always felt they could run on ahead, they felt they knew enough and could figure it out on their own. These are the ones that invariably made major mistakes. They did not abide by the standards already put in place. This leads us to what John says next:

What does this look like? Turn with me to 1 Tim 6:3-5.

- 1 Timothy 6:3-5 - "3 If anyone advocates and , 4 he is conceited [and] understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain."

It is like Paul is helping us understand by giving us a step by step playbook. Those who advocate for a different doctrine - that is a different teaching, do not agree with sound words.
Those sound words are 1) the very words of Christ - and 2) we might say are the words of those taught by the apostles, i.e. the gospels and epistles. This body of teaching together comprises a doctrine that conforms to godliness.

I bring this up because I want us to see in 1 Tim 6 the result of those who advocate a different doctrine?, That person is:

- “....conceited [and] understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”

This list of character traits lines up with John’s words - this person does not abide in the teachings of Christ- they are not living according to His teachings, thus - that person “...does not have God...”

- Following wrong doctrine will cause behavior in us not in line with the character of the Father.

Another way to look at it is:
Why does giving up the teachings of Christ automatically infer that we have given up on following God?

- First, It would be impossible to follow God alone when Christ said himself that the words he taught were not his own, but the Father’s:

- John 7:16 - "So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me."

- Thus to disobey the teachings of Christ is to turn away from the Father’s words.

- Second, We might think that “well, those are Jesus’s words, that doesn't mean we know what the Father thinks.” But we DO have a testimony as to what the Father thinks of what Jesus said:

-  BACKGROUND - At the mount of transfiguration, Peter from “good intentions” desired to build booths to the three that appeared.

-  Peter desired sincerely to honor Jesus, and Moses, and Elijah, but that was not what the Father desired. The Father audibly testified He desired obedience to His Son.

-  Peter even testified to the veracity of this John’s testimony when he said:

-  2 Peter 1:16-18 - "16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased" and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain."

Many of us have gone evangelizing, and we have probably heard that someone believes in God, but not Jesus. They can say this, and believe this sincerely. But no matter how sincere, if they are not abiding in the teachings of Christ, they do not have God.

- “Zeal and sincerity are no guarantee of truth”, (Mervyn Eloff, T123J, pg, 235)

Back in 2 John,

Back in verse 9 - But the one who does not go too far....
“....the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.”

For the one who is willing to stay within the doctrines of Christ, and obey what has been taught, he has a relationship with the Father, for he has obeyed the Son. This is why Jesus taught in John 14:23:

- When we are obedient to Jesus, it pleases the Father.
- Turn with me to John 6. The multitude had just been fed by Jesus. Jesus and His disciples then travel to the other side of the lake. When they got there the crowds then followed Him there. Let’s read from verse 26-29

- John 6:26-29 - "Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.""

- This is the will of the Father, to listen to and obey the words of the Son, or as we saw in:

-  John 14, “keep his word”,

-  or in 2 John “abide in the teaching” - meaning hear it, obey it. If we keep Jesus’s words the Father will love us, and make His abode with us. The Father desires no other work or effort to have relationship with Him.

What teaching is this? Back up to verse 9, the teaching of Christ.

We saw last week how even Peter reminds his readers in 2 Peter 3:12 that they

- As Peter says here - remember the correct teaching of the apostles - “...should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior [spoken] by your apostles."

Peter kept them focused to remember the teachings from the primary sources and these are the same primary sources we use today - the words of Jesus and teaching from those who spent time directly with Jesus - meaning the apostles, and those that were taught directly by those apostles.

And there will be those who regard themselves as apostles, but are not. Like John, who spoke against false teachers and doctrine, Paul spoke against fasle apostles in 2 Cor. They too taught another gospel, and Paul spoke just as strongly concerning the Corinthian response to them as John writes to the lady.

Turn with me to 2 Cor 11:3-4. Here in 2 Corinthians Paul is defending his apostleship to the Corinthians who have allowed false teachers, or “super-apostles” among them. He writes (starting in verse 3): “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity [of devotion] to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear [this] beautifully.”

Paul points out with some sarcasm, that when false teachers come to them, the Corinthians bear with them. This is not a good “bear”, all warm and fuzzy - this is sarcasm, meaning they allow them to stay, they entertain their teaching and allow them to speak, as they should not do.

Paul continues in verses 5-11 speaking of his actions out of love for them. 

Let's pick up in verse 12:

Paul makes it clear as to the origin of those who teach a different doctrine, different gospel, and even a different Christ - They are servants of Satan, who are disguised as angels of light. As we see back in 2 John verse 7 said - “This is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

One last note as we move forward. In writing this letter to the lady, the word “if” here is such that it is spoken as fact, not subjectively. That is to say false teachers are coming, or have already come.

I leave it to your study, but we can understand the emphasis that John uses in the next couple of phrases, especially if he is speaking concerning something that has already happened or is imminent.

This is like the young child about to walk onto the highway. You react differently if he has just stepped off the porch, or is in the middle of the yard. The child has reached the highway, and you are leaping out of your seat.

This is where we get stuck, because we have been speaking this entire time about loving one another, so we come to this verse and find it hard to believe. We are to actually not to receive someone into our house, and we aren't even to greet the person. How can we explain this?

First, we need to remember, we are speaking specifically, only about false teachers. We have already seen that these are people who teach false doctrines, who desire disciples after themselves, care for themselves, whose god is their own appetite. These people we were told in Jude were those who impersonate believers, sharing in fellowship meals.

In order to understand why we are not allowed to receive them into our house, or give them a greeting, let’s turn to 1 Cor. 5. We will read verse 1-8.

We see here an example of an immoral, unrepentant man within the church that has been allowed to remain in the church by the other believers. The church itself here is being rebuked, Paul is calling them arrogant because they have not mourned this sin in their midst.

You might say, in the context of what we have been studying, they have not loved this person enough to discipline him. But Paul has the courage to love Him, putting him out of the church, so as it says in verse 5, “so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus”.

Again we see in verse 6, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump [of dough?]". We saw that in Galatians 5 last week, we see that allowing wrong teaching, and allowing unrepentant sin is something that will spread within the body.

Paul goes on to say in verse 9 (through 13)

On one hand Paul speaks to the Corinthians concerning one group in verses 9 and 10. - 9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I [did] not at all [mean] with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.

- In effect Paul is telling the Corinthians: “I’m NOT telling you to keep away from those you are supposed to be evangelizing! Love them, care for them, show them Christ!” But on the other hand in verse 11 Paul is speaking of another group, and says of them: - "But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler not even to eat with such a one."

-  Note that the sins are the same as the first group, except these people are considered “so-called brothers.

-  Paul is saying to the Corinthians concerning this group,

- “I am telling you to keep away from those who say they are brothers, (as Jude said, “hidden reefs in your love feasts”), but who are no different than before they were “saved”. “

Two different groups. Same sins. But one group claims to be brothers in Christ, yet as 1 John 1:6 says, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and [yet] walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;"

Thus, going back to 2 John (v. 10), John is not telling the lady not to receive unbelievers as a whole, not to show hospitality, not to love. He is telling her, do not receive false teachers into your home. False teachers are who say they claim Christ as Savior, yet who teach a false doctrine (2 John 7, 2 Peter 2), who desire disciples after themselves (Acts 20:30), whose God is their belly (Phil 3:18), who only care for themselves (Jude 12). Do not receive them!!!

Again, as we saw in Galatians 5, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Now we understand why John says, “do not receive him into your house”. It is not just a matter of loving them, but more importantly, of loving the body. This decision is so important that John goes so far as to say, “and do not give him a greeting”.

If you remember, we saw this word in the second sermon two weeks ago when we looked at verse 4:

- I was very glad to find [some] of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment [to do] from the Father."

We looked at the word and saw that whether it was used as the word “Hail!”(Matt 26:49), or “rejoice” (Phil 3:1), or “glad” (2 John 4), or “greeting” here, it has an element of joy - thus you are happy to see them and receive them unto yourself. It is not just a hello while passing in the street, it is you seeing one who is a known false teacher and yet rejoicing when you see them.
We see it every Sunday morning, like when I see a brother here in church when he walks in the door and I give him a hug.

Again, to the lady, why not receive them and give them a greeting? Your Christian family is watching. Are they going to believe that you see this one as an equal in the Christian faith, one who teaches right doctrine, because of how you rejoice when you see them?

This brings us to verse 11...

Turn with me to 3 John 5-8:

Here, as we saw last week, John wrote a third letter to another believer, Gaius, whom he loves in truth, and whom John has also heard is walking in the truth. This brother has helped Christian missionaries on their travels and John has heard of it and writes: "Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially [when they are] strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth."

When John considers Gauis, who has shown love to the missionaries who came to him, and who sent them on their way in a manner worthy of God, - what does he consider Gauis? John considers him a fellow worker.

This is why John back in 2 John uses the word “participates”. This word is almost always used in the positive, speaking of living out the Christian faith by deeds. Listen to these verses and how it’s used and translated: (participates - 2841 - koinoneo - associate, partaker)

-  Romans 12:13 - "contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."

-  Galatians 6:6 - "The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches [him.]"

-  Philippians 4:15 - "You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;"

In thinking of John’s warning to the lady, let’s listen to this last usage in Paul’s warning to Timothy in 1 Tim 5:22:

- 1 Timothy 5:22 - "Do not lay hands upon anyone [too] hastily and thereby share [responsibility for] the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin."

Paul is speaking to the ordination, or setting aside of brethren, to the ministry that are untested, or not yet found to be qualified. If Paul feels this way about those who desire ministry yet are untested, how much more should John be adamant of those who are tested and found to be teaching false doctrine, teaching a false Christ. Do not even greet them, for they desire harm to the believers, and the body of Christ.

If you do so, you participate in their evil deeds.....You make yourself a “fellow worker” with them.

Back to 2 John

Verse 12 here in 2 John says almost the same things, just in different order as 3 John verses 13 and 14. However, it is important to note that the context of each letter is different. Each time at the end of the letter still John had more to write that he did not complete - but with each, something had to be said now. For 3rd John, it was John’s desire to encourage Gaius in the ministry of blessing those who traveled and spread the Gospel. He does this while also warning him of a false or rebellious brother in the local church. He had more to write, but Gaius’s encouragement was needed NOW.

Here in 2 John, although he had more to write, John had to warn the lady and her children of the danger they were in concerning false brethren. Not only the false brethren, but the nature of their false teaching - that Jesus did not come in the flesh. Lastly, John feels the need to warn this family of any desire to receive them into their house as they would believers. John feels so strongly that he warns even against greeting them warmly or with joy. He had more to write, but John’s teaching on loving the body, and warning against false teachers was needed NOW.

And John says that even though he had more to write,....
“I do not want to [do so] with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face,

There is something about face to face fellowship that letter writing cannot express or contain. This is why we gather to worship together. It is completely different from worshiping apart.

John wants to be with them.
As a contrast - You remember when we looked at 1 John 2:19, speaking of false teachers and anti-christ...it read: “They went out from us, but they were not really of us, for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us...”

We saw those that went out, desired to fulfill their own appetites, deceiving to make their own disciples. Theirs is a “going out” and separating.

But John has gone out for the purpose of the Gospel. He writes, “...but I hope to come to you and speak face to face...”

-  He is not returning for the purpose of heresy and personal lust and greed. His purposes for fellowship, and encouragement,

-  When John says he wants to come to them, its because he loves the brethren.

What is so wonderful about this phrase is where John got this from. John has written this phrase before. He writes in imitation of the One who came before him: Turn with me to John 15. Jesus here speaks in verses 1-8 concerning our abiding with Him, bearing fruit, proving to be His disciple. Look down to verse 9-11 - "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full."

- Jesus says that in us abiding in Him and obeying His commandments, His joy will be in us. His Joy in us will make our joy full.
It is relationship with Jesus.

And Jesus even prayed in John 16:23-24 - "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full."

- Our joy is knowing that, because of the relationship we have through Jesus, the Father will faithfully grant us that which is according to His will. He knows us by name and what it is we ask of Him.

- It is relationship with the Father through Jesus.

Turn with me to 1 John 1. We will read verses 1-4:

-  John writes his testimony to what he has witnessed first hand, that others may believe and have fellowship with them, and in that, their joy may be made complete.

-  It is relationship with other believers because of Jesus.

And now in 2 John, John says in v. 12, "Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to [do so] with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full."

-  John is only writing, anticipating the reunion of believers and the joy they will have when he sees them again, a fellowship based in Christ. Their joy will be made full. And doesn't this apply when we are not in fellowship? We take from the joy that may be ours!

-  It is relationship between John and the lady and her children because of Jesus.

Paul writes similarly demonstrating the heart desire of believers toward, and for, one another:

- Philippians 2:1-2 - "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose."

And what is it when we are of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose."? We are loving one another. In Christ, John loves these people, and they love Him.

There is no razzle dazzle here. This is the same word for children in verse 4, literal children. This is a literal sister, and she is chosen, even as she is, and the children in verse 4 walking in truth.

However, maybe when we consider the lady’s family spoken of earlier in this letter, and her extended family here, they serve as good bookends, good reminders, of why we love one another in truth - we are family. We are to take care of one another, look after one another. We don’t allow those things into the fellowship that would do any harm to one another.
AND This was what the lady needed to hear.

How about us? What is holding our attention that restricts us from loving one another. What is not of the Lord that keeps you from encouraging others in Sunday fellowship, stops you from coming to Bible study, keeps you from breaking bread with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

In sum, what keeps you from obedience to Jesus and His command to love one another.

On the other hand, maybe none of these things interest you. The relationship Jesus always desired for His people has no interest for you.
Really, for you that’s not the point yet. Maybe the point is, do you have a relationship with Christ...