Hospital-ity: The Opportunity to Partner with God
Notes
Transcript
short letter to individual -Beloved individual 4x,
Gaius threat of influenced by abusive, selfish, pride, Diatrephes- reject stranger, apostolic teaching… Gaius caught between loyalties local leader, John/apostolic… less theological more practical = personalities and personal agendas!!!
Purpose: Gaius and church/es to support and show hospitality to brothers of John, apostolic ministry, and mark out Diotrephes as troublemaker!!
Truth in love for good of church, glory of God, furtherance of the gospel!
Greeting - balanced concern, but spiritual all surpassing good - vs. spa culture, health fitness, Word of Faith - why can be terminal - greatest joy like old prof, when former students - leading in their disciplines… = Gaius WALKING IN THE TRUTH - with whole new generation of believers!!!! ie. Peter Kikkert
children = John the Elder - the brothers = itinerrant pastors!
Will Gaius be like Diotrephes just play church for selfish comfort - or partner in surprising way showiong hospitality like GOD does
Why Surprising - not welcoming family, friends, near neighbours - look whom he is welcomiong
3 John 5
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are,
What efforts taken , particularly strangers?
Not modern-day concept of hotels, motels, Air B&B,
Custom and law say “stranger” has no standing - unless what they have a PATRON to vouch for them - ie LOT; vs. Sodom and Gomorah,,, Gaius had done this and brothers testified publically to church of HELP. = not only valuable for need, but for church
3 John 6
who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.
necessary material means for their travel and ministry - ie. SAMPSONS open home for my studies, not jsut sentiment shared big help and welcomed as their own!
That’s the manner = “in a manner worthy of God” = these are emissaries of Christ, God in Christ making appeal through them, they should be treated as one would treat God himself - or in the same way God would treat them!
Think of Christ’s sayings
i. as much as you did it to them, you did it to me; cup of cold water for my sake;
ii. give up something of your self - for me and the gospel’s sake - lose life gain it!
And now look at the circumstances these “brotehrs” were in - sent by Apostle, a) churches as no more apostles, and b )
3 John 7
For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
Not just church thing, and a reminder of our missionary/evangelictic calling - intersting not necessarily separate thing, but part of what church does - don’t need mission churches and discipleship churches - should be engaged in both:
When John uses the word “Gentiles” here, he is using it in the sense of those who do not know Christ. Non-Christians are under no obligation to support Christian missions, but we Christians are! 3 John
3 John 8
Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
Ought to support = present tense = continual obligation beyond hosptiality - financial support!
Xns enagaged in this = we become “fellow workers for the truth.” We may not be able to travel to foreign lands to carry the gospel, but when we support those who do with our prayers, our finances, and our encouragement we become fellow laborers with them in the gospel. Gaius opened his heart, his home, and his hand to fellow Christian teachers, and we should do the same.
= labour on our behalf…
VS. Diotrephes Rebuked! = problem occassioned writing to Gaius = what’s going on over there - authority of John spurned and slander with “wicked nonsense” = doesn’t dignify with doctrinal repone like other times … static, they say, what do they say, let them say… BUT not provide for missionary and prohibited members to help, even expeled from fellowship 9,10
IE don’t become a Diotrephes who loves to be first. We all know preachers who are too big for their britches. You know the type. He exudes arrogance, either in the pulpit, outside the pulpit, or both. Joseph Parker, a contemporary of Spurgeon, painted the picture of the prideful person in unforgettable prose: “Here is a little contemptible person who stuffs the unworthy sack, which he calls himself, with the shavings and sawdust of his own self-interest.” 3 John
PRIDE: “There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves the more we dislike it in others.” When we are genuinely humble, we should beware lest Satan smuggle the thought of our own humility into our mind. The experienced demon Screwtape reminded his demonic understudy Wormwood that he must conceal from his patient God’s true end of humility in his life. 3 John
John had written a letter = to commend traveling teachers = letter of recomendation… but “gossipping evil words against us” = bad mouthing JOhn - John so miffed, public exposure when he arrive … Son of Thunder when needed!!!
Why - brought division in the church serious! that had to be addressed - = MOTIVATION OF D = likes to put himself first
V.11 first and only imperative (after rebuke) = don’t imitate evil but imitate good = The present tense indicates that the prohibited action has not yet taken place.
3 John 12 = Demetrius -threefold testimony - from everyone, from TRUTH ITSELF, and OUR testimony = like John life conisistent with the truth!
3 John 14-15
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.
Peace” is nothing more than the experience of “God’s covenant blessing, protection, and provision in all its fullness.” John’s fellow believers who are with him when he writes also send greetings to Gaius. The fact that John calls them “friends” may hark back to John 15:14, 15 where Jesus told his disciples that he lays down his life for his “friends. 3 John
Greet each one by name!
IE CAMP SHALOM - each week 10 new campers - within … easiest way ask, amke mistake - say important to me … don’t be quick to take offence,
= every Christian is the best Christain that
L’Abri - Isaiah 2:2-3, Go Forths, Ten Booms Corrie Ten Boom’s family was torn apart by the Nazis, with most of her immediate relatives perishing in concentration camps due to their harboring of Jews in their home. It was a sacrifice they were willing to make, for God had given them a heart for hospitality. In her book In My Father’s House, Corrie writes about her family’s penchant for taking in guests as she remembered it from childhood: “Many lonesome people found a place with us, where there was music, humor, interesting conversations, and always room for one more at the oval dinner table. Oh, it’s true, the soup may have been a bit watery when too many unexpected guests came, but it didn’t matter.
“Mother loved guests. Her lovely blue eyes would brighten, and she would pat her dark hair into place when she knew we would be squeezing another visitor around the table—already bursting with four children, three aunts, herself, and Papa. With a flourish she would place a little box on the table, and spreading her arms wide, she would say to our visitor, ‘You are welcome in our house, and because we are grateful for your coming, we will add a penny to the blessing box for our missionaries.’
“Years afterward on my trips around the world, when I have been dependent upon the hospitality of others, I believe that I have enjoyed the reward for the open doors and hearts of our home.”
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,beyond infancy people of the flesh, 1 Cor 3:1 , Heb 6:1 beyond a foundation of repentance from dead wroks and of faith toward God… beyond spiritual junk food. cheap, accessible, not good in long run and can’t thrive on it! Gaius led church in its efforts on their behalf = WORK = ie. Plowing Match, meals, home, … itinerant preachers - could be best or most dull , out going, or introverted don’t know, but served and accepted since brothers in Christ - phil zeons = Romans 12:13
Romans 12:13 ESVContribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Hebrews 13:16
Hebrews 13:16 ESVDo not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Love that seek nothing in return - ie stage band host - maybe felt sorry to - gave her best - left cash under bed… appalled… = Looking out for others, not self , expect nothing in return = Luke 6:35
Luke 6:35 ESVBut love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Journey = missionary enterprise or symbolic spiritual life, the way!
“GONE OUT”, not like host of antichrist spirit - even leave church… but missionaries of Christ nothing for them works like bac home, YET FOR SAKE OF THE NAME - read inspiring biogrpahy - IE ERIC LIDDEL… Q.Anyone you are supporting like this? Captured your imagination ie. Nate Saint, Jim Elliot then wife, Auca of Ecuador… Gurret, Steve F.
“support = FELLOW WORKERS” - not lesser workers - ie Edmonton Oilers organization, long time ocker room attendant- man with DownSydrome. Joey Moss. Wasn’t lesser, wasn’t maskot, during pandemic Barrie Colts, ladies worked whole time been here, keep employed… understand how much the church needs SUPPORTERS, Encouragers, GIVERS … He doesn’t imply that they have chosen ‘second-best’ in their decision to stay, or not becoming itinerating missionaries themselves. He calls supporters ‘fellow workers,’ working on behalf of (here it is again) ‘the truth.’ All Christians are to be included in world-evangelization, beginning at home and extending to the ends of the earth. ‘Go and make disciples,’ Jesus said (Matt. 28:19). However, there are two kinds of involvement. Both are necessary. We need not make those who send feel like second-class citizens. We need not brow-beat the whole congregation into going to the mission field. The issue is that of calling. What am I called to do? Both are vital. There is going and there is sending. There is preaching and there is giving. There are workers and there are supporters, and the supporters are ‘fellow workers.’ 3 John 1:1
believe the truth, behave the truth = didache = / NT is proclamation, it is witness, but it is also Teaching = Complement to congregation - sense they are the people of God… how act towards other, what try to embody… ie if lived in host family for a year - customs, values of that family - adopt you - way of hospitality!
Redemptive History and the New Testament Scriptures 15. Didachē (Teaching)flow from and build on the kerygma and the witness to the mighty redemptive act of God in Christ, they are not to be described simply as kērygma and marturia. Dahl, for example, correctly states: “The central content of the epistles and of preaching to the church was certainly the same as that of the missionary message. But believers already knew that message.… It is for this reason … that preaching to the church was more a matter of recall, of reminding, than of proclamation.”
teaching of apostles, of Christ, Word of God, teach of God, our Saviour - includes and builds on kerygma but form is more sphere of religious instruction!! = knowledge, wisdom, spiritual insight, = paraklesis
vs. Diotrephes - not doctrine that divides usually but EGO… philo-proteuon = love of first place… wants power, control, recognition, and prominence… Stott - Personal Vanity lies at the root of most dissensions in every local church today.” -Rejects authority = not reside in person, but God-ordained plurality under Word and Spirit.
SLANDER , and colleagues seens as rivals to his position… CAREFUL of confusing personal ambition for Gospel Zeal.GREAT CARE against person not zealous for gospel or pure doctrine and living; but stirring up trouble for power = Romans 16:17-18AND ALSO recognize and value true servant leadership! Mark 10:42-45nIMITATING GOD AND GOOD - 11-15‘Imitation’ has a pejorative connotation in English. It carries the sense of ‘inauthentic,’ as in imitation or fake leather or jewelry. Or, it may indicate something is ‘not original,’ like the ‘Monkees’ wBeetles. But incurable immitators - little sayings, hair styles, fashion, real art is imitation, question what you imitate.Bible knows human propensity to mimic - ultiately God, and good, in Christ Jesus… but in community 1 Cor 11:1
1 Corinthians 11:1 ESVBe imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
There is a way of living, attitude, inner disposition, outward service - find mould of Xn living and Phil 3:17
Philippians 3:17 ESVBrothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
LIsten to Paul with Timothy a generation earlier here: 2 Tim 3:10
2 Timothy 3:10 ESVYou, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
Even tells Timothy set the believers an example - 1 Timothy 4:12 on my wall
1 Timothy 4:12 ESVLet no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
most things in life caught not taught… good = pursue beatitudes in life… find mentors living or dead who you want to be like! Demetrius the GOOD EXAMPLE = imitator of God and good! from God= know your truly Christiaan friends WHO SEE GOD, imitate them!: those who are from God, who know God, who have seen God, do good, practice righteousness, and stop sinning. Those who do evil, who don’t practice righteousness, who keep on sinning are not from God, do not know God, and have not seen God. Christians know God or have ‘seen God,’ that is, ‘with the inner eye of faith,’ explains Stott. 3 John 1:11 Find genuine disciples of Christ and imitate them. 3 John 1:11False tolerance, says, i don’t have any convictions, and neither should you - al relative, true tolerance enables people to live free conscience, not coerced : Lots of ‘nice’ people are lousy role models. They are considered ‘nice’ because they approve of everything and stand for nothing. As G. K. Chesterton said, ‘Tolerance is the virtue of the man with no convictions.’ If we accommodate everything and disapprove of nothing, we may have a ‘good testimony’ from many, many people in an age like ours in which the behavioral norms of multiple thousands of years are collapsing and those tearing down the walls want approval, acceptance, and a normalizing of their deviancy. This was not the basis for Demetrius’ good reputation. His ‘good testimony’ was both from ‘everyone’ and from the truth. 3 John 1:11
Those infleunce d by - show up in their lives, way of Christ in person - encouragement adn teadhing and living and lifestyle. only way to abide in Christ “some” probably so many Xns and cong, John met some outside of whole church setting… I am writing to remind you (singular) = degree of authority, deep concern, individual church loving one another = sign of accepting the truth and living by it. Seccessionists reject apostolic truths, and hate those who accept these truths… KEY - they go on ahead, beyond Christ and Fellowship, they don’t abide in teaching or fellowship it creates.. walk according to commandments/truth - false teachers not doing this, rejecting whole loving and truth, truthing in love community of aposltic fellowship - heard from beginning walk in it = teaching, didache encompasses ethics as much as doctrine… Deceivers - Jesus lingo and warning - Matthew 24:5 = historically Theudas, Judas the Galilean, one called the Egyptian, Jewish messianic pretender Bar Kochba led a 2nd Jewish revolt against Rome ended in AD135, all Jews banished from Rom… but now with antiChrist spirit, not final one of tribulation period, but clear at work and begin concern for every generation Final Anitchrist embody all the evil of earlier anti-Christain systsems and teachers- strategy to deal with not rude, but context of 1st century - hospitality = give home base, fund with room and board, pray not for blessing or encourage them, pray for conversion… Cornerstone: you to we = labor that he the apostles and co-workers done for believers, raise up churches, and loss of the apostles’ work = we laborers proclaimed the truth defended against heresy - get off to good start, but now fear deceivers disrupt the community of faithful believers!NLT hold fast to truth known to be real and effective in their spiritual lives and not to give into deception that will rob of their reward. “anyone who wanders away from this teaching” = everyone goigng beyond and not remaining in the teach ing of Christ = wander is to LEAD FORWARD = go before and run ahead …ie not shepherd driving or way ahead of sheep WITH THEM! so proud to be ahead go beyond bounds = sarcasm… v.10 not in house meeting of church… ie Colasse Phlm 2, … could be one in Laodicea Truth 5x already in 4 verses… gnosticism threat = know truth in Jesus Christ and live in it! Many false teaching circulating about Jesus - true teaching orthodox apolstolic - believers called to adhere teachings = doct and practice… ie decide to love others .streengthen unity of church by loveCerinthus … went beyond Christ and apostles teaching,… but remain in teaching of Christ = a relationship with F and Son = v9b. = more subtle than apostasy since claim BEYOND X, F, NT ie. New Kind of Christian ie Wendy Gritter Sprit reveals new truth for each age, . set aside gospel with call to belief and repentance. .. bland mere tolerance acceptance! Christ says , will try to decive the elect, as to who Messiah really is: Matthew 24:4-5,24 Matthew 24:4–5 ESVAnd Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
Colossians 2:8–10 ESVSee to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.In Christ all the fulness in hujman body, so we also are complete through our union with Christ, who is head over every ruler and authroity = true wisdom and knowledge we need! = to be taken from Christ is to be robbed of our reward, also robs apostles of their reward, ie. Church meeting in house could be disrupted 2 Peter 2:1,13, Jude 12 = like Pentecostal testing of proph tongues - false teacher, prophet corrupt and spiritually determinental… therefore not accept into fellowship or help in any way - don’t be partners in evil deeds ie Polycarp heard Cerinthus was inside bath house, fall in ruins “the enemy of rtuth was there. Irenaeus! miniature version of 1 John, extols those who live in love and truth and warns those who don’t teach and abide in truth and lvoe… 5 /13 right from 1 John, Truth and love two main postive features of John’s Christianity! KEY: window into early church = two kinds of leaders - one that serves the LORD and others by living in the truth and practicing love, the other refuses apostolic authroity and love himself more than the church! Truth lives/abides in us, reamins, a primary emphasis that believers remain in the truth and not stry from it=CF REVELATION!Tolkein - fellowship - club, faithfulness loyalty, truth - kind welcome, apsirations none else … care… docrine here and love here - Remove truth and the reason of community fails to exist, fades into world from which it emerged!IS COMMUNITY FADING IN YOUR LIFE IN THESE TIMES OF PANDEMIC, of empty nesting, singleness, of marriage… IS YOUR CARE OF ANOTHER DISAPPERING… G,M,P from F S, IN TRUTH AND LOVE! = proves John’s point . Redemption as Trinitarians project, plan, accomplish, applies in background… What we call the ‘doctrines of grace’ are essential. Grace, mercy and peace are from our Triune God, not from elsewhere. This may be a divisive thing to say and yet vital. Jesus is ‘the way, the truth and the life.’ 2 John 1:1 Seems intolerant insensitive and unloving proclaim unique Christ way… yet must be a church that never fails to abide in the truth So that it CREATES CAPACITY TO LOVE! G,M,P = unique constellation only time 3 used together in NT - grace only in John 1:16-17 = grace given in continual supply just when one measure is used up, another replaces it = wave after wave! FULL of God’s grace to us, never used up in Christ. peace as result cessation of turmoil and anxiety! gifts only come from God through Christ in this sense… so familiar to readers simply calls himself The Elder - you pl, and sister church gives greeting, both testaments personify covenant community as a woman Hosea 1-3, Eph 5:22-23 2 COr 11:2, Rev 19:7,-9, 21 But bigger cocern - ELECT lady cf. with 1 Peter 5:13 elect lady who is in Babylon! - we must chose Christ, but how able to ? Acts 13:48, appointed to eternal as many… Col 3:12 Xns are the elect of God!IE OT Israel not the nation that chose LORD, but nation which God chose Dt 7:6-8 Elect from every nation, yet one… UNITED BY TRUTH;fellowship must be based on shared view of the truth;. minor can disagree but majors no disagreement… Scripture, Christ, salvation by free grace, vs. doctrine divides, experience unites.. deeds not creeds contrary to Scripture… I LOVE YOUR KINGDOM LORDall who rely on these truths - deep affinity v.4 truth involves obedience vs yes but… CHURCH CHARACTERIZED BY LOVEright emotion of Bible - v.2,4 joy; but now 2, 5-6 when love and truth divorced, sentimentality or oppression - not a bit of love, and a bit of truth - fulness of both justified split with Presb, OPC, BPC attitude to true brethren … pride . turning inward, self-righteousness, a hardness… Gospel helps us define truth John 1:14 and John 14:6,7 Spirit of Truth… John 14:12 John 14:12 ESV“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.Truth is what followers of Jesus also do. indicating they obey Jesus teaching… truth connected to action, not just mind and heart. v.12 Our joy, speaking to group of Christain, John’s joy fulfilled by the fellowship he had with other belivers - what Tolkein looking for! sister elect , 1 Peter 5:13 sister in Babylon… also chosen by God. Conclusion, letter, emojee smiley faces, not same as light of smile, hand on shoulder, visit personally and discuess the truths of gospel more fully! WHO WOULD DARE FIGHT FOR YOU - ie Cry the Beloved Country - John could have been retirement - fighting for basic truths concerning the person of Jesus Christ - house to house… Heretics prevalent and infectious… only antidote Apostle’s livng word, 2 JOhn condensed version of 1 JOhn = live in truth, love one another, gaurd vs. false teachers, adhere to apostlic teaching especially about Jesus in flesh! CHurch in Laodeciia met in lady’s house Nympha… Colossians 4 Welwyn #rd Millenium, gullible church, chasing latest fad, not fringe element of the Kingdom, but not everyone Lord Lord shall enter… does my willl… never knew lawless.. Matt 7:21-23 = these are them , in every age… especially last days itching ears… - anything is “eaiser than deny self find all in Christ - living union with Christ” health and wealth, exterme gifts of Spirit focus, gnostic cryptic mysteeriess.. BUT deceiever - replace and against Christ Why? Not abiding in Jesus teaching, = not in unioin with Father and Christ - only one way to Father… see Table Talk… . Belief is often seen as something one does that is opposed to reason. the Opinion is seen as purely subjective — and having no binding force. Truth, if it is admitted to exist at all, is often relativized. In classic theological works, opinion, doubt, knowledge, and belief were all ways of respond¬ ing to a proposition. Opinion meant that you assented to the truth of the proposition while holding out the possibihty that it might be false. Doubt meant denying the truth of the propo¬ sition while holding out the possibility that it might be true. Knowledge meant assenting to the truth of the proposition on the basis of direct experience. Natural belief meant assenting to the ;ruth of the proposition on the basis of another person’s testimony. In this way of thinking, behef, by definition, is not the same as opinion, but both are addressing objective truth. Faith is similar to natural belief, but it is not something that fallen man can do. It is the gift of God. Jesus Christ claimed to be God incarnate and the only way of salvation (John 14:6). That proposition is either objectively true or it isn’t. Every religion in the world either affirms the truth of Christ’s claims or else denies it. This means that ultimately every religion is about objective truth. Every religious claim is either objectively true or objectively false based on where it stands in relation to the claims of Jesus Christ. Individuals may think that Christ’s claims are true while holding out the possibility that they are false. They may think His claims are false while holding out the possibility that they are true, il Neither opinion nor doubt, however, changes the fact that His claims are objectively true. * ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST - not like Atheniains, do nothing all day but speak of novelities and new far reaching reinterpretations of Christain odcitine… = lost touch with god… since Christ is only mediator… WARNING a person soft on heresy will suffer spiritual harm! Like lung pictures on cigarrete carton… LISTEN TO BE GULLIBLE IS to be unfaithful to Christ, and lead others a stray, damning… We need a critical spirit which is informed by God’s Word and tempered by the Spirit’s gift of love = THE UNIQUE CHALLENGE OF SUCH TIMES - unpopular… yet with Subitionary atonment, gender identity… don’t fall for God’s spirit speak to our spirits not our minds… we need nothing but emotion speculation, eterainment and human mnaipulation, authentic meaning, not just honest with doubt, but celebrate ambiguity… Philippians 1:9 Philippians 1:9 ESVAnd it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,To offer fellowship to heretics is to confirm them in their heresy! That kind of kindness does harm = enablers! Takes courage to know when in love to speak the truth! Key truth: Christians can’t pretend that heretics are fellow Christians! Tolerate error is to share in error = ie. Gnostic in 2 century Marcion, once asked Polycarp of Smyrna: Do you recog me? I recognize you are the first born of Satan. There is such a thing as error and truth… It’s not unloving to avoid heretics, it is faithful! Say it face to face! He