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3 John 1:1-15 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
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.
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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?
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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.
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So let's read our text today from third John verses one through 15.
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The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
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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.
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For I rejoice greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.
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I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
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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.
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You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.
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For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
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Therefore, we ought to support people like these that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
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I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
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So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us and not content with that.
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He refuses to welcome the brothers and also stops those who wants to and puts them out of the church.
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Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good.
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Whoever does good is from God and whoever does evil has not seen God.
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Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself.
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We also add our testimony and you know that our testimony is true.
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I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.
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I hope to see you soon and we will talk face to face.
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Peace be to you.
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The friends greet you.
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Greet the friends each by name.
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Amen.
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So here we have a letter from the elder John and he is writing a personal letter to a man named Gaius,
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who most likely came to faith through John's witness.
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And Gaius is a member of a church along with this man named Diotrephes.
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And we don't really know much information about Diotrephes.
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We don't know if he was a pastor or just a regular church member with way too much influence.
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But one thing is clear about Diotrephes is that he was a man of evil character.
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So I'm going to break up today's sermon into four parts.
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Part one is going to be the love and joy of John.
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Part two, the good example of Gaius.
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Part three, the evil example of Diotrephes.
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And then part four, the conclusion, who do you imitate?
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So part one, the love and joy of John.
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So I want you to look closely at the way that John talks to Gaius.
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In verse one, he calls him beloved.
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And then he says, whom I love in the truth.
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In verse two, he refers to him again as beloved and mentioned how he is praying for him.
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And what is the content of his prayer?
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John prays that Gaius would be in good health as it goes well with his soul.
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So what is John saying here?
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He is saying that Gaius is spiritually healthy.
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And his desires that Gaius would be in good physical health as well.
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We don't know exactly the context.
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But it is very possible that Gaius suffered from some kind of physical ailment that constantly plagued him.
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We don't really know.
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But here is a lesson for us.
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It is good for us to pray for the physical health of others.
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But may this not be our primary concern.
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May their spiritual health be our fervent prayer.
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Good health is a blessing, but it is not promised to us.
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And I would rather see someone with a broken body heading to the celestial kingdom
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than a man or woman of excellent physical health heading to the place of eternal torment.
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There it will not matter whether your body is healthy, strong, or fit
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because the flames do not show partiality to those they will burn without consuming.
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So how is your spiritual health?
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Would John be able to say the same of you?
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And I'm thankful that there are many here at church who are concerned about physical health.
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But do not make physical health your idol.
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If it were stripped away from you, could you still rejoice in the Lord?
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Would someone still look at you and say,
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My heart really aches for that brother and sister, for the pain that they are feeling.
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But I rejoice because they are spiritually well.
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So be diligent in taking care of your physical body.
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But of far more importance is the diligent care of your soul.
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So next, let's look how he rejoices in verse 3.
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He says,
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I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth,
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as indeed you are walking in the truth.
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It brought John great joy to see how Gaius was not just talking,
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but was actually walking in the truth.
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And he demonstrated this through the way that he treated these traveling gospel workers.
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And we will touch on this more when we look at the example of Gaius.
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But in verse 4, John proclaims,
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I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
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It was his greatest joy to know that those he shared the gospel with
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and discipled were faithfully walking in the truth.
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Gaius might have been physically ill,
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but John rejoiced that Gaius was spiritually well.
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As followers of Christ, this should be the same for those who we've had the opportunity
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to share the gospel with or disciple.
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And for pastors, this should be your greatest joy to see the members under your care
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faithfully walking in the truth.
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And so while this text is referring to spiritual children,
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it can also apply to physical children.
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Charles Spurgeon, he used to use this text not only to challenge ministers of the word,
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but also parents.
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He used to walk into the home and look parents straight in the eyes,
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and he challenged them to make spiritual children in their own families.
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He said,
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It is a very grievous thing to see how some professedly Christian parents are satisfied
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so as long as their children display cleverness in learning or sharpness in business,
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although they show no signs of a renewed nature.
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If they pass their examinations with credit and promise to be well fitted for the world's battle,
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their parents forget that there is a superior calling involving a higher crown
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for which their child will need to be fitted by divine grace and armed with the whole armor of God.
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When a man's heart is really right with God,
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and he himself has been saved from the wrath to come
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and is living in the light of his heavenly father's countenance,
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it is certain that he is anxious about his children's souls,
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prizes their immortal natures,
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and feels nothing could give him greater joy
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than to hear that his children walk in the truth of God.
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So parents, is it your greatest joy to see your children walking in the truth?
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Mothers, on this Mother's Day,
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may your greatest joy and prayer be to see your children walking in the truth.
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As moms, you get to spend a special amount of time with your children,
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instilling in them the truths.
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And when your kids reflect on all the things that mom used to say,
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don't let the phrases that they think of be,
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don't forget to wash your hands,
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or don't talk to strangers,
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or use your manners,
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or eat your fruits and veggies.
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This would be a tragedy
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if this is all you are remembered by.
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But let your children remember
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how mom used to say,
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you cannot love Christ
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and hate the church.
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Or,
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if God cares for the birds, little one,
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do you not think that he will care for you?
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Or,
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remember, my child,
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that in Christ,
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all your sins can be forgiven.
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Fathers,
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fathers,
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lead your wives and kids
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in a way that instills these truths
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deep into their soul.
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Love your spiritual children
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and physical children
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as John loved Gaius.
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So lastly, in part one,
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let's actually skip down
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to verses 13 through 15.
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Most of you guys won't have to turn your page,
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but some of you may.
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And let's read what John says here.
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He says,
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I had much to write to you,
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but I would rather not write
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with pen and ink.
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I hope to see you soon,
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and we will talk face to face.
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Peace be to you.
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The friends greet you.
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Greet the friends,
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each by name.
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We can see here
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John's deep longing
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to be face to face with Gaius.
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It wasn't enough for John
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to just communicate it
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with pen and ink.
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He loved him too much.
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He wanted to see him soon.
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He wanted to be face to face.
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This was indeed his spiritual child,
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and what parent
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who truly loves their child
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would be content
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only see them over a computer screen
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or hearing from them
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in an email or text
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every once in a while.
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It would be heartbreaking
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because there is a deep longing
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to be together,
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to be in the presence
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of one another.
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So in this letter,
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we see John's immense love
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and joy
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to see his spiritual child,
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Gaius,
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walking in the truth.
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And honestly,
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this reminds me of last Sunday,
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seeing one of our own elders,
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Clay,
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tearing up as Jake Hughes
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and his wife were moving away
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and would no longer be gathering
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with Christ Family Church.
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Why such tears
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from a tough Irishman?
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Because Clay was experiencing
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the immense joy and love
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to see his child
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walking in the truth
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and the pain
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of no longer
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being face to face with him.
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So now we're going to move
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to part two,
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the good example
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of Gaius.
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So let's return back
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to verses one through four.
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And I want you to notice
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how many times
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the word truth
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is used here.
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Verse one,
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it says,
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whom I love
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in the truth.
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And in verse three,
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he says,
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testify to your truth
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as indeed you are walking
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in the truth.
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And verse four,
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my children
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walking
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in the truth.
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So Gaius
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was walking
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in the truth.
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But what does this mean
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that he is walking
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in the truth?
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Well,
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if we actually go back
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to John's first letter,
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we will get a clearer picture
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of what he means here.
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So let's go to
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first John
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chapter two
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and we're going to read
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verses three through six.
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First John chapter two
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verses three through six.
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it says,
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and by this,
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we know that we have
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come to know him.
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If we keep his commandments,
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whoever says,
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I know him,
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but does not keep his commandments
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is a liar
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and the truth
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is not in him.
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but whoever keeps his word
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in him,
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truly the love of God
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is perfected.
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By this,
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we may know
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that we are in him.
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Whoever says he abides
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in him
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ought to walk
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in the same way
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in which he
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walked.
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Notice how
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if someone says
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they know him,
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but does not keep
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his commandments,
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the text calls him
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a liar
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and says the truth
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is not in him.
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So the one who
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knows him
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obeys his commands
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and thus walks
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in the truth.
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And notice the last part
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of verse six.
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It says,
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whoever says he abides
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in him
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ought to walk
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in the same way
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in which he
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walked.
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In other words,
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Jesus
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is the example
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in which we should
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be striving
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to imitate.
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We should
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love the way
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that he loved.
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We should obey God
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the way that he did.
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But first John
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is clear
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that we will not
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do this perfectly.
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But this should be
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our heart's desire
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and aim
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to be more
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like Christ's.
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Like the words
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of a good old hymn,
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O to be more,
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O to be like thee,
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blessed Redeemer.
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This is my
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constant longing
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and prayer.
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gladly
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I'll forfeit
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all of
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earth's treasures
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for thy
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perfect likeness
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to wear.
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And so it was
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with Gaius.
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He not only
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confessed the truth,
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but he actually
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walked in the truth.
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He not only
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said he had
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fellowship with God,
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but he showed
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the truth
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that he believed
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by the way
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he lived.
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And this is
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contrary
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to the way
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of
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diatrophies.
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he probably
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confessed the truth.
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He was a member
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of this church.
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But it seems
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as if he lived
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contrary
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to his
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confession.
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And this is
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a great place,
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brothers and sisters,
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to remind you
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that you are only
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saved by grace
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alone,
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through faith
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alone,
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in Christ alone.
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Walking in the
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truth does
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not save you.
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But let me
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be clear.
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If you
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genuinely
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believe that
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Jesus Christ
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died as a
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perfectly
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righteous
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substitute
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on your
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behalf
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to save
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you from
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the wrath
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of God
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and that
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he gives
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you his
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righteousness
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so that
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you can
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stand before
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God
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righteous
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and justified,
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out of
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love for
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God,
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you will
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walk in
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the truth.
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You will
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walk in
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the truth
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because you
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have been
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saved,
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not in
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order to
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be saved.
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we are
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too quick
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to forget
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the gospel
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and try
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to earn
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right standing
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before God.
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By faith
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you have
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right standing
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before God.
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So live
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for him
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and walk
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in the
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truth.
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And if
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you are
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trying to
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earn
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right standing
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before God
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by being a
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good enough
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person,
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then repent
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and believe
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the gospel.
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people,
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I've had
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too many
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conversations
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with people
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where they
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say they're
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Christians,
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so then I'll
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ask them,
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I was like,
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so why do
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you think you
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should get
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into heaven?
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And the
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most common
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answer I've
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heard from
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these supposed
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Christians is,
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well, I think
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I'm a good
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enough person.
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And to that
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I tell you,
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no, you
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are not
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good enough.
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Only Christ
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is good
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enough and
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he died
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for you.
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Believe in
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him alone
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for salvation.
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Trust that
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his sacrifice
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is enough
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and let
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him change
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you as
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you keep
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your eyes
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fixated upon
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him and
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his word.
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So Gaius
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was not
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merely talking,
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but he
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was also
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walking in
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the truth.
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And verses
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five through
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six, so
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we're going
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to go back
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to third
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John.
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And we're
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going to
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read verses
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five through
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six, which
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give us a
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tangible example
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of how he
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walked in
18:39
the truth.
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So let's
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read verses
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five through
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six.
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Beloved,
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it is a
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faithful thing
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you do in
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all your
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efforts for
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these brothers,
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strangers as
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they are,
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who testified
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to your love
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before the
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church.
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you would
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do well to
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send them on
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their journey
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in a manner
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worthy of
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God.
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So back
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then, those
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who would do
19:05
traveling ministry
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depended upon
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the hospitality
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of others.
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And here's an
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example of a
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church that
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should be
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receiving these
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gospel workers,
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but because of
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deatrophies,
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they are
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unwelcomed.
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And deatrophies
19:21
tries to put
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out of the
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church anyone
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who would dare
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to welcome
19:26
them.
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But Gaius
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boldly welcomes
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these brothers
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and shows them
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an extreme
19:33
amount of
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hospitality,
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even though he
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barely knows
19:37
them.
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To Gaius,
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they are
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strangers in
19:39
one sense,
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as the text
19:40
says,
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but they are
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beloved brothers
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in another
19:44
sense.
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Gaius shows
19:46
his faith in
19:47
action by the
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way he receives
19:50
these brothers,
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risking getting
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maligned and
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wrongly put out
19:55
of the church.
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His faith was
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evident in
19:59
his actions.
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So let's
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read verses
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seven and
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eight,
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which say,
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for they have
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gone out for
20:08
the sake of
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the name,
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accepting nothing
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from the
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Gentiles.
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Therefore,
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we ought to
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support people
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like these,
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that we may be
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fellow workers
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for the truth.
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here we have
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these gospel
20:25
workers,
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or we could
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even say
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missionaries,
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who have gone
20:28
out for the
20:29
sake of the
20:29
gospel.
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And John is
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saying that we
20:31
ought to support
20:32
people like
20:33
these.
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They aren't
20:35
receiving their
20:35
support from
20:36
the Gentiles,
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that is,
20:37
the non-believers,
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because their
20:38
work is for
20:39
the building up
20:40
of the church.
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And since it
20:42
is for the
20:43
building of
20:43
the church,
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it should be
20:45
from those
20:47
within the
20:47
church.
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And so,
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John says we
20:52
ought to support
20:53
workers like
20:54
these,
20:54
who are going
20:55
out for the
20:56
sake of the
20:56
name,
20:57
but he doesn't
20:58
leave it at
20:58
that.
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He gives us
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the reason
21:01
why we
21:02
should.
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He says
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that we may
21:06
be fellow
21:06
workers for
21:08
the truth.
21:10
As you support
21:11
workers who
21:11
have gone out
21:12
for the sake
21:12
of the gospel,
21:14
you are actually
21:15
joining,
21:17
partnering,
21:18
in their
21:18
work.
21:19
And as my
21:20
wife and I
21:20
were just
21:21
starting to
21:21
raise support,
21:23
I remember
21:23
complaining about
21:25
having to raise
21:25
support to a
21:26
good friend who
21:27
was actually
21:28
already supporting
21:28
us.
21:29
And I was
21:30
complaining just
21:31
kind of about
21:32
the process.
21:33
And he
21:33
looked at me
21:34
and sternly
21:35
but lovingly
21:36
rebuked me,
21:37
saying,
21:38
I work really
21:39
hard to make
21:41
extra money
21:42
so that I can
21:44
support those
21:44
taking the
21:45
gospel to the
21:46
nations.
21:46
this is my
21:48
way of
21:49
getting to
21:50
be a part
21:50
of the
21:51
great
21:51
commission.
21:53
In other
21:54
words,
21:54
what he
21:54
was saying
21:55
was,
21:56
shut your
21:57
mouth and
21:58
see it for
21:58
what it
21:59
truly is.
22:00
You are
22:01
inviting
22:02
people in
22:04
to be a
22:04
part of
22:05
the gospel
22:05
going to
22:07
the ends
22:08
of the
22:08
earth.
22:09
And this
22:09
totally
22:09
changed my
22:10
perspective
22:10
and made
22:11
raising support
22:12
actually a
22:13
joy because
22:14
we realized
22:15
we were
22:15
inviting
22:16
others to
22:17
take part
22:18
in the
22:18
great
22:19
commission.
22:20
And is
22:21
this not
22:21
what John
22:22
is talking
22:22
about here
22:23
in verse
22:23
eight?
22:24
Is he not
22:25
saying that
22:25
those who
22:26
support people
22:27
like these
22:27
are fellow
22:28
workers for
22:29
the truth?
22:31
So praise
22:32
God that
22:33
though you
22:34
may not
22:34
go,
22:35
you have
22:36
the opportunity
22:36
to go in
22:37
your giving,
22:39
in your
22:39
praying,
22:41
and in your
22:41
encouragement.
22:42
commitment.
22:43
But,
22:44
there's also
22:45
a warning
22:45
here.
22:48
If your
22:48
support means
22:49
that you
22:50
are partnering
22:50
in that
22:51
work,
22:52
should you
22:53
not know
22:53
what you
22:54
are partnering
22:54
in?
22:56
Should you
22:56
not be
22:57
careful and
22:58
intentional in
22:59
the work you
23:00
are supporting?
23:01
I've known
23:02
too many
23:02
people who
23:04
are giving
23:06
to different
23:06
ministries and
23:07
I'm sure
23:09
they have a
23:09
good heart,
23:10
they're giving
23:10
and they
23:11
just want to
23:12
be generous,
23:13
but they
23:13
have no
23:14
idea what
23:15
are the
23:15
aim,
23:16
what is the
23:17
aim and
23:17
mission of
23:18
these ministries.
23:20
Maybe they're
23:20
given to feel
23:21
good or maybe
23:21
they're given
23:22
because they
23:22
like the guy
23:23
and they
23:23
couldn't say
23:24
no,
23:25
but for all
23:26
they know,
23:26
they might be
23:27
supporting a
23:27
work that is
23:28
actually contrary
23:29
to the
23:29
gospel.
23:31
So be
23:32
careful who
23:33
you do
23:33
support and
23:35
be intentional
23:36
who you are
23:36
supporting,
23:37
because in
23:38
your support,
23:39
you are
23:40
also partnering
23:41
in that
23:42
work.
23:43
So we
23:44
see in the
23:45
example of
23:45
Gaius that
23:46
he believed
23:47
the truth and
23:49
thus walked
23:49
in the truth.
23:51
And one
23:51
example that
23:52
evidenced his
23:53
walking in the
23:54
truth was the
23:55
way that he
23:56
cared for and
23:57
supported these
23:59
gospel workers.
24:00
Maybe you look
24:01
to Gaius as a
24:02
good and
24:03
faithful example
24:04
of someone
24:05
walking in
24:06
the truth.
24:07
part three,
24:10
the bad
24:11
example of
24:12
diatrophies.
24:14
So verses
24:15
9 through 10
24:16
in 3 John
24:17
turn our
24:19
attention to a
24:19
man named
24:20
diatrophies.
24:21
And as I said
24:22
earlier, it
24:22
seems as if he
24:23
was a leader in
24:24
the church, but
24:24
we don't actually
24:25
have too much
24:26
information about
24:27
his position.
24:28
One thing is
24:29
clear, though.
24:31
It says he
24:31
was a man who
24:33
liked to put
24:34
himself first.
24:36
first.
24:37
And in his
24:38
putting himself
24:38
first, the text
24:39
says he does
24:40
not acknowledge
24:41
our authority.
24:42
It says that he
24:43
is talking wicked
24:44
nonsense against
24:45
us and not
24:46
content with that.
24:47
He refuses to
24:48
welcome the
24:49
brothers and
24:49
also stops those
24:50
who wants to
24:51
and puts them
24:52
out of the
24:53
church.
24:55
He does all
24:56
of these evil
24:57
deeds because
24:58
his self-idolatry
25:00
was under
25:01
attack.
25:02
But does he
25:05
not contradict
25:06
the very life
25:08
and words of
25:08
Jesus when
25:09
Jesus said in
25:10
Matthew chapter
25:11
20 verses 27
25:12
through 28, and
25:13
whoever would be
25:14
first among you
25:16
must be your
25:17
slave, even as
25:18
the son of man
25:19
came not to be
25:21
served, but to
25:22
serve and to
25:23
give his life as
25:24
a ransom for
25:25
many.
25:26
Or Paul's
25:27
teaching in
25:27
Philippians chapter
25:28
two, verse
25:28
three, when he
25:29
says do nothing
25:30
out of selfish
25:32
ambition or
25:33
conceit, but in
25:34
humility count
25:36
others more
25:37
significant than
25:38
yourselves.
25:40
We must be
25:42
like Gaius, who
25:43
though he was
25:44
probably ill,
25:45
though he could
25:46
have been put
25:46
out of the
25:47
church and
25:47
maligned, he
25:48
did not put
25:50
himself first,
25:51
but cared for
25:53
these traveling
25:54
gospel workers.
25:55
He put them
25:56
first.
25:58
Do not be like
25:59
diatrophies, who
26:01
put himself first.
26:03
And this is so
26:04
easy to do.
26:06
I think about
26:07
this past week as
26:07
I was preparing
26:08
for this sermon,
26:09
how many times I
26:11
had don't be like
26:11
diatrophies playing
26:12
in the back of my
26:13
brain, especially
26:15
with everything
26:15
going on where I
26:17
was tempted to
26:18
put myself first.
26:20
But we must not
26:21
be like diatrophies.
26:23
we need to deny
26:26
ourselves, take up
26:28
our cross, and
26:30
follow him.
26:31
So fathers and
26:32
husbands, putting
26:34
yourself first will
26:36
cause you to be
26:36
unkind to your
26:38
wife and kids.
26:40
It will cause you
26:41
to be short
26:41
tempered, easily
26:43
irritated, slow
26:45
to listen, and
26:46
quick to speak.
26:48
Mothers and
26:48
wives, putting
26:50
yourself first will
26:51
cause you to
26:51
neglect your kids
26:52
when they need
26:53
you the most, to
26:54
see your kids as
26:55
a burden rather
26:57
than a blessing, to
26:58
see them as getting
26:59
in the way of what
27:00
you really want to
27:01
do.
27:02
It will cause you
27:03
not to submit to
27:04
your husband or to
27:05
try to subvert his
27:07
leadership.
27:10
Bosses, putting
27:11
yourself first will
27:12
cause you to see
27:13
your employees as
27:15
just tools of making
27:16
more money or
27:17
creating more
27:18
leisure for
27:18
yourselves rather
27:20
other than people
27:22
made in the image
27:22
of God.
27:24
Employees, putting
27:26
yourself first will
27:27
cause you to not
27:28
work diligently, to
27:30
grumble and
27:31
complain, to text
27:33
or be on social
27:34
media or play games
27:36
when you probably
27:37
should actually be
27:38
working.
27:40
Students, putting
27:43
yourself first will
27:44
cause you to go for
27:44
a career that will
27:46
benefit you the most,
27:47
not considering your
27:49
family, your church
27:50
or how it could
27:51
serve the Lord.
27:53
It may cause you to
27:53
be focused on grades
27:55
to the point that you
27:57
ignore the people God
27:59
has put in your life
27:59
or you would rather
28:01
spend time studying or
28:03
working on projects or
28:04
paper when you should
28:05
probably be gathering
28:06
with the church on
28:07
Sunday.
28:09
Children, putting
28:11
yourselves first will
28:12
cause you to disobey
28:13
your parents, be mean
28:15
to your siblings, to
28:16
grumble and complain
28:17
and argue when they
28:19
ask you to do
28:20
something.
28:21
Lastly, church
28:22
members, putting
28:24
yourself first will
28:26
cause you to grumble
28:26
and complain when at
28:28
a member meeting
28:29
there's a decision put
28:30
forth that isn't
28:31
convenient or
28:32
comfortable for you.
28:34
It will cause you to
28:35
vote in such a way
28:36
that benefits you the
28:37
most, not considering
28:39
your brothers or
28:40
sisters or your
28:41
leaders who God has
28:42
put in charge of
28:44
shepherding your soul.
28:45
people.
28:46
These are just a few
28:47
examples and there's
28:48
so much more that could
28:49
be said about this
28:50
section, but I hope you
28:51
see the danger of
28:53
putting yourself first.
28:56
It does not glorify the
28:57
Lord and walks contrary
28:59
to the example we have
29:00
in Christ.
29:02
Do not imitate
29:04
diatrophies who like to
29:06
put himself first, but
29:08
imitate Gaius as he
29:10
walked in the truth.
29:12
part four conclusion.
29:16
Who do you imitate?
29:20
Verse 11 gives us the
29:21
main command in third
29:22
John.
29:23
It says, beloved, do
29:24
not imitate evil, but
29:27
imitate good.
29:28
Whoever does good is
29:29
from God and whoever
29:31
does evil has not seen
29:32
God.
29:33
He follows this by
29:35
pointing to another
29:36
brother, Demetrius,
29:37
saying Demetrius has
29:39
received good testimony
29:40
from everyone and
29:41
from the truth itself.
29:43
We also add our
29:44
testimony and you know
29:45
that our testimony is
29:46
true.
29:47
Demetrius had a good
29:49
and faithful reputation
29:51
and he was another one
29:52
to be imitated, but we
29:54
obviously don't have
29:55
many details surrounding
29:56
his life.
29:57
But what we do have is
29:59
an example of Gaius and
30:01
the example of diatrophies
30:03
and a call to imitate
30:05
good and not evil.
30:08
And as I said earlier,
30:11
we all imitate someone.
30:12
So my question is, who
30:14
do you imitate?
30:16
Who is the person that
30:18
captures an ideal that
30:20
you desire?
30:21
Is it a famous person or
30:23
singer?
30:24
If you would pay a lot
30:26
of money and drive hours
30:27
to go see this person, it
30:28
might be a sign that you
30:29
are greatly influenced by
30:31
them.
30:31
And if you aren't
30:32
careful, you will start
30:35
to imitate their way of
30:37
living.
30:38
Maybe you desire to
30:40
imitate someone that
30:41
isn't evil, but who
30:43
should not be your
30:44
ultimate desire to
30:45
become like.
30:47
Maybe it is the
30:48
Instagram influencer
30:49
mom.
30:50
Maybe it's a certain
30:51
successful businessman,
30:53
a certain professor,
30:55
hunter, or athlete,
30:57
or soldier.
30:58
You fill in the blank.
31:00
If the person you are
31:02
seeking to imitate
31:03
isn't helping you grow
31:04
in godliness and
31:05
holiness, should you
31:08
ultimately be imitating
31:10
them?
31:12
Could you say, as Paul
31:13
said in 1 Corinthians 11,
31:14
follow me as I follow
31:16
Christ?
31:18
In other words, look at
31:19
my example in so much
31:21
as I am following
31:22
Christ.
31:24
He also says in
31:25
Philippians 3 17,
31:27
join in imitating me
31:29
and keep your eyes on
31:31
those who walk
31:33
according to the
31:34
example you have
31:35
in us.
31:37
We have the truth
31:40
and this truth
31:41
teaches us how to
31:42
live and we need
31:44
human examples
31:45
of those truths
31:47
lived out.
31:48
Do you have
31:49
brothers and sisters
31:50
in the faith that you
31:51
could point to
31:52
and say,
31:53
be like so-and-so,
31:55
consider the way he
31:56
follows Christ?
31:57
Parents, as your kids
32:00
are growing up,
32:01
who can you point to
32:02
and say,
32:03
if you want to be a
32:04
businessman,
32:06
consider this person
32:07
and the way his faith
32:08
is at action in his
32:09
work.
32:10
Or if you want to be a
32:11
mother,
32:12
don't only look to my
32:14
example, but consider
32:15
this mom and how she is
32:17
faithfully discipling
32:19
and training up her
32:20
children.
32:21
We need the church
32:23
on this journey
32:24
to look to one
32:26
another and to learn
32:28
how to live out the
32:29
truth.
32:31
And parents, if your
32:32
children do not have
32:33
godly examples to
32:34
look to, they will
32:36
look to the world.
32:38
Be careful of the
32:39
role models you put
32:41
before them.
32:42
Be watchful of who
32:43
you idolize in the
32:44
home, who is on
32:46
your TV, and who is
32:48
on your speakers.
32:49
Your kids are
32:50
watching, they're
32:52
learning, and they're
32:54
imitating.
32:56
This is also my
32:57
plug for reading good
32:58
Christian biographies,
32:59
for the sake of your
33:00
soul and your
33:01
families, to have
33:03
these imperfect
33:04
examples of
33:06
believers striving to
33:08
live like the perfect
33:10
example, Christ.
33:12
So I'd like to end
33:13
with the command of
33:14
3 John verse 11.
33:17
Beloved, do not
33:19
imitate evil, but
33:21
imitate good.
33:24
So ask yourself, who
33:26
do you imitate, whether
33:27
secretly or openly?
33:29
And if this person
33:30
does not point you to
33:31
Christ, to the
33:32
gospel, if this person
33:34
is not walking in the
33:35
truth, ask yourself,
33:36
should you be
33:37
imitating them?
33:39
And ask yourself, who
33:40
should you imitate?
33:41
Beware of those who
33:45
walk in the way of
33:46
deatrophies, who
33:47
walk contrary to the
33:48
truth.
33:50
But look for those
33:51
like Gaius, who
33:52
walk in the truth, to
33:54
those who not only
33:55
believe the truth, but
33:57
live lives that
33:58
evidence the truth
33:59
that they believe.
34:02
Let's pray, church.