November 12
“The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love,” 2 John 1-3.
The Second Epistle of John appears to be a private Epistle or Letter written “to the elect lady and her children.” Exactly to whom it is addressed we do not know. The elect lady and her children might have been prominent members in one of the congregations in Asia Minor. John congratulates them for their Christian conduct and witness to other Christians and to the general public in the community.
John calls himself the elder or presbyter, which was a title for a minister of the Gospel in those early days of the Christian Church. He addresses “the elect lady and her children” like a loving father or grandfather. He rejoices in the fact that they knew the truth about their salvation and that they were known for their Christian faith and life by fellow Christians who also knew and lived according to the truth. Hypocrites and unbelievers are not included among those who are addressed in this Epistle.
John’s greeting centers around two words – truth and love. The truth of the Gospel of which John writes will be with us forever. The truth of the Gospel is the proclamation that, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved,” John 3:16-17.
To the Romans and the Corinthians, the apostle Paul proclaimed the same message of truth and love: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8. Christ died to redeem sinners, not perfect people. He died to redeem you and me. “He died for all,” 2 Corinthians 5:15.
God’s grace, mercy, and peace are revealed in the sending of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation . . . God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21.
Where faith exists in this Gospel truth, there also exists true Christian love. We are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone. Out of a heart filled with Christian faith flows the desire, the willingness, and the determination to do Christian works. We will show and demonstrate our love for others, not only by helping them in a physical way, but also by speaking to them about the love of God for them as it was revealed through Jesus Christ, the Savior of all people.
“Salvation unto us has come
By God’s free grace and favor;
Good works cannot avert our doom,
They help and save us never.
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone,
Who did for all the world atone;
He is our one Redeemer.
Since Christ hath full atonement made
And brought to us salvation,
Each Christian therefore may be glad,
And build on this foundation.
Thy grace alone, dear Lord, I plead;
Thy death is now my life indeed,
For Thou hast paid my ransom.” Amen.