The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1581 3 John kc1-2

There are MANY churches today where John, or Matthew, or Luke,
or Paul would not be able to even take communion!
Imagine that!

1 John 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Gaius had a reputation for being charitable and hospitable to people whether they were of the brethren or not.

What kind of reputation do you have in treating others?

How do you look upon those of other denominations or even those cults who claim to be the sole possessors of truth, meaning they consider themselves "elite" (not just elect), and if you do not follow after their ways you are simply not going to "make it"?

God's elect do not consider themselves to be any better than their brothers or sisters because they know of their former blindness and what sinners they are and they know how much Father loves all His children and they know when it is time for them to "see" our Father will open their eyes.

Hopefully that will be before the Millennium, for greater is the reward of the first resurrection (Rev. 20:6).

A son once asked his father why it is that he could read and understand the Bible when it seemed mysterious and difficult to most others.

His father told him it was because it was his turn to "see" the truth much in the same way that it was his turn to be 50 years old and his son's turn to be eight.

"Someday it will be your turn to be 50", my son.

3 John 1:6
Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
Charity and brotherly love are extremely important qualities to display.

When you think about it, do not wisdom and common sense ask, "How in the world can an uncharitable and inhospitable person plant seeds and talk about the love of Christ to a non believer if he himself is not kind and loving?"

Hypocrite!

Neither can one have the truth in him if he elevates himself above others and seeks to have preeminence over them.

True teachers of God's Word do not seek either self glorification or to gain monetarily from spreading the gospel.

That joy John speaks of in seeing God's children come out of "babylon", which is confusion, and begin to walk in the truth is compensation enough for one of God's elect, for he or she knows that God will see to that blessings flow his or her way.

That is why you have never heard nor read of this ministry ever asking anyone for money, nor do we even pass a collection plate.

3 John 1:7
Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
They went forth teaching and planting seeds for the love of Christ which dwells in them, and they did not ask for anything in return.
[8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
Christians know that there are expenses involved in bringing forth the truth and they need not be coerced or browbeaten by some preacher or approached by some committee person seeking pledges for this fund and that fund.

If a Christian recognizes a good work and wants to be a fellowhelper, as John calls it, then that is his or her choice.

Just be careful though, for as we learned in the last epistle that we become partakers of the deeds of those we support, so make sure the church you support teaches the truth directly from His Word and not from church quarterlies and the traditions of men.

John is now going to give us a real good look at how some people and churches operate.

3 John 1:9
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
What does one call this unwelcoming attitude of Diotrephes, whose name means "nurtured by Zeus"?

Well, you can call it anything you like except "brotherly love"!

The lesson to learn from this is to recognize the reality that there are many churches today where even one of the 12 apostles who speak the truth would not be welcomed there.

In fact, there are MANY churches today where John, or Matthew, or Luke, or Paul would not be able to even take communion!

Imagine that!

And you know why that would be?

Because they are NOT A MEMBER of that church according to the rules of their governing body and deacon board.

The TRUTH is, if you love Jesus Christ you ARE already part of the body of Christ, i.e. you are part of His church.

The church of Christ is not a building nor is it subject to man's bylaws.

Furthermore, if you believe Christ is able to forgive our sins and heal our infirmities, then no man has the right nor the authority to prohibit you from taking communion.

Shame on them for doing so!

Who do they think they are?

If Jesus Christ accepts you then who is any man to deny you?

Let's take a closer look at Mr. Church, Diotrephes.

3 John 1:10
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
John does not take lightly the arrogance and malicious slandering of this self righteous hypocrite and the way he berates the brethren.

As you can see, according to Diotrephes it is more important that you follow him than it is to follow Christ.

Who does this goody goody two shoes think he is anyway, God?

Well, we have now seen the contrast between Gaius, who displays "love one another", and Diotrephes, who displays "judge one another".

Who are you going to follow and support?

Sadly, many do follow people like Diotrephes because the authoritative looking robes they wear and the alphabet soup which follows their names, like PhD or ThD, causes people to honor their status, thereby giving the Diotrephes types preeminence over them.

John did not tell us to "try their status" but to "try the spirits", i.e. what they teach!

Their status means nothing for as it is written, there is only one mediator between God and man, and that one is Jesus Christ.

That means His Word is the authority, not some bishop or elder or pope or president or minister or preacher or deacon board.

1 Tim. 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

[11]Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
Let's review 1 John 4:20 one more time for emphasis:
1 John 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
3 John 1:12
Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
Unlike Diotrephes whose actions were condemned by John, Demetrius was commended for his good report.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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