THE JOY OF THE TRUTH
September 28, 2003 AM
Sermon Outline
2 JNO 1:1-4
INTRO: As I read the little letter John wrote to the elect lady and her children, I notice that the apostle John makes to his joy and to the filling of his joy. In the little letter mention is made of several points which contribute to his joy. In a previous study we mentioned the joy of Christian relationships. In our thoughts this morning I want us to notice that five times in the first four verses of 2nd John we find references to the truth. I suggest to you that John finds great joy in the truth! In scripture truth is personified in Christ (Jno 14:6). But in an objective sense truth is the great message of scripture.
I. CRITICAL POINTS TO EMPHASIZE AT THE BEGINNING
A. Truth must be known
1. v. 1 - they that have known the truth
2. Jno 8:31,32 - ye shall know the truth.
3. the is absolutely no joy in truth if it is not known!
B. Truth must dwell in us
1. v. 2 - the truths sake, which dwelleth in us
2. Col 3:16 - let the word of Christ dwell in you
3. truth must be more than an academic consideration ... it must dwell in us ... it must reside in us
C. Truth must govern our behavior
1. v. 4 - walking in truth
2. 1 Thes 4:1 - how ye ought to walk and to please God
3. there most assuredly is a Christian lifestyle - living that lifestyle pleases God - any other lifestyle is not pleasing to God
II. WHERE IS THE JOY IN THE TRUTH?
A. There is joy in the confidence of the truth
1. think about truth versus fiction ... basing our hopes in fiction is hopeless
2. there is incredible confidence in being able to say, I know
3. listen: 2 Tim 1:12 - 1 Jno 2:3,4 - 1 Jno 5:14,15
4. there is so much ambiguity, error, opinion, etc. in the world - and some folks seem to live in the fog most of their lives
5. Jno 17:17 - my life rests in the confidence of Gods word
B. There is joy in freedom through the truth
1. in part this freedom relates to the confidence I have mentioned - with the truth there is freedom from indecision, from anxiety, from unknown
2. but the real freedom has to do with our relationship to/with God
3. Jno 8:32 - the context has to do with the slavery of sin (v. 34)
4. the truth reveals Gods remedy for sin ... and how we can gain access to that remedy
5. Rom 6:17,18 - Gods remedy involves obeying from the heart revealed truth
C. There is joy in living in the truth
1. I am convinced that God wants you and me to be happy people
2. Ps 16:11 - here is a passage which has lent credence to my conviction
3. but the key here is in our choosing the path of life - or living Gods way
4. guilt is one of the great enemies of happiness - and guilt comes in living outside the boundaries of Gods plan, Gods will
5. so, once again, we need to look at 1 Thes 4:1 or Col 1:10
D. There is joy in anticipation through truth
1. Col 1:5 - ...hope...whereof ye heard...in the word of the truth...
2. if Christian joy is not anticipating in nature, it is absolutely bound to this earth
3. and I would remind you of 1 Cor 15:19
4. the truth reveals great and precious promises which are critical to our living to please God ... otherwise, why live the Christian lifestyle?
5. 2 Cor 4:18 - it is the anticipation of all that is meant by an house not made with hands (5:1) ... that hope filled anticipation, which produces joy as a state of being
CLOSE: The Christian life is a life of the truth, in the truth, by the truth. While the world struggles for answers, I have them! The apostle Paul would add, Rejoice evermore (1 Thes 5:16).
Cecil A. Hutson
28 September 2003