Advancing the Truth

3 John 1:1-8

Theme: Believers and churches are to assist traveling ministers of Jesus Christ because such activities advance the march of the Gospel to the unevangelized.

Introduction:

I can recall a little over two years of pre-field ministry back in the mid-90s as our family raised support to serve in Germany as missionaries to the US Military and their families stationed there. The journey started out slow, but quickly gained momentum as we zipped back and forth across the eastern half of the USA. We were privileged to meet hundreds of churches and thousands of Christians, and most of these experiences were very positive encounters. It was wonderful to see God work through us and provide for us; we also witnessed the power of the Gospel here in the USA in many precious lives. God provided again and again through his people as they followed the biblical guidance John gave in this incredible passage.  

The historical backdrop of this little Letter gives us a vivid glimpse into church life in the latter half of the first century. With just a few concise strokes of the pen the apostle sketches in three characters: Gaius the hospitable and spiritual, Demetrius the commendable, and Diotrephes the self-seeking and unloving. In this study John celebrates the kindness and hospitality of Gaius.

Lecture:

I.                  John’s Greetings to His Friend Gaius (3John 1).

A.    John refers to himself as the elder.

B.     He addresses himself to the well-beloved Gaius, whom he loves in truth. Although we do not know if this is the Gaius mentioned in Romans 16:23 or the one in Acts 20:4, we do learn about him in these few verses. First, we gather that he was a much beloved believer, a man whose whole life commended him to his fellow Christians.

II.              John’s Appreciation for Gaius’ Walk in the Truth and Generosity (3John 2-8).

A.    He desires for Gaius to prosper physically as he has spiritually (vs. 2).

                                                1.      The apostle’s greatest desire was for his friend Gaius’ health.  He knew that his soul was already prospering in the Lord despite his poor health; therefore, he wanted him to be well and healthy also. Clearly sickness is not always a matter of punishment for sin, nor an indication of one’s spiritual condition.

                                                2.      Would we want our physical condition to correspond to our spiritual? Is it not sadly true that we take better care of our bodies than of our souls?

                                                3.      That is why F. B. Meyer wryly remarked: “It would not be desirable to express the wish of verse 2 to all our friends, because if their bodies were to correspond to the condition of their souls, they would suddenly fall into ill-health.” (Source Unknown)

                                                4.      Verse 2 flatly contradicts what is taught by many so-called “faith-healers.” They contend that all sickness is a result of sin in the life, and that if a person isn’t healed, it’s because of a lack of faith. This certainly wasn’t true in Gaius’ case. His spiritual condition was good, but his physical condition was not so good. This shows that one’s spiritual state cannot be argued from the bodily one. –W. MacDonald

B.     He rejoices in Gaius’ steadfast walk in the truth (vs. 3-4).

                                                1.      The apostle rejoiced greatly when certain brethren came and testified of the truth that was in Gaius, and how he walked in the truth (v. 3). It is good to have the truth in us, but it is better to manifest the truth in our lives. We should not only hold the truth but allow the truth to hold us. People would rather see a sermon than hear one. Nothing counts more for God in an age of fact than a holy life.

                                                2.      So important was this to John that he could say, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (v. 4). Perhaps most of us think of soul-winning as the greatest joy of the Christian life, and it is wonderful indeed to see men and women translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love. But who can measure the heartache to see those who professed to be saved, returning to their former life; like a sow returning to her wallowing in the mire and a dog to its vomit. On the other hand, what a thrill it is to see one’s spiritual children going on for the Lord, from grace to grace and faith to faith. Again, this emphasizes the importance of follow-up work in all our evangelistic endeavors.

C.    He appreciates Gaius’ reception and care of the preachers he sent (vs. 5-8).

                                                1.      Gaius took a special delight in throwing open his home to those who had gone out preaching the gospel (v. 5). He extended his gracious hospitality not only to those whom he knew, but to strangers as well. John says that he was faithful in this ministry. It appears from the NT that hospitality is very important in God’s sight. If we entertain the Lord’s people, it is the same as if we entertain the Lord Himself (Matt. 25:40). On the other hand, failure to entertain His servants is looked upon as failure to entertain Him (Matt. 25:45). Through entertaining strangers, “some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb. 13:2). Many can testify that through the practice of hospitality, meals have been turned into sacraments (Luke 24:29–35), children have been converted, and families have been drawn closer to the Lord. (MacDonald)

                                                2.      Rewards are involved. Gaius’ kindness was known to all the church (v. 6). But more than that, his name is forever enshrined in God’s Holy Word as one who had an open home and an open heart. And even more, Gaius will yet be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ, for “he that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matt. 10:41). He will share in the reward of all those faithful preachers he entertained. This is a good point to remember for those who cannot preach: you can receive a preacher’s reward by showing hospitality to preachers in the name of the Lord. God will pay back all good deeds! His kindness will crown the kindness of men.

                                                3.      Now John reminds Gaius that he will do well to send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God. To “bring forward on their journey” means not just a friendly farewell, but adequate supplies. This surely sets a high standard for us as we share our material things with those who preach and teach the Gospel of our Lord.

                                                4.      A special reason is given why Gaius should be helpful to these itinerant evangelists: Because they went forth for His name’s sake taking nothing from the Gentiles (v. 7). These men looked to the Lord alone for the supply of their needs. They would not accept support from the unconverted. To do so would imply that their Master was too poor to provide for them. It might also give the unsaved a false ground of self-righteousness on which to rest. What a rebuke this is to the money-raising methods of Christendom today! And how it should remind us of the special obligation we have toward those genuine servants of the Lord who go out in faith in the living God and who make their needs known only to the Lord. (Weirsbe)

                                                5.      The fact that faithful Christian preachers sought no help from the unsaved meant that Christians were under a special obligation to assist them. By extending the needed help (showing hospitality to such men), Christians such as Gaius could be “fellowhelpers to the truth.”  The thought is of partnership with what the truth accomplishes in people’s hearts and lives. It was a noble objective for Gaius to follow. We therefore ought to receive such servants of Christ, that we may partner with fellow Christians for the advancement of truth (v. 8). To receive them means to do everything possible to help them, for when we do, we help the truth in its onward march.

Yes, the Lord has faithfully worked through His churches and generous believers for two millennia, and He will continue to do so until He comes for us. Some of the grandest blessings my wife and I have experienced exercising our Christian faith have been while assisting those who preach the Gospel of our Lord. Formally, this has been our privilege through our various home churches over the years, and as the Lord laid specific ministries on our hearts. I can honestly say we have been honored to give to meet these servants of Christ needs as they sacrificially advanced the Gospel to the unsaved. Our family shares wonderful memories of housing missionaries and evangelists in our home; my how we all were deeply enriched by the fellowship and time together. Beloved, if I am ever charged with the crime of advancing the Gospel of our Lord by assisting His faithful servants…I want to be found guilty beyond any reasonable doubt! What about you? Are you advancing the truth? If not, then why not?