Balancing Love and Truth

By Rick Bayer, August 11, 2020

2 John 1:1-6

1 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Don't sacrifice for the sake of love. v.1-4

  1. We are to the truth

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3

  1. We are to in the truth

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

  1. We are to the truth

Truth is not a what but a

Don't sacrifice for the sake of truth. v. 3, 5, 6

Love is the defining characteristic of

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8

This is how God showed his Love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. v. 9

Love is the defining characteristic of

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Question for D Groups or personal study:

  • Do you believe truth is absolute or relative? Why?

  • For you what does it mean to know the truth and walk in it?

  • Are you more prone to sacrifice truth for love or vice versa?

  • Is the Christian Church known for being a people who love unconditionally? Is Gracepoint Church? Are you?

  • What do you need from Jesus right now: Love? Truth? How can your group help?