John’s second epistle is addressed to “the elect lady and her children”.  John is the elder, 1 Pet 5:1. She is elect, meaning she’s saved.

Why did John write this second epistle to them?

To express his true love to her and them, v.1-3.

When John, the elder, expressed his love to the elect lady and her children, he said, “whom I love in the truth”.  There is a peculiar love that the children of God who love the truth have for each other.  That’s why John wrote that “all they that have known the truth” also love her and her children. 

The truth dwells in us and shall be with us for ever.  This is true of Jesus Christ, the truth, Jn 14:6.  And it is also true of the word of God, which is truth, Jn 17:17, Matt 24:35.  His words should abide in us like he does.

The three things from the Father and the Son with which he greets her in truth and love are grace, mercy, and peace.  These three things are essential for us to fully enjoy the eternal life we now possess in Jesus Christ.

To express his joy that her children were walking in truth, v.4.

The commandment of the Father is that we are to walk in truth, as in 1 Ki 2:4, 3:6; Ps 26:3.  Thus, John greatly rejoiced that he found her children walking in truth, 3 Jn 4.  In fact, one of the great challenges facing us today is to help our children walk in truth as they grow up.  Today, many children raised in Christian homes are being persuaded to turn their back on the truth and follow the world’s people and philosophies, instead.

To beseech her to walk after Christ’s commandments, v.5-6.

John reiterated the commandment from the Lord Jesus Christ that “we love one another”, Jn 13:34.  And our love for one another is inseparable from walking “after his commandments”, Jn 14:15, 23.  Once again, we can see how John’s second epistle is a continuation of his gospel, particularly the words of Jesus that he wrote in Jn 13-17.  This is what John meant when he wrote, “as we have heard from the beginning”.

There are three safeguards to walking after Jesus’s commands.  By walking in his commandments, we guard against, v.7-9:

Deceivers who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

For many deceivers are entered into the world, v.7.  They are in most religions of the world.  They are in most universities in the world.  And they are in all the philosophies of the world.  Every where you turn you find those who are antichrist.

Losing those things that we have wrought.

When you quit following the commandments of the Lord you can lose many things.  Dr Ruckman preached on Things A Christian Can Lose.  He said that you can lose your assurance, testimony, joy, rewards, health, life and inheritance.  John’s desire is that we receive a full reward, v.8, instead, Col 3:24.

Those who abide not in the doctrine of Christ.

This verse is similar to what John wrote in 1 Jn 3:6-10.  His desire is that we discern who hath God and who hath not God, v.9.  The way to tell is to observe who abides in the doctrine of Christ and who does not.  Those who abide in the doctrine of Christ have “both the Father and the Son”.  Those who don’t have neither.

To warn her against those bringing false doctrine, v.10-11.

John warned this elect lady against doing two things if someone were to come to her and bring not this doctrine, v.10.  He wrote,

“receive him not into your house”, v.10.  Once they get in they may lead you captive, 2 Tim 3:6.  

And he wrote, “neither bid him God speed”, v.10.  Because “he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds”, v.11.  Instead, they must be rebuked sharply, Titus 1:10-14, marked and avoided, Rom 16:17, and rejected, Titus 3:10.  [THE AUDIO WAS INTERRUPTED HERE DUE TO A POWER OUTAGE IN A STORM]

To express his desire to see her.

John’s preference after writing this second epistle to her was to write no more.  Instead, he wanted to see her “face to face, that our joy may be full”, v.12.  One of the unfortunate things about the technological age in which we live is that people are not meeting face to face like they did before.  Meeting face to face in church, for instance, is more joyful than live-streaming at home.

To send greetings from her family.

The elect lady’s nieces and/or nephews sent greetings to her by John’s second epistle, v.13.  One of the great joys in the ministry is to see a person get saved and then to see his/her family members get saved and rejoice together in their mutual love for Christ and his words.