3 John 1
Riley3 John 1:1-14
THREE TYPICAL CHURCH MEMBERS 3 John 1:1-14. IN the study of the Third Epistle of John, we note progress in the apostolic messages. In the First Epistle, he defends the faith once delivered against false teachers; in the Second Epistle, he conditions the personal walk of the believer in the midst of apostasy, and in this Third Epistle, he presents in clear, concise way, typical church members. The Apostle John is an old man, pushing on toward the centenary of his birth, and he is compelled, as many of the more aged men of the present, to witness the growth of an apostasy in creed first and ecclesiasticism second. These two are seldom separated. In proportion as men depart from the faith once delivered, they will also oppose that simplicity of church government characterizing the New Testament model, and arrogate to themselves powers and authorities that belong only to the believing body—known as the local church.We can imagine the grief that this dual apostasy brought to this aged Apostle and pastor at large.It is a circumstance worthy of note that the three outstanding individuals of this Epistle have their successors in practically every church known to the twentieth century, and now, as then, those individuals loom the more conspicuous in a little church. A large church may have a number of such typical members, but a small one commonly has about one of each of these who, in a membership that marks the common lot of the local body, constitute the same.These three are Gaius, the beloved disciple; Diotrephes, the domineering disciple; and Demetrius, the ideal disciple.GAIUS THE BELOVED It was to him that John wrote. It is well to notice in passing that John doesn’t assert authority on the ground of his apostleship. The fact is that the true apostle of Jesus Christ doesn’t care to assert his authority or to over-lord the church under any circumstances.Domineering lordship is, in itself, an apostasy from New Testament practice as certainly as the denial of fundamentals is an apostasy from New Testament precepts. John speaks of himself as “the elder” merely; and certainly he was that both by reason of his age and of office; and he addresses Gaius as the “wellbeloved”, “whom I love in the truth”.Gaius had excited the ardent admiration of this— his senior. Now there are other evidences in the Epistle of John of his cordial relationship with younger members of the ministry, and in fact, with young men in general. There are old men who never lose this contact with youth.
They retain the spirit of youth and consequently can keep the fellowship of youth.In his First Epistle, John says, “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14).I doubt if there is any greater proof of a true Apostle than the ability to retain the admiration and love of loyal youth. It was Goethe who said, “Tell me with whom thou dost company and I will tell thee who thou art”.There are people who seem a bit proud of the fact that they do not make a great many friends in the church, but John was not among them. He found a sweetness in the fellowships there, and in spite of the fact that some members tried his soul and tested his patience to the limit, others were brothers indeed, sisters, in the spirit; and to such he addressed these inspired Epistles. The Second Epistle was written “to the elect lady and her children” whom he loved, and this Third one to Gaius, doubtless an official for whom he held an ardent affection.After all, the Blood-bought are brought into a brotherhood, the strength and sweetness of which is not exceeded by even family ties.Of the earthly disciples it was said, “Behold how they love one another.”Gaius stimulated in John the best of wishes.“I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 1:2). There may be people who do not count the prayers of the saints an asset. But this writer is not among them. We candidly believe that our work in church and school and Christian Fundamentals Association; our work in evangelistic field and in Bible conference field, and through the printed page, have all received immeasurable benefit through the multiplied prayers of friends. There is scarce a day but the mail brings money, sometimes in small sums; often in larger sums, to our desk. It is sent to aid the work of the church, to set forward the interest of the school, to strengthen the cause of fundamentalism, or to aid in the distribution of literature, and never a cent of it but is attended with prayers. However, along with these letter-enclosures, come scores of letters that contain not so much as a postage stamp, but express sympathy and love and after pleading honest poverty, conclude by saying, “But we can and we do pray for you and for your work daily.”It is my candid conviction that these checkless letters represent a contribution to the causes to which I am devoting life, scarcely surpassed by the checks that carry from a single dollar up to thousands.There are in America hundreds of sainted old people who, through the purchase of our books or the reading of the articles contributed to magazines, are led to write us fully of their affection and strongly assure us of their daily prayers to God in our behalf.
In personal life, professional undertaking, and institutional endeavor, we have no finer contributions than these saints of the Most High make in the form of prayer.There was a time when Peter attempted to walk on the water upon which his Master was safely standing. His faith failed him through fear, and gravity, did its work in sending him into the deep. In answer to his cry, “Lord, save me”, Jesus put forth His hand and lifted him up and led him safely back to the boat.In all probability Peter imagined that he owed the Master an immeasurable debt for that day’s help; and in fact, he did, but no greater, if indeed so great, as he owed for another assistance rendered under circumstances of far greater danger, for while the former involved Peter’s body, the latter involved his soul, and of that danger Jesus said,“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not”. Who can tell what temptations he has escaped because somebody has prayed for him? Who can tell what soul-destroying sins have been slain before they ever came to the birth by the prayers of saintly friends? Eternity alone will reveal the riches contributed to any useful life in answer to the petitions that ascended for the same.We can congratulate Gaius that John, the elder, John, the disciple of Jesus, John, the Apostle by Divine appointment, John, the man that Jesus loved, kept Gaius upon his prayer list.Gaius had established a good reputation among his fellows.“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth”. Mark the progress of affection found in this Letter. In the beginning he addressed him as a “wellbeloved” friend. But now he claims him as his own “child” in the Gospel, and such he doubtless was.The minister’s converts are so dear to him that they seem to belong to him. Recently a young woman brought us a little kodak picture of herself, on the back of which was written, “Your child in the Lord.”There is in life dual generation—that which is natural and that which is spiritual. The first is of the earth; the second is from Heaven. While we are citizens of this world, the first may seem the closer, and the more dear; but it is very doubtful if that will be true when we have once been translated, for in Heaven heavenly relationships will be esteemed.The question of what is the highest vocation in life men still continue to debate.
Social service is now much in the ascendency; the winning of men to Christ, the saving of immortal souls, seems for the present, at least, to be somewhat in eclipse. But we are doubtful if the Divine judgment in the matter has changed in the least.When the great steamer “Titanic” went down, it carried into the caverns of the deep a large number of nationally known people.
World-figures found a watery grave that day. Among them was William T. Stead, the notable English editor and social reformer, and John Harper, the newly called pastor of the Moody Church, Chicago.Stead was on his way to America to make other observations with a view to future literary contributions and social endeavors.Harper was on his way to take the pastorate of a great church.How Stead spent his last hour we do not know. So far as we can learn, he was busy trying to save the bodies of women and children. So good was his reputation as a social worker that when the “Carpathia” steamed into the harbor, bringing some of the survivors of the wreck, Mr. J. M. Whitmore said to Mr.
M. A. McDonald of Toronto, a great friend of Mr. Stead’s, “Is Mr. Stead on the ‘Carpathia,’ Mr. McDonald?”“No,” answered McDonald, “he is not on it.” Surprised at the sureness of his answer, Whitmore questioned again, “Why do you answer with such certainty?”“Because,” said McDonald, “I have known W. T. Stead since he was a young man; and he has never failed to do the thing that he ought to do.
When the “Titanic” went down, if there were others to get into those life-boats, Stead stood aside and saw to their safety first, and I know, that in the end, he went down. He would not save himself at the expense of others.”That is a glorious reputation, and doubtless Stead was worthy of it.But we have the history of John Harper’s end, for survivors, brought to harbor in safety, told the same. When the “Titanic” was struck by the iceberg that drove in her sides, and sent the ship to the bottom, John Harper was leaning against the rail pleading with a young man to come to Christ, and from that moment until she sank, he, with Stead, was busily trying to save the bodies of women and children and weaker men.Who will say that the social service of a Stead exceeded in final importance the temporal and eternal service that engaged John Harper that day?It is a fine thing to have a reputation among your brethren for good, and if possible, it is a finer thing yet to have a reputation not only for good, but for “a knowledge of the truth” and for the employment of the same in the redemption of other men. Of all the rewards for service, none exceeds that of knowing that one’s children “walk in truth”.It was a high tribute that John paid to Gaius,“Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; “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: “Because that for His Name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth” (3 John 1:5-8). It is with grief that we turn from the study of Gaius to the consideration ofD THE The certainty that though times change, men do not, is proven by the age of this Epistle. Nearly 2,000 years ago Diotrephes disturbed the fellowship of the church to which Gaius and Demetrius belonged, and today Diotrephes has far more successors in office than Rome has ever claimed for the Apostle Peter. The description of this churchman found in 3 John 1:9-11 is as much up to date as though it were written this morning.Note the following facts: first, he essayed to hold the official pre-eminence; second, he would permit no possible competitor; third, he employed the Pope role of excommunication.He essayed to hold the official pre-eminence.“Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence”. Dr. A. C. Dixon said that in an aquarium in Italy, he saw a devil fish. It had a dozen hands to take in, but no one to give out anything. He took off his hat and bowed to it and said, “How do you do? I have met you ofttimes in America, in the form of a man.”But while the utterly selfish are common, they are scarcely more so than the determined bosses— men who love the pre-eminence in church life. If we were asked what one thing has caused more divisions in church life and also in denominational ecclesiasticism than any other thing, we should answer instantly, “The love of pre-eminence.”If we come to know the class represented by Diotrephes, it is very easy to believe the biblical record of the fall of Satan.
This ambition for office seems to have reached into the very heavens, and to have affected even the angels, and caused the fall of the supreme archangel, the son of the morning, the highest of all created intelligences, who said in his heart, “I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God”.It should not be a surprise that the temptation which depopulated Heaven of one-third of its angelic hosts, should disturb the local church of God on earth.Again, Diotrephes would permit no possible competitor. He had refused to receive the Apostles; he had prated against them with malicious words, and not content therewith, he had rejected also the brethren, who were followers of the Apostle.We stand amazed sometimes at the high-handed methods of certain men in modern church life. But again, there is nothing new under the sun. This has characterized the ambitious from the beginning. There is many an office holder who counts it his chief job to oppose the preacher, handicap the endeavors of other officers and control the action of the membership; and the strange thing about it all is that he generally imagines that he is the only intelligent man in the church and that if people would only let him alone and let him control absolutely, things would move with marvelous smoothness.There is a good story told in illustration of this idea. During the early part of the Spanish-American war, Mr.
Roosevelt encountered a war government official who was unwilling to carry out the will of his superior. Finally Mr.
Roosevelt secured an order that demanded of this officer that the essential thing involved should be done. Mr. Roosevelt went to him and presented the order. He looked at Mr. Roosevelt with a degree of weariness and disgust, though he had nothing against him personally, and throwing himself back in his chair, he said with a sigh, “Oh, dear; I had this office running in such good shape, and then along came this war and upset everything.”Mark you, he was an officer in the war department, and yet he supposed that to participate in war was an interruption of his official duties.There are exactly such officials in the Church of God. They want to hold office and give commands, but they are never willing to have any aggressive warfare waged against the adversary.Diotrephes employed the pope-role of excommunication.
After a few secret meetings, he doubtless assembled enough of his friends to some suddenly called business meeting of the church to cast out all his opponents. Again he has his successors.Twenty-five years ago in America certain men who secured the pre-eminence among us began to reject the teaching of the Apostles.
A few of them were put on trial for their apostasy. Practically none of them were excluded, so tender and considerate were the feelings of the fundamentalists. Now the tables are turned, and while I dictate this sermon, Dr. Barnhouse of Philadelphia, a fundamentalist, is on trial before the Presbytery for fundamentalism; and in the Methodist, Baptist and Congregational denominations many fundamentalist pastors and fundamentalist churches have lately been excluded from denominational fellowship.Candidly, there is one thing about these apostates from the faith that we admire, and that is that they are not subject to soft sentimentality. Egotists never are! Would-be bosses are never guilty of any such a weakness.
When they begin, they go through. They are so self-opinionated, so thoroughly convinced that no one can be right save themselves, that they give no quarter to an enemy.
With all the assumed authority of the Pope himself they cast out of the church those who dare to oppose them. There are several instances on record in America where properties, built by people, have been taken bodily from the people who constructed these temples of worship, by self-appointed bosses. In fact, at this moment there are no less than half a dozen suits pending where the ruling minority are demanding of even Congregational and Baptist bodies that the majority vote be ignored and the houses constructed by the money of this majority be turned over to this “preeminent” minority.Diotrephes still lives. His spirit goes marching on. Before him there are new fields for conquest; back of him, dishonored pastors, disrupted churches, discouraged majorities. The times change; men remain the same; Diotrephes is a type!Finally, THE IDEAL “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. “I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: “But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name” (3 John 1:12-14). He was universally loved.“Demetrius hath good report of all men”. That is a rare compliment. Few men attain to it. In fact, we take it that the language is accommodated, “All men”, meaning, that he was well esteemed in the circle of his friends, and acquaintances.Lord Shaftesbury, the great Christian philanthropist, was a man after that manner. When his funeral procession reached Trafalgar Square, it is claimed that 40,000 factory hands, seamstresses, flower girls and laborers from the east end were awaiting its arrival; and, for more than a mile, the procession moved through such crowds as London itself had scarcely ever seen, with both sides of the street solidly lined with Sunday School children, children from shelter homes and training schools, present to honor the memory of the man who had loved them and whom they loved in turn. When the hearse approached the costermongers, one of their leaders lifted up a banner on which was inscribed the words, “I was a stranger, and ye took Me in.” As it moved past the school children, one boy lifted another banner on which was written, “I was sick, and ye visited Me.” On a silken flag which the leader among the working girls raised, was inscribed, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”It was a marvelous tribute to a marvelous man. Demetrius seems to have been a man much after the same manner.Some years ago in Northern Minnesota Frank Higgins was the sky pilot of the lumber men.
He has spoken more than once in this church. Finally he was taken sick with a cancer, and they sent him to the city hospital.
The big fellows from the camps to whom he had given his life held a consultation and decided that one of their number should go along with him to render any service possible until he was safely in the hospital bed. The man chosen was an oversized fellow, decidedly out of place in the hospital; but he hung around in the corridors waiting to be of some use to Frank. When the time for the operation came, he said, “Frank, you know that we love you, and we want to help you. Now while the doctors are operating on you, I will be at the door outside, and if they find, Frank, that they need a quart of blood or a piece of bone or any amount of skin, have them call on me. You can have every drop of blood and every bone in my body, if you need it. Now don’t forget, I will be at the door.”It must be a great comfort for a man to face his last hour and have human affection follow him even to the edge of eternity.
But there is a further sentence here that doubtless throws light on the former one—He was loyal to the truth. He had a good report of “the truth itself”.
We honestly question whether any man can be loyal to his fellows and disloyal to the truth. We also question whether any man can be justly loved by his fellows who is disloyal to the truth of God.These are days when men are bandying the truth around. They are not willing to come out openly and say that “truth is of no importance,” but they do repeatedly affirm that it makes little or no difference what a man thinks or believes if only he is sincere about it—a philosophy that repudiates the essential value of truth.The truth cannot make a man free who sincerely believes a lie in its stead. There are those who do not seem to be able to discern the truth because they have dallied with it so long that it has faded out for them and no longer bears a distinct witness.Some years ago at Norfolk, Virginia, two cars from an excursion train from Kingston, N. C., plunged through an open drawbridge into the Elizabeth river. Eighteen people were drowned or killed, and thirty-five others were saved only by the promptitude of the farm hand that worked nearby, and who immediately went to their rescue.
For a while it seemed impossible to discover the cause of the accident. A signal man insisted that he had displayed a red flag in good time for the engineer to stop before reaching the open draw, and other employees about the place corroborated his assertion.
The engineer, who was himself badly hurt, contended that a white flag was shown and the signal indicated the road was clear. Finally to settle the dispute, the flagman was asked to bring the flag and show the same. Instantly the mystery was solved. The flag had been left in the rain so often and the color of the same was of such a character that it had faded out and the distance gave the impression of white. Hence the disaster.There are men who would fain take the blood out of the banner of Christ, and consequently change the danger signal for those immortals who are driving on into eternity and lead them to suppose that they are safe at the very time of their imminent peril. The truth is that “without shedding of blood is no remission”.
The truth is that “the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin”. A bloodless gospel is a gospel of deception and doubt.
The time is on when men should stand for the truth, and absolutely refuse any compromise with error, any truce with falsehood.Finally, Demetrius was officially certified. John said, using the editorial “we”, “We also bear record; and ye know that our record is true”.It is a fine thing to have the backing of good men. It is a better thing to have the backing of the best men. It is the finest of all things to have the backing of the God-Man, even Christ. When the day of judgment comes, if He certifies for us, our final acceptance is sure; not otherwise.With one illustration I close. It is a story of Jenny Lind, and dates back to the opera house in London, 1849.
The hour of the evening opera was on. Multitudes of people were passing through the doors to hear the world’s most famous singer, when Max Bronzden, the son of a blacksmith, who had shared childhood with Jenny Lind, his next door neighbor, but who in the course of time had become a common gutter drunkard, was staggering the street.
At the opera house door he saw the multitude and it slowed his steps. Out from the same at that very moment issued a ringing voice which seemed to awaken memories in him of other days. Looking up, he read the name of his little girl friend, now the world’s most famous woman. It sobered him. He watched his chance, and as the crowd of richly dressed men and women were passing in, he shoved himself to the center, thereby evading the ticket agent, and gained admission. In a dark corner he found a seat not occupied, and hoped that because of its out of the way location no one would come to claim the same.
Like a shivering cur he dropped into the same, and instantly his keen ears and musical temperament began to drink in the glorious music that filled the great auditorium.The number was finished. The tempest of applause shook the house.
No one joined in more heartily than Max. Stirred as he had never been since childhood, he forgot himself and forgot his rags. Running forward, he cried, “Jenny, my little Jenny; I told you you would do it. I told you you would rule the world with that voice. Speak to me and tell me that you remember me!”“Put him out!” shouted the multitude. “He is crazy! Get rid of him!”Strong arms seized him and started pushing him toward the door, when Jenny, who had been bowing to the crowd, suddenly lifted a finger and silenced all. “No, leave him in. Let him hear me. I know that man.”Max Bronzden turned and looked at her. “Forgive me,” he said, “but I was passing and heard your voice, and I stole my way in.
It seemed like I had a right to listen for the sake of old times. Once the birds and I were your only auditors, and once I told you that you could be great, and you seemed glad then of my praise, though I was nothing but the barefooted boy—the blacksmith’s son.”Bending forward toward him, Jenny Lind said, “Bring him to the front seat. It is Max Bronzden; my earliest and truest friend. Stand here, Max. I want my audience to know you. You created in my heart the ambition to be great. My stage was a lichen covered forest log and you showered me with wild flowers, which I prized more than I prize these jewels now, and your praises stirred in me the desire to do what these friends have heard me do this night. Be worthy of the trust and confidence that I give you.
I have struggled and conquered all difficulties. You can do the same. Be content no longer, Max, to be a vagabond, as you say you are. Be a man! Be worthy of my friendship.”He could scarcely speak, but in hoarse earnestness he said, “Jenny, with God’s help, I will.”The house was as silent as death. Then it suddenly burst into a more tumultuous applause than it had given the world’s greatest singer at the conclusion of her last song.
Max went out from that place a new man, with new inspiration and new courage, never again to be downed by drink.If the certification of a great and good woman could accomplish such a victorious inspiration, what is impossible to the man who is not only certified by the great of earth, but still better, by the King of Glory? If the great of earth can secure for you a passage for time, He, the King of kings and the Lord of life, provides a certificate of imputed character which can secure you for eternity.