QT 2/11/2025 2 John 1-3, Understanding our great need

2 John 1–3 (ESV) —

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

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

 

NOTE: I don't know who the letter is written to, and most scholars prefer the metaphorical (the church and its members). I will go with the literal since that is consistent with my hermeneutic. It really doesn't matter much either. A lady and her children, the content will apply to any group of believers. John starts out by emphasizing love and truth. Love is a common theme in his gospel and in his first letter. Truth is also emphasized in the gospel. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), he is the word of God (John 1:1-3), and he set the example of love by dying on the cross for our sins. He loved us first, not because of anything we did. Let me write that again, he did not love us because of any good in us or special work or our religious devotion. God says he loved us first when we were sinners, opposed to him. I think it is hard for some people to get their brains wrapped around the idea that they are a sinner. Most people think of themselves as overall good people and certainly better than many people that we know. The problem is that we do not understand the distance between our level of good and God's absolute holiness. The prophet Isaiah said that his good works were like filthy rags in God's eyes. That is what we need to understand. We might measure up against people, but we fall infinitely short in measuring up to God's standard. We are moral failures, absolute moral failures. And that is why the love of God is so amazing, that he could choose to love us.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I truly understand my unworthiness to receive salvation?
2. Do I believe that God loved me first and I did not do anything to deserve that love?

 

PRAYER: Father, I cannot express my thankfulness for your love, and also I know that I do not even understand the depth of that love to be able to fully express the correct amount of thankfulness. I am unworthy. Forgive me when I fail to appreciate your incredible love and mercy that was extended to me and is still extended to me and forever will be extended to me.