Not a New Commandment: A Sermon Based on the Book of 2 John

A Love Works Daily Sermon

Rick Warren - the author of The Purpose Driven Life - tells about being lost traveling in the mountains. He was on a back road and could not figure out how to get to where he wanted to go. Finally he saw a store and pulled in to ask directions.

"Oh - you can't get there from here" was the response he got.

"You have to start at the other side of the mountain."

Warren goes on to say that if we are looking to find our meaning and purpose in life within ourselves - - we'll never really find it.

We've started at the wrong place.

We have to start - not within ourselves - but with God.

What John, the elder, writes in this short letter that we know of as 2 John is nothing new. He's not breaking any new ground. He's sending a short love note to the world.

A reminder to follow Christ! In case the reader has found himself on the other side of the mountain, John gets us back on track.

2 John [From the NLT - New Living Translation]

1 This letter is from John, the elder.*

I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children,* whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—2 because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

3 Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

4 How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Not a new commandment.

Love God. Love Each Other.

When we obey God's commands we show that we love Him. When we obey we give evidence that we trust Him. When we obey we show that we honor and respect Him.