“…Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God … unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:3,5; Read John 3:1-8

When Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night, Jesus told him that, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). And so also today, unless one is born again, he isn’t able to see or understand what the kingdom of God really is.

When Nicodemus questioned Jesus about how a grown man could be born again, Jesus told him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5,6).

It wasn’t enough to be a descendant of Abraham or to be a part of a strict religious sect of the Jews; a spiritual rebirth was needed. Nor is it enough today to be born into a religious family or to be a member of a church denomination or organization; one must be born of God!

In John 1:10-13, we read of Jesus, the eternal Word made flesh: “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

As the Greek text of John 3:5 makes clear, this rebirth of which Jesus speaks is “of water and the Spirit” (EX UDATOS KAI PNEUMATOS); it is “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tit. 3:5) and “the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26). It is the gracious working of God’s Spirit through God’s Word and the waters of baptism to offer and guarantee to the penitent sinner who looks in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation which Jesus purchased with His blood, shed upon the cross (cf. Acts 2:37-39; 22:16).

The Pharisees had rejected the counsel of God and did not repent and receive the baptism of John the Baptist for the remission of their sins (cf. Mark 1:4; Luke 7:30). Nicodemus, a Pharisee, needed to acknowledge his own utter sinfulness before God and be baptized into the name of Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of his sins, and God’s Spirit would work in him a new spiritual life and make him a part of God’s eternal kingdom through faith in Christ.

And, of course, nothing has changed today. Jesus’ Word is still true. Unless you acknowledge your utter sinfulness before God and turn to Him and receive the forgiveness of sins that Christ won for you on the cross and which God offers and gives through the word of the Gospel and Christian Baptism, you, too, cannot enter into God’s eternal kingdom.

It is as Peter testified on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38-39): “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” It is as the Apostle Paul was told by Ananias (Acts 22:16): “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Only through faith in Jesus can one receive the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting! Repent and be baptized in His name!

Dearest Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and have not lived according to your holy and perfect will for me. I have broken your commandments and deserve everlasting punishment in hell for my sins. Graciously forgive me and wash away my sins for the sake of your holy and precious blood, shed on the cross for me. Amen.

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” John 2:23-25

Many, at the Passover feast in Jerusalem, believed that Jesus was the Messiah when they saw the signs and miracles which He worked among them. But though they had come to believe that He was the Messiah, Jesus did not entrust Himself to them because He knew what was in their hearts.

These few verses contain an important truth for us to consider. It is not enough to just know and believe the facts about Jesus. We, too, have heard and read of His mighty miracles. We have heard and read of His sufferings and death and of His resurrection on the third day. And we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the promised Messiah and Savior. But do we know Him and trust in Him as our own Savior? Have we entrusted our very hearts and souls to His keeping?

Jesus searches and knows our hearts! This can be a frightening thought since, as the Scriptures testify, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself searches our hearts and tests our minds. He knows our every thought and desire. And, certainly, not a single one of us deserves that the Lord Jesus should commit and entrust Himself to us.

Yet, through His Word and the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus does reveal and entrust Himself to those who look to Him in faith. He first reveals our utter sinfulness and unworthiness before God, bringing us to confess and agree with God’s judgment that we are sinners deserving of His eternal wrath and punishment. But then, Jesus, through His Word, also reveals to us His great love and mercy. He so loved us that He went to the cross to suffer and die in our stead and take our punishment. He rose from the dead in victory, and He gives to us His mercy, forgiveness, and acceptance when we trust in Him for life and salvation.

Many people in Jesus’ day believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah because of His mighty works, but they did not know Jesus as their Savior and trust in Him for pardon, forgiveness, and life eternal! And so also today, many believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the promised Messiah, but they do not know and have not partaken of Jesus and His love and mercy for them through faith. Instead, their hearts remain closed, and they continue on in their old evil ways, not seeing their lost and sinful condition or knowing and receiving in faith the mercy and forgiveness God offers and extends to them in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Though Jesus’ many mighty works and signs confirm His identity and authority, He has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind through His Word. Thus, those seeking only signs and wonders and spectacular works are likely never to know Him. But to the ones who sit humbly at His feet, hearing, reading, and studying His Word, Jesus reveals Himself as their merciful and loving Savior!

Dear Lord Jesus, Son of God and Son of man, open my heart to hear Your life-giving Word, to acknowledge and confess my utter sinfulness, and to trust in You and Your cross for my salvation. Amen.

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Genesis 3:1-13

1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

The paradise which God created in the first two chapters of Genesis did not last long, for chapter three tells of the temptation of the devil, a fallen angel, who came to Eve in the form of the serpent.

“Did God really say that that you should not eat from any tree of the garden?” he asked, creating a question in the woman’s mind. And when Eve said the prohibition and warning that disobedience would bring about death — alienation and separation from God — was only in regard to the tree in the middle of the garden, the devil distorted the truth by saying, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Thus, he caused her to think that perhaps God was somehow holding out on her and keeping from her and her husband something good and desirable.

Of course, this still happens every day. The devil comes to us through friends and coworkers, through the media and entertainment industries, and in our own thoughts and minds and says, “Does God really expect you to keep all those commandments in the Bible?”

And he works hard to convince us that God is trying to keep us from having fun and enjoying life, or that He is placing an impossible burden upon us, that He really doesn’t expect us to keep all of His commandments, or that breaking just a few of the commandments now and then won’t really alienate and separate us from God — after all, everybody does it.

And, like Eve, when we look at the thing we are being tempted to do, it looks good and desirable to us. We think it will be fun or pleasurable, it will work out for our good, it won’t hurt anything, no one will know.

And so, we rationalize and give in to the temptation and to our own sinful desires, and the result is death! We recognize our nakedness and guilt before God. We may attempt to cover it up or even learn to cope with it, but the guilt remains. We are afraid to stand in His presence. We would rather not hear God’s Word or walk into His house of prayer.

Why? Because our sin, though it may have appeared to be good at the time, brought about spiritual death and separation from God. When confronted with the presence of God and His truth, we hide. When questioned about our disobedience, we make excuses and blame others.

As a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, we are all born into this world sinners — our very thoughts and desires are turned away from God and His holy commandments. What David wrote is true of each of us as a result of that first sin: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).

Instead of loving God, trusting Him and desiring to honor and glorify His name, we think only of ourselves, question and doubt God’s Word and seek our own honor and glory. We are born in spiritual death and are alienated from God.

That is why we so desperately need God’s pardon and forgiveness. We need Him to find us, forgive us, cover our shame and nakedness, and give us life again! And God has come to us and reached out to us in love and forgiveness. He desires to free us from our guilt and shame and give us life everlasting with Him!

He did this by sending His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to overcome temptation and sin for us and then go to the cross to be condemned, forsaken of God, and to die in our stead that we might have God’s pardon and forgiveness through faith in His name and not be afraid of God or troubled by our guilt and shame any longer.

In Christ Jesus and His cross, atonement has been made for the sins of the world. And in Christ Jesus, when we trust in Him and His atoning sacrifice in our stead, your sins and my sins are pardoned and forgiven, and we are made acceptable in God’s sight.

O dearest Jesus, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on me, find me, and wash away the guilt of my sin in Your shed blood. And, dear Lord Jesus, grant me a place in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” John 2:11 (Read John 2:1-11)

Jesus’ presence at a wedding feast in Cana and His turning water into wine has troubled some, especially those who are teetotallers for “religious” reasons. “Why would Jesus attend a wedding feast where wine was served,” some wonder? “And why would Jesus turn water into wine, making some 120-180 gallons of it for the wedding guests to drink?”

Jesus’ presence at this wedding — and we do not know precisely why He was invited — shows His respect for the divine institution of marriage between a man and a woman (cf. Gen. 2:18ff., Matt. 19:4-9). And His making wine, as well as drinking it, shows that drinking wine or alcoholic beverages is not of itself sinful, nor is one holier or more righteous through abstinence. What is sinful is the overindulgence in it and drunkenness.

St. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (1 Tim. 5:23); and he wrote to the Ephesians, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18; cf. Matt. 11:18-19; Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:19-21).

But far more important in this account is what His miracle teaches us about Jesus. Even though it was not yet His time to be revealed as the Son of God in human flesh and the Messiah and Savior of the world, Jesus used the divine power He possessed to come to the aid of a wedding party in a potentially embarrassing situation — they had run out of wine. And not only did Jesus turn water into wine; it was the best wine served at the feast.

And this miracle, of which many at the feast had no knowledge, revealed the glory and power which Jesus possessed as the Son of God to a few — to Mary, to the servants who drew the water, and to Jesus’ disciples.

The result was not only a wedding feast without the embarrassment to the hosts of running out of wine; it was a revelation of His person to His disciples, causing them to believe that He indeed was and is the Son of God and the promised Messiah and Savior of Israel.

The Apostle John, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, records this miracle for us that we too might see and believe that this same Jesus who humbled Himself and lived among us as a true man is more than just a man or even a great prophet and teacher. Jesus was and is Jehovah God Himself in human flesh! And this was necessary in order for Him to pay the price required for the sins of the world!

This miracle is but one proof of that fact. He also healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, fed the multitudes, raised the dead, and rose from the dead Himself after being crucified!

Through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit reveals to us Jesus’ divine glory and might; and through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit reveals to us that Jesus redeemed us and all mankind from sin and death by His own innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Jesus’ resurrection is proof that atonement for our sins has been made — we’ve been redeemed by the blood of “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)!

And, through faith in Christ Jesus, God the Son and our Savior, the forgiveness and life He won for all when He paid the price for our sins upon the cross becomes our own. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we have forgiveness of sins and life everlasting!

Oh, that all would see and believe that Jesus is God the Son and that He has paid the price and redeemed us from all our sins!

I cannot reveal Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world to anyone. All I can do is preach the Gospel and tell those terrified by the threats of God’s Law of the comforting promises of the Gospel — the promise of forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who look to Christ Jesus and His cross in faith.

I can repeat the words of Jesus, such as those found in John 3:14-18: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ, by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, reveals Himself to those whom He wills. It is as Jesus said in Matthew 11:27: “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (cf. John 1:10-14).

Jesus also said in John 6:44,63: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day”; and, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

It is as we confess in the Unaltered Augsburg Confession (Art. V, Of the Ministry): “That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ’s sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake.”

As we think about this miracle worked by our Lord Jesus, I invite you to also think about Holy Baptism. I, of myself, can’t wash away sins or give the Holy Spirit to anyone by pouring or sprinkling water on them. But when water is used in connection with God’s Word, Jesus does wash away sins and give His Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2:38-39; 22:16; Titus 3:3-7; Eph. 5:25-27).

John the Baptist said in Mark 1:7-8: “There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (cf. Matt. 3:11).

Think about the Lord’s Supper, of which we are about to partake. I can’t turn water into wine, but Jesus can and did. And, I cannot cause Christ’s body and blood to be present, distributed and received in the Supper (in, with and under the bread and wine), but Jesus can and still does through His words of institution spoken on the night when He was betrayed (1 Cor. 11:23ff.).

Through His words of institution, He offers and gives to all who eat and drink of His Supper to partake of His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world — of His body which was given into death for our sins, and of His blood which was shed for the remission of our sins. And, through faith in Christ’s life-giving words, we receive the blessings He won for us when He was sacrificed for our sins. We are given and receive forgiveness for all our sins and life everlasting for Jesus’ sake!

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, grant that I see your divine glory and believe that You indeed are my God and my Savior and place my trust in You for forgiveness and life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” 3 John 1

Personal letters can often shed light on historical events and times not revealed in other historical records. And reading letters can often reveal the innermost thoughts of the writers.

Certainly, that is the case in John’s letter to Gaius. Though we do not know with certainty who Gaius was – whether he is the same Gaius mentioned in Acts 19:29; Romans 16:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:14 or another Gaius who came to faith through the preaching of the apostle John we can only guess – but we do learn through John’s letter that this Gaius was deeply loved of the apostle John and continued to walk in the truth of God’s Word and hold fast to Christ Jesus as His Savior.

Again, the apostle refers to himself only as “the elder” rather than exercising authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Why? we might ask. John’s appeal was based on the truth revealed in God’s Word and taught by God’s Spirit; not upon his own authority.

Note that John addressed Gaius as well-beloved and adds, “whom I love in the truth.” John speaks of Gaius as being a recipient of the selfless (agape) love, and this is the kind of love John has for Gaius and for all who walk in the truth.

This, of course, tells us of the relationship between being beloved children of God through faith in Christ Jesus and reflecting and sharing that same kind of love for all our brethren – all who share in the same faith and belief of the truth which is revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures.

Since God loves us as His own children in Christ Jesus, we love those who receive God’s love and mercy through faith in our Savior.

O God, we know that You have loved us and given Your Son to die for us. Grant that we love You in return and love all those who walk in the truth of Your Word. Amen.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2

Is there anything wrong with being in good health and prospering in this world? This was the apostle John’s desire for Gaius. John indicated that the soul of Gaius was prospering, and it was his expressed desire that he also prosper and be in good health.

As we read this letter, we see that such a wish was not for carnal gain but because Gaius was using the blessings God gave him to advance the Gospel. He was receiving those who faithfully preached and taught the truth and helping them on their way. He was a mission supporter; and, instead of receiving those who advance lies and false teaching, he received those who held to the truth of God’s Word and became a partaker in their good deeds.

If God blesses us with the things of this world, we should rejoice because He has enabled us to support the advancement of God’s kingdom by aiding those who preach and teach Christ Jesus and the truth revealed to us through God’s Word.

I thank You, O heavenly Father, for all Your blessings upon me. Move and enable me to use the blessings You have entrusted to me to aid in the preaching and teaching of the truth which is in Christ Jesus. Amen.

“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.” 3 John 3-4

What joy John had when his fellow believers came and testified of the faith and love for the truth which was in Gaius! John rejoiced when he learned that Gaius not only claimed to believe the truth but also lived according to it and helped those who shared in the true faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son made man to redeem fallen mankind.

From this letter, it appears that men who studied under the apostle were sent out to strengthen believers in the truth and to carry that truth to cities and villages which had not heard of the salvation won for all by the holy life and innocent sufferings and death of Christ Jesus. When these men returned to John, they testified of the faith of Gaius and to his support of the truth by receiving them into his home and helping them on their way.

As John wrote: “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.”

We too have cause to rejoice when we hear of believers who walk in the truth of God’s Word, hold fast to the salvation won for all by Christ’s death and resurrection, and who labor to share and spread the saving Gospel of forgiveness and life eternal in Christ Jesus! God also grant that we model our lives after the example of Gaius.

O Spirit of God, You have sanctified us and brought us to know the truth of our sinfulness and of the salvation provided for us in Christ Jesus. Keep us in the truth and move us to live our lives in accord with it. Amen.

“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 fellowhelpers to the truth.” 3 John 5-8

The inspired Scriptures tell us: “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). The Bible also says: “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:1-2).

God would have us do good and share the blessings He has given us with others. And even though we live in times of fear and lovelessness, God would have us love our fellow believers and entertain strangers, reminding us of those in the Bible who had taken in angels unawares.

The apostle John commends and encourages Gaius for his kindness to the brethren – even to those he did not know – encouraging him to receive them into his home and help them on their journey, for they went forth in the name of Christ Jesus and to advance the true and saving doctrine. They went to the unbelieving Gentiles, taking nothing from them but sharing with them the good news of salvation in Christ Jesus.

John points out that Gaius, by receiving and helping such, was a fellow helper to the truth.

We may not all be able to travel abroad to help spread the truth about the salvation God has provided for sinful mankind in His only-begotten Son; but when we help those whom God has called and sent, we become fellow helpers to the truth.

Dear Father in heaven, move us to abide in Your love toward us in Christ Jesus and give us selfless love for all who hold fast to the truth of Your Word and to the salvation You have given us in the Son. Enable and move us to be fellow helpers in the ministry of the truth. Amen.

“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” 3 John 9-10

Not all was well with the local church in the city where Gaius lived. While we don’t know a lot about him, the letter of John tells us of a man there named Diotrephes who apparently tried to have his way in the church. When John wrote to the church and sent men to further the preaching of the truth, Diotrephes would not receive John’s letter or those whom John sent. Instead, he challenged the authority of the apostle and spoke against him and his apostolic ministry. And not only did he refuse to receive the brethren sent out from John, he forbade those who would have received them and excommunicated them from the church.

Whether Diotrephes was an elder or pastor in the church or just a dominating member, we don’t know; but he withstood and spoke evil of the truth and its messengers.

Sad to say, congregations today often have pastors or members who seek to rule over their congregations, wishing to have everything their own way. Sometimes, that even leads to speaking against the truth of God’s Word and against those who faithfully proclaim it. How sad that men (or women) would place themselves above the Word of God and the true doctrine revealed in it! How sad when people who do not know Christ Jesus and His doctrine rise up to lead and rule in the church!

All of this reveals to us how important it is for us to use the utmost care when calling pastors and teachers or choosing church officers that we choose godly men who seek not their own gain but to advance the truth and make known the salvation Christ has won for all by His death and resurrection and offers and gives to us through His Word and Sacraments.

O gracious God, remove from us all selfish desires to rule over Your church and grant that we submit unto our Head, our Lord Jesus who gave Himself for us and who leads and guides us through Your Word. Amen.

“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” 3 John 11

Again, John refers to Gaius as a beloved brother in the Lord Jesus. And, the apostle encourages him to follow the example of those who love the truth and do good rather than that of those who reject the truth and do evil.

He reminds Gaius of that truth which he taught in his other epistles: Those who are born of God and have God’s Spirit dwelling in them cannot continue to do evil. While we cannot see faith in the heart, we can see its fruits. “He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” Thus, those who willfully continue on in their sinful ways, impenitent, are not really Christians and do not know the Father and the Son.

We, too, ought to heed John’s message and not follow the example of those who continue in evil – who reject the truth (or parts of it) revealed in God’s Word and place themselves and their own desires, views and opinions above the Word of God. Rather, we ought to follow the example of those who humbly submit to the Word of God, admit their wretched and sinful condition and place their hope and trust in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross.

O gracious and merciful Father, grant that we do not follow the example of those who reject the truth and continue on in their evil ways, but grant to us true repentance and faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“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.” 3 John 12

Again, we know little of this Demetrius – it was a common Greek name. But John tells us that the witness of all concerning Demetrius was good. He was a faithful witness to the truth, something to which those who held the truth could testify. And the apostle John himself, and those with him, could testify of the character and faithfulness of Demetrius.

While the letter does not specifically say it, Demetrius may have been the bearer of John’s letter to Gaius, in many ways similar to the letters of commendation ministers used to send with their members when they traveled and visited other churches of their own faith and confession so that they would be welcomed into the churches and received at the Lord’s Table.

Demetrius (and possibly others with him) may have been sent by the apostle not only to Gaius but to cities and regions beyond to preach the truth and strengthen believers in the true and saving faith. Thus, the apostle commends Demetrius and his faithfulness to the truth. And Gaius knows John’s witness is true.

What kind of commendation would we receive of our pastor and of our brethren? Would it be one of faithful attendance and devotion to Christ and His Word, or would it be one of uncertainty and question?

Sanctify us in the truth, O God, Your Word is truth. Move us to live and conduct ourselves in such a way that all can see and know of our faith in Christ Jesus and of our faithfulness to Your Word of truth. Amen.

“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.” 3 John 13-14a

Again John expresses his intention to come and visit Gaius, as well as the church there, soon. Face to face, he intends to address the evil deeds of Diotrephes. And, face to face, he intends to strengthen and encourage the brethren in the truth that they might stand fast in their faith in Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man and their Savior from sin, death and eternal damnation.

While writing with pen and ink (or with keyboard and computer) is a blessing, it cannot replace being able to gather together with our fellow believers and hear the Word of God explained and applied to our daily lives. It cannot replace the mutual admonition and encouragement from the Scriptures.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

Grant me the wisdom, O God, to gather together with faithful believers who hold fast to the truth revealed in Your Word and cling by faith to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May I be an encouragement for good to them, and they to me. Amen.

“Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.” 3 John 14b

The elder John closes this short letter with the words: “Peace be to thee.” Though we may think of these words speak of earthly peace and tranquility, they refer to the peace of God.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). It is that peace which was brought into being when Christ Jesus took our sins upon Himself and bore upon the cross our just punishment, making us acceptable in God’s eyes through faith in our Savior. Jesus Christ won for us this peace, and it is ours only through faith in Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Thus, John assures Gaius of this peace of sins forgiven which is in Christ Jesus.

John sends also the greetings of his friends, and those of his companions and fellow ministers, and he encourages Gaius to extend his greeting to the friends – to those who continue in the truth – individually and by name.

We certainly see the personableness of the apostle. He wasn’t looking at numbers but at individuals and all were important to Him.

So also, the Lord knows each of us individually and by name. Though He died for all, His death was also for each of us individually.

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine … My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:14, 27-30).

Thank You, dear Lord Jesus, for so loving me that You died for me and won my salvation. Keep me and all Your elect in the true faith unto life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible]