Pastor Railton would consider it a privilege to talk with anyone about the church, living the Christian life, how to become a Christian or any problem or discouragement you may be experiencing. Let him know and he will be glad to either come to your home or meet in the office.
Another Note from the Apostle John
I. INTRODUCTION: Turn Please To The Book Of III John.
A. One thing has been impressed upon me as I've studied II and III John is
that all was not perfect with the early church. You know, sometimes we get discouraged when we see problems or imperfections in the church, or
individual members, or the pastor. This is nothing new. There were problems in the early church, every bit as serious as the imperfections we
have today. I suspect the average person's expectations of the church are much too high - that the church, its programs, its members, the pastor, ought to be perfect, or at least ought to do it "my way." Well, I don't need
to tell you, it just isn't so, but then neither was it so in the early church.
B. In II John, he wrote to reinforce the importance of the truth, and to warn
against extending hospitality to false teachers. Now he writes to Gaius who has come under fire from Diotrephes because he's extended hospitality to
true teachers. They had problems, even in the early church, with those who wanted to run the show, those who practiced malicious gossip.
C. Again, I'll mention the Apostle John wrote both II & III John sometime
after 90 A.D. John's writings were the last to be included in the New Testament. III John is a personal note to his friend Gaius and its one of
comfort, censure, and commendation. He comforts his friend Gaius. He censures the activities and attitudes of one of the church members,
Diotrephes. And he commends a fellow by the name of Demetrius, a traveling preacher, and possibly the mailman who delivered this letter. I'm
hoping you'll listen closely as we study this note from the Apostle John. III John.
II. FIRST OF ALL THIS IS A LETTER OF COMFORT FOR GAIUS
A. "To My Dear Friend Gaius, Whom I Love In The Truth."
1. Gaius was a common Roman name in those days.
a. There are three others in the
New Testament. who went by that name, but we don't if he is the same as any of them or
not.
b. Paul does commend a man by the name of Gaius in Rom. 16:23,
"whose hospitality I and the whole church enjoy." The Gaius here in III John is also commended for his hospitality and in fact the
key issue of III John is Christian hospitality. However these two men live in different locations so we assume they are not one and
the same.
2. John calls Gaius, "My dear friend."
a. It's clear they had a close relationship.
b. In fact, if you'll notice verses 1, 2, 5 and 11 you'll see that four
times, in such a short note, John calls him "dear friend."
c. John was expressing appreciation for Gaius, and the relationship
they had. He was comforting and encouraging him. Gaius was coming under fire from Diotrephes who opposed him in his
Christian hospitality. I think we can surmise from this that Gaius was discouraged, perhaps wondering if it was worth the fight. John
is telling him to "hang in there!"
3. Before we go on, we must notice again John's emphasis on truth.
a. Four times in the first four verses he speaks of truth, and then
twice later.
b. If you remember this was the main emphasis of II John and he
dealt with truth extensively in I John, and also in his gospel. John was the last writer of the
NEW TESTAMENT., late in the first century, and already there was perversion of Christian teaching. He hadn't seen
anything compared with what we have now, 1900 years later. He determined to stress the importance of truth, to clarify how
critically essential is truth!
c. Now notice the comfort John is wanting to give Gaius.
B. He Opens A New Paragraph In Verse 2 With, "Dear Friend".
1. He wishes Gaius good health, success, and continued spiritual growth.
This was John's prayer.
a. I rather suspect our prayers for people ought to be along these
same lines.
b. I think we concentrate too much on physical illnesses. John prayed
for good health for Gaius, but also for success, and spiritual health.
2. How did John know that Gaius was doing well spiritually? He's
confident of it in v. 2. How did he know? Look at v.3.
a. Some of the brethren had reported Gaius' faithfulness.
b. It's likely these were brethren who had
benefited from Gaius' hospitality.
3. Notice what gave John great joy in v. 3.
a. He had heard two things about Gaius.
1. First of all he was faithful to the truth. Gaius was convinced of the truths of Christ and stood up for them. He refused to
water down doctrine. He refused to say it didn't matter what you believe as long as you "love Jesus."
2. But secondly, and just as importantly, Gaius continued to walk in the truth. There's a vast difference between just knowing
the truth and walking in it. Both are essential. I have known people who have been convinced of the truth, but never
converted. They didn't walk in the truth. They are a shame to the cause of Christ. I want you to know that when I talk about
the importance of truth, I'm not saying that's all you need. I'm saying, as John, that we need to be faithful to the truth, and
we need to walk in the truth.
b. I know the joy John refers to here. It gives me great joy to see
people understand the truths with conviction, and to walk and continue in the truth.
c. Of course it's grievous to see people turn away from either the
truth, or the walk. John spoke of his "children." They weren't biological children. They were spiritual children. They had either
been converted, or taught, under his ministry. I can tell you it is grievous when people you have worked with turn away from either
the truth or the walk. And yet it's no surprise. Jesus himself warned there would be a falling away in the last days.
C. Again, In The Next Paragraph, John Begins, "Dear Friend." (v. 5)
1. It's here that John really
encourages Gaius. Evidently Gaius had extended hospitality to traveling brethren, probably circuit preachers,
but he had come under much criticism from Diotrephes and was being gossiped about, opposed, and threatened with excommunication.
2. John praises Gaius for his hospitality. He had even entertained
strangers - people he didn't know, but whom he provided for, in the name of Christ. Many of you have done the same.
a. Youth from AZ., Children from IL.
b. MRB
c. We've had guest speakers and others stay in homes where you
didn't know them until they arrived at your door step.
d. That's commendable. Such hospitality honors the Lord.
e. I don't know how many Church of God homes I've stayed in.
3. Though Gaius was criticized by Diotrephes, John made it clear his
work was appreciated and praised by those who benefited.
4. V. 8. He reiterates his position.
a. We ought to show hospitality to such men.
b. Why? So we may work together for truth. Sometimes
circumstances may be such that you can't participate directly in a ministry - but you can still be partners by way of hospitality,
support, cooperation, encouragement.
c. Remember in II John he said if you help in any way the one who
teaches false doctrine you are a partaker in his wicked work. Likewise if you help those who teach the truth, you are partners
with them in their ministry.
5.Hospitality is a very important ingredient in Christianity. In fact it's the
key issue of this letter.
a. The word hospital was not originally a place to care for the sick.
Instead it was a guesthouse, a place of shelter for travelers and strangers. Our word hospital came into the English language from
the Latin word "hospitalis" which means "relating to a guest."
b.
Hospitality is part of the Christian walk.
1. I Tim. 3 tells us an Elder is to be hospitable.
2. I Tim. 5 says a widow should get aid from the church, only if she's hospitable.
3. Heb. 13:2 speaks of Christians entertaining strangers.
4. Rom. 12:13 says, "Practice hospitality." You don't get credit for practicing hospitality if it's just a one time thing, or
something you clearly resist, something you do begrudgingly. It's an attitude of openness. My home is the Lord's home. It's
available for his people.
5. I Peter 4:9 says "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."
D. There's One More Time That John Says, "Dear Friend." (V. 11)
1. I think John is saying, "Hang in there. You're doing good. Don't give
up! Don't doubt. Don't switch to the other side."
2. He then expresses a desire to say more, but hopes to see Gaius soon,
and will talk more then. What an encouragement this must have been to Gaius!
III. THE CENSURE OF DIOTREPHES - vs. 9, 10
A. Here's The Only Mention Of This Troublemaker
1. He loved to be first. He had to have his own way. He was one of those
individuals who was always right. He evidently needed to be in control.
2. He rejected the authority of the Apostle John. He would have nothing
to do with him. John had written to the church but he had little hope of accomplishing anything because of Diotrephes.
3. He gossiped maliciously about others. This is so typical of those who
want to run the show. If they meet any opposition they pick away at petty things to tear down their opposition.
4. He refused to welcome or show hospitality to the brethren - probably
the traveling brethren to whom Gaius showed hospitality.
a. This is just the reverse of II John. The elect lady needed to balance
her love and hospitality with truth. She needed to be discerning and use better judgment.
b. Here in III John, Diotrephes, needed to balance truth with love
and hospitality. Nothing is said of false doctrine so we assume he had the truth. The elect lady welcomed the wrong kind of visitors;
Diotrephes turned away the good visitors.
5. Not only did Diotrephes refuse to practice hospitality, he proceeded to
put people out of the church who did.
6. Now we don't know if Diotrephes was a leader in the church or if he
was just a common troublemaker acting in an unofficial capacity. At any rate he was aggressive, probably loud. Perhaps he had even turned
the church people against Gaius and ostracized him.
7. John makes it pretty clear in verse 11 that such a man cannot act in
behalf of God because he hasn't even seen God.
B. I Wish I Could Say That There Are None Like Diotrephes Today!
1. It would be nice to think churches today don't have trouble with such
men. Sadly, this isn't true. I've known of churches which have allowed such an individual to reign and it's detrimental both to the spirituality
of the individual, and to that of the entire church. I've seen pastors move to other congregations because of a Diotrephes. I've known
pastors who have left the ministry because of a Diotrephes. I've seen churches struggle and be incapacitated because of a Diotrephes. Such
an experience is grievous for all involved, and should never be allowed.
2. I'm glad John didn't close with his remarks about Diotrephes. It's such a
pitiful situation and it would be a pity to end with him. John promised to deal with Diotrephes if he could come.
IV. THE COMMENDATION OF DEMETRIUS, V. 12
A. I Suspect Demetrius Delivered The Letter
1. There may well have been others traveling with him.
2. John gives him a good recommendation so Gaius and the church would
have no doubt whether they should extend hospitality.
a. Everyone speaks well of him.
b. John himself speaks well of him.
3. The reason I think he delivered the letter is two-fold:
a. First he gives this recommendation.
b. Secondly, if you'll notice verses 5 & 6 the implication is that Gaius
even at this reading is providing hospitality to strangers. And John suggests Gaius would do well to send them on their way in a
manner worthy of God.
B. There's Much We Can Learn From This Little Note Of 14 Verses.
1. We would do well to model after Gaius and his hospitality.
2. We should guard against ever becoming a Diotrephes, or even allowing
such a one to so negatively influence the policy or practice of the church.
3. We should strive that we also would have such a reputation as
Demetrius.
4. What it boils down to is: We must not only be convinced of the truths
of Scripture, but we must also walk in the truth. We have to live it.