Episode 2

The Forgotten Letters: 2 John (North OC)

In this sermon Dallas Kaauwai focuses on the themes of truth and love as explored in the biblical text of 2 John. Dallas discusses the historical context of the letter, the importance of adhering to true doctrine, and the dangers of false teachings and antichrists. He concludes by urging the congregation to live out the command to love intentionally, be vigilant in their faith, and remain rooted in the biblical truth.

Click here to donate to the program

Click here for more sermons

OC Church of Christ

Transcript
Dallas Kaauwai:

All right.

2

:

Good morning everyone.

3

:

How are we doing?

4

:

Morning.

5

:

Happy Father's Day, all

the fathers in the room.

6

:

Um, also just a special shout out to all

the spiritual fathers in the room as well.

7

:

Um, we saw, I just wanna, like I

said, I, for those of you who don't

8

:

know, I grew up in, not in Orange

County, but in our family of churches.

9

:

And, uh, one of the things that my

parents emphasized on me is that

10

:

to have deep relationships in the

church, to like have another family.

11

:

Um, I didn't have a lot of extended

family growing up in my life, so all I

12

:

had growing up really was the church.

13

:

For me standing before you today.

14

:

I see family.

15

:

I don't just see people or

congregants or members in a church.

16

:

I see family.

17

:

I see mothers and fathers and sisters,

brothers, uncles, uh, aunts and cousins.

18

:

I don't really say cousins, but I'd

probably just say brothers and sisters

19

:

is probably the best way to put it.

20

:

But I see family in this room and I thank

you to all the fathers that have helped

21

:

me, uh, make Orange County feel like home.

22

:

It's, I'm coming up on.

23

:

Oh, dear God, seven years, uh, here.

24

:

Um, and it is definitely, definitely felt

like home the last, at the last few years.

25

:

I mean, in my undergrad I would feel

like I was just wandering around

26

:

trying to figure out where I was

gonna be in life, and then I ended

27

:

up staying here after my undergrad.

28

:

So I, I feel like I'm building

my roots down here pretty deep.

29

:

So, but Happy Father's Day to all the

fathers spiritual fathers in the room

30

:

that have really helped me mature in

my faith and have invested into me.

31

:

I can't thank you enough.

32

:

Um, but also the way that you

guys lead your families as well.

33

:

We appreciate the way you guys set the

example for us, especially for young

34

:

men like myself, um, who aspire to be

fathers one day, aspire to be husbands.

35

:

So I appreciate you guys so much.

36

:

Let's give you round applause for that.

37

:

So thank you.

38

:

Um, one other thing, um, as Marelle

mentioned earlier, with everything

39

:

going on in our country right now,

we just want to emphasize that.

40

:

The staff and the ministry leaders are

very open to really discussing and helping

41

:

process through these things spiritually.

42

:

So please feel free to reach out to

any, uh, any of those in your family

43

:

group or even just the leaders in

the ministry here, um, to really

44

:

help you process through that.

45

:

Like, so we really wanna emphasize

that we wanna do this together.

46

:

This is not a solo thing that you've

gotta go figure it on your own.

47

:

Obviously, take the time to figure out

and discern on your own and those things,

48

:

but also, let's have a discussion.

49

:

Let's not feel like we gotta silo

ourselves to lay our own beliefs,

50

:

but let's do this in unification.

51

:

Amen.

52

:

Um.

53

:

But today we're gonna

continue in our season.

54

:

Well, actually I want to first

shout out my dad real quick.

55

:

There he is, uh, Kevin Kawai.

56

:

Aw man.

57

:

I get emotional every time

I talk about this guy.

58

:

I love this guy.

59

:

Um, yeah, it's my dad.

60

:

He's, uh, unfortunately not

with us today in the service.

61

:

He's actually, um, helping

out in the lifeway service.

62

:

Um, he did leads worship out there.

63

:

Shout out to Frank and Florence Korea,

who are here as well, um, from Lifeway.

64

:

Um, and, uh, yeah, it's my

dad, you know, so on the left.

65

:

Left.

66

:

Um, yes, your left, my right.

67

:

Um, that's me and my dad.

68

:

I think when I was like six or seven.

69

:

I think he, my dad is the one that

helped me fall in love with baseball

70

:

and fall in love with the Dodgers.

71

:

He was, he's, uh, always just

bled the blue and so he, I

72

:

will ooze that out as well.

73

:

That's passed down in

my generation as well.

74

:

Um, and that is us on

opening day this year.

75

:

Um, so like the legacy continues and,

uh, yeah, he's just my, he, he's my rock.

76

:

He's my inspiration.

77

:

I love this guy.

78

:

I mean, he is just.

79

:

I think a lot of what you see is from him

and I can't express enough of how much

80

:

I am just blessed to have him as my dad.

81

:

Oh my gosh.

82

:

Haven't even started yet, man.

83

:

Oh, goodness gracious.

84

:

I love my dad.

85

:

He's awesome.

86

:

And I love my mom as well.

87

:

Uh, one and the same and very

much, uh, my rocks in my life.

88

:

But my dad is definitely, uh, the

man that I aspire to be every day.

89

:

Whew, man.

90

:

Woo.

91

:

All right, here we go.

92

:

All right.

93

:

Amen.

94

:

Let's pray.

95

:

Let me get myself centered

here, but let's pray.

96

:

Um, before we get into our

spirit, let's bow our heads.

97

:

Uh, God, thank you so much for today.

98

:

God, thank you so much for

the fathers in the room.

99

:

God, thank you so much for the way

that you are the ultimate Father,

100

:

the, the father that is ever loving.

101

:

Ever compassionate, ever present?

102

:

Um, God, we, we thank you so much for

your son and the sacrifice that he,

103

:

uh, had laid before us, God, in the way

that we get to live our lives today.

104

:

Not for ourselves, but for you,

God, and that you desire to

105

:

have a relationship with us.

106

:

I pray today that the words that come out

of my heart, God, are from your spirit

107

:

and from your word, and that they carry

so much greater than my own Father.

108

:

We pray to be, um, inspired and

encouraged, uh, but also convicted, um,

109

:

by what you have to share with us today.

110

:

Um, but Father, we love you so much.

111

:

We pray on your son Jesus name.

112

:

Amen.

113

:

All right, so we are studying out

what's called the Forgotten Letters.

114

:

Not so much from the sense that they

are forgotten and because that we

115

:

just don't think they exist, but

they're actually just those smaller

116

:

books in the Bible that we don't

usually get around to talking about.

117

:

Last week, Marcel started off with

Philemon, and that was a great series.

118

:

I think I haven't, I can't remember

the last time I talked through

119

:

him, went through Fight Philemon.

120

:

But honestly, it was

also great to see that.

121

:

I think for me, what I grew

up in, what I see is that.

122

:

Like we have to fight tooth and

nail in the church to see each other

123

:

as brothers and sisters in Christ.

124

:

First.

125

:

It's hard because easy, it's easy to see

each other as friends or as colleagues

126

:

or as coworkers, but sometimes, but

it's really that we are brothers and

127

:

sisters in the spiritual kingdom of God.

128

:

Amen.

129

:

And so in, in the context of

giving, what I'm giving you from

130

:

FIMA was that, you know, FIMA was

writing to one and he had, um.

131

:

He had a slave was, was a slave

that he was sending back to him.

132

:

And basically it was like finally

was saying, Hey, please receive this

133

:

man, this back, this slave that once

ran away from you as your brother in

134

:

Christ, not as this slave something

even better, which is your brother.

135

:

And so I think I really loved that talk

and I mean, it was just really, it was

136

:

really inspiring because like I said, in

the world it's easy to see each other as

137

:

odds of what we can get from each other.

138

:

But in the kingdom we look to collectively

be unified and can be connected.

139

:

Amen.

140

:

So today we're gonna

talk about second John.

141

:

So if you wanna flip your

Bibles over there, if you can

142

:

find it, it's there, trust me.

143

:

Um, but we're gonna be in second John

in just a little bit of background.

144

:

So the author of this is traditionally

attributed to the Apostle John,

145

:

one of the 12, likely written

between 80, 85 and 90 and 80 95.

146

:

John lived the longest outta

all the other, all the other

147

:

apostles, and died a natural death.

148

:

So if you didn't know that, John actually

was obviously one of the original 12.

149

:

He was actually the only one that

was not crucified or beaten or, um,

150

:

even, or not Cruc crucified, beaten.

151

:

He was definitely beaten in, in

certain, in certain capacities,

152

:

but he wasn't like crucified.

153

:

He wasn't killed.

154

:

He wasn't like necessarily tortured

to death in a way, but he died a

155

:

natural death on his own, which

is honestly pretty, it's pretty

156

:

intense to think that he lived.

157

:

Such a long span of life.

158

:

So usually he's attributed to this letter

and especially in his style of writing,

159

:

which we'll get into a little bit later.

160

:

But some of the main characters that

we wanna talk about here are John the

161

:

elder, the elect lady, her children,

which in this context I believe it could

162

:

be the A local church and its members.

163

:

And I'll explain why a little bit later.

164

:

But also the deceivers false teachers who

denied the incarnation of Jesus Christ and

165

:

pose a threat to the believers in faith.

166

:

You know, the purpose of this is

for John to write, uh, to encourage

167

:

believers to walk in the truth and

with love while warning them to remain

168

:

vigilant against the Sears who deny

the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

169

:

The letter emphasizes obedience to

God's commandments, the importance

170

:

of abiding in correct doctrine,

and the need to avoid giving false

171

:

teachers any platform or support.

172

:

This is not your normal Father's

Day lesson, so I'm sorry if you

173

:

were coming in for something fuzzy.

174

:

We're about to get into it.

175

:

All right.

176

:

So let's jump in real quick.

177

:

So first, uh, second John

chapter, uh, verse one.

178

:

See, this is where I'm, this chapters are

gonna get me, um, to the la to the, uh,

179

:

the elder, to the lady chosen by God and

her children, whom I love in the truth.

180

:

Not only I, but also all who know

the truth because of the truth which

181

:

lives in us will be with us forever.

182

:

Grace, mercy and peace from

God the Father, and from Jesus

183

:

Christ, the father's son, will

be with us in truth and love.

184

:

Alright, so obviously context real quick.

185

:

So the lady chosen by

God and her children.

186

:

Now remember we have to also

understand that we can't read

187

:

this from our perspective.

188

:

We have to remember that we're

reading this from someone in a

189

:

different times, in a different, uh,

era of time right now when they're

190

:

sending letters around the church.

191

:

Obviously Christianity was not

very, pop was popular, but very

192

:

unpopular against the government.

193

:

That was honestly, um, overseeing,

uh, the times of where John

194

:

and the church were at.

195

:

Now, like I said, if a letter was

intercepted at any point, maybe that's the

196

:

context of certain letters of who it was.

197

:

So maybe when John was writing this,

John was trying to maybe keep a

198

:

secret, the identity of who he was

writing to and call it the elect lady.

199

:

That's what some scholars

choose there to believe.

200

:

I'm not trying to impose my own

self here, but that's just what some

201

:

scholars have were choosing to believe

or, uh, just, uh, theorize at times.

202

:

Another thing as well is that think about

how we refer to our family of churches.

203

:

We say what our sister churches, right?

204

:

So the idea is that in Greek, the

Ecclesia is actually a feminine term,

205

:

so that when we refer to the elect

lady, we're actually referring, he's

206

:

probably referring to a local church.

207

:

I don't know if he's talking

about to the greater church.

208

:

Obviously this is, this letter has

gone to us today as the Greater

209

:

church, but as the elect church, maybe

this was a local church and it's,

210

:

and her children are the members.

211

:

So that's where most scholars have

believed to get this perspective from

212

:

what John was writing from at this point.

213

:

Now, what's a phrase that or the, or

the word that you see the most in these

214

:

three, in these three, uh, verses so far?

215

:

Truth.

216

:

Right, right.

217

:

It says Who I love in the truth and who I

know the truth and because of the truth.

218

:

Right?

219

:

And with us in truth in love.

220

:

Right.

221

:

And so just some context as well.

222

:

First, John was talking

a lot about love First.

223

:

John was all about love and the

writing style that John has is

224

:

that, you know, he calls himself

the one that Jesus loved, right?

225

:

I don't know.

226

:

That's a.

227

:

To me that that's a, I don't have that.

228

:

I don't feel like I don't have that

big of an ego, but if John calls

229

:

us the one that Jesus loved, 'cause

he said it, I'll give it to him.

230

:

But John emphasizes a lot of love though

in First John, and now in the second John.

231

:

Here we are.

232

:

And he's talking about truth.

233

:

So it's like, okay, John,

what is more important here?

234

:

Is it love or is it truth?

235

:

And I think it's, I think it's hard

for us to kind of discern on our

236

:

own what is more important without

Jesus in the picture, because some

237

:

of us lean more towards the truth.

238

:

And some of us lean towards

a lot of love, right?

239

:

But in, in, on their, in, on their

own, on their own planes, it's

240

:

very hard to have one without the

other and try to be like Jesus.

241

:

Amen.

242

:

Because if you have a lot of

truth and no love, it's harsh.

243

:

If you have a lot of love, but

no truth, it's very shallow.

244

:

So it's hard to find the balance.

245

:

So John here is not trying to have us

choose between the two or confuse us.

246

:

He's trying to show us

that both are needed.

247

:

Yeah.

248

:

Truth and love are both needed.

249

:

Now, I don't know about you, but to me,

truth gives us at least direction, right?

250

:

The common ground that we share as

disciples in the truth is Jesus is our

251

:

Lord, and that he has died for our sins.

252

:

Amen.

253

:

And that the reason we are

here is because of him.

254

:

So that is the truth that we have.

255

:

It gives us direction as to least where

we are going, but how do we get there?

256

:

Well, it's because of our love

for him is where we can actually

257

:

have some direction to keep going.

258

:

Now, moving forward.

259

:

Right.

260

:

So if we have the truth and we say, well,

Jesus loves me and he died for me, and we

261

:

stay here in our truth, then it's hard for

us to what move forward and branch out.

262

:

Or we have love and say, well, I

know I love Jesus and I love the

263

:

church so much, but I have, but

my truth is not rooted in that.

264

:

Then we're just going

aimlessly everywhere.

265

:

So we need to have truth, and we need

to have love in our relationships.

266

:

That is essential.

267

:

Now, the love that he talks about

here, and, and this is where we have

268

:

to, like I said, make sure we're

doing our studies as we're reading.

269

:

Is that we have to know what

kind of love is he talking about?

270

:

And obviously he's

talking about agape love.

271

:

If you translate it, and we've talked

about a lot about agape love here,

272

:

and that is the selfless, selfless,

action based and unconditional love.

273

:

It's not rooted in emotion, but

in commitment and in truth now.

274

:

Now what is the truth?

275

:

Now, like I said, he, he kind of keeps it.

276

:

Now obviously, I, I don't think he

means to make it very ambiguous,

277

:

but if he's speaking to the

church and what the truth is.

278

:

It's called.

279

:

It's called this word

in Greek called Althea.

280

:

It was this Unhidden reality,

the Unhidden reality.

281

:

So let's, okay, what is

this Unhidden reality?

282

:

What is the truth that you're

talking about here, John?

283

:

It says, the truth is that the full,

unchanging reality of who Jesus is, what

284

:

he's done, and what he teaches, that is

the truth that we walk in, we walk in

285

:

knowing that Jesus is who he says he is,

and who he's said to be in the Bible.

286

:

What he's done and the miracles and

he's performed, the sacrifice on the

287

:

cross that he has and what he teaches

us to do and how to live a godly life.

288

:

That is the truth that we walk in.

289

:

That is the common ground that we live in.

290

:

Are you guys with me so far here?

291

:

Yes.

292

:

And so you have to ask yourself though

is, is your, are your relationships

293

:

with one another built on shared

truth or just shared interests?

294

:

Because if this is your

truth that we live by.

295

:

Do our relationships look like

we were reflecting more of

296

:

Christ or more of the world?

297

:

Because like I said, Marcel said

yes, uh, last week that we have, it's

298

:

the Kingdom of God versus the world.

299

:

What perspec, what perception, what um,

what nar know, what narrative are you

300

:

going to take on the one that the world

gives, the one that the kingdom gives?

301

:

Because if it's the kingdom, this is

your truth, and that you live by who

302

:

Jesus was, who he said to have been,

and what he commands us to become.

303

:

Truth is the compass, love is the fuel.

304

:

One gives direction, the

other gives us power.

305

:

You know, my dad never

shied away from the truth.

306

:

He's always, I, I think that's why,

for me, if you know me, I'm, I'm

307

:

very much direct because of my dad.

308

:

He, he, he, he laid it

on me at times, man.

309

:

There were times where I, I, I,

I'll be honest, I was in knucklehead

310

:

and I, if he, if you could

believe it or not, thank you Eric.

311

:

Um, but my dad never

shied away from the truth.

312

:

One thing I love about my dad is that

because he's a man of God, he also never

313

:

shyed away from showing me love as well.

314

:

That just because there was truth

doesn't mean that there wasn't love in,

315

:

in the discipline that I received in

my sometimes when I said, when I was

316

:

a knucklehead and I needed direction,

the truth, yes, it set me on the right.

317

:

It gave me direction, but it also, the

love prompted me to want to be better.

318

:

And in our relationships with

one another is the truth.

319

:

Directing ourselves back to you

need to become more like me.

320

:

Or do we need to become more like Christ?

321

:

And if you're encouraging one another

to do that daily, then that should

322

:

be felt in the truth that you share

through God's word and also in the love

323

:

that you share because of your love

for him and your love for each other.

324

:

Like I said, 'cause our

love is limited, right?

325

:

We cap our love at a certain point,

but if we are trying to live within the

326

:

truth, then our love has to be agape.

327

:

It has to have no limits.

328

:

It can't be based on emotions.

329

:

It can't be based on similar

interests or likeness.

330

:

It has to be based in the truth.

331

:

Amen.

332

:

Amen.

333

:

All right, let's keeping,

let's keep it moving here.

334

:

We have to love with truth at the center.

335

:

Sorry.

336

:

That's my first point.

337

:

Love with truth at the

center, we're gonna continue.

338

:

In verse four, it says, it has

given me great joy to find some of

339

:

your children walking in the truth

just as the father commanded us.

340

:

And now, dear lady, I'm not writing

to you a new command, but one, um,

341

:

we have had from the beginning,

I ask that we love one another.

342

:

This is love that we walk in

obedience to his commands.

343

:

As you have heard from the beginning,

his command is that you walk in love.

344

:

He says, you know, I, I

love how you points out.

345

:

He's like, I'm not writing

to you something new here.

346

:

He says something that we've

heard from the beginning.

347

:

And you know what's pretty funny

is that I think some of us can feel

348

:

like even myself, I, I put myself

in this, in this, in this bowl with

349

:

you, is that we hear this all the

time, love, love, love one another.

350

:

Love God, we'll love one another.

351

:

And you think to yourself, you're

like, man, how many times does someone

352

:

have to say it before we get it?

353

:

But don't you don't you have to.

354

:

We have to kind of, I have to

humble myself to think of like,

355

:

okay, you think the reason why he

says it so many times is 'cause we

356

:

actually haven't done it all the way.

357

:

Right?

358

:

Let's think about it.

359

:

Right?

360

:

Like if someone has to tell you to

do something over and over and over

361

:

again, which honestly my dad hated

having me do it because I would

362

:

tell me, he'd tell me something.

363

:

I was like, Dallas, make

sure you take the trash.

364

:

Yeah, I got it.

365

:

Five minutes later,

Dallas, take out the trash.

366

:

Yeah, I got it.

367

:

Don't worry.

368

:

Don't worry, dad.

369

:

I got it.

370

:

Dallas, take out the trash.

371

:

Dad.

372

:

I told you I get it.

373

:

He's like, this is my third time

telling you when are you going to do it.

374

:

Right.

375

:

So in the same way John said, I'm not

writing to you something groundbreaking

376

:

or something new or fresh off the pre.

377

:

Like this is something that

has been preached since the

378

:

beginning to love one another.

379

:

And like I said, if we're being told

something time and time again, maybe we

380

:

have to take a look in the mirror and

think, am I doing this the right way?

381

:

Am I doing this to the full extent

that I'm expected through Christ?

382

:

Now, obviously it's not perfection, but

it's the idea that if we are called to

383

:

love one another, how important is it

though that we truly love one another?

384

:

And think about this, what would it

truly look like if we love to the full

385

:

capacity that we are called to love?

386

:

What would our church look like?

387

:

What would your relationships look like?

388

:

What would your families look like?

389

:

What would your marriages look

like to love to the full capacity?

390

:

We are called to love, and it's hard

because like I said, it's not based on

391

:

your limits and based on your standards

and what your capacity is to love.

392

:

It's based on the capacity to

give sacrificially like Christ.

393

:

Now, honestly, it's pretty interesting

because what now, he goes, he goes a

394

:

step further to define what love is.

395

:

He says that what is to that?

396

:

This is love.

397

:

He says, I'm gonna define it for you.

398

:

He's like, if you, if it wasn't clear

enough what love is, this is what it is.

399

:

It says that we walk in

obedience to his commands.

400

:

John is not trying to make this an

ambiguous thing that he's like, no, love

401

:

is like this abstract, confusing emotion.

402

:

No, love is obedience to God.

403

:

And it's as simple as that.

404

:

But I know it's easier said than done.

405

:

Let's be honest.

406

:

Right?

407

:

It's easier said than done.

408

:

And it's hard because sometimes for me,

I know for myself is I feel like, oh man,

409

:

I'm feel like I'm doing a pretty good job.

410

:

But like I said.

411

:

To, when we're called to love

someone, to the full extent,

412

:

let's tie that in with obedience.

413

:

Are we being obedient to the full

extent that we know that we should?

414

:

That's where we have to be.

415

:

Kinda like, ugh, that, that, it kind of,

it, it, it checks us because we have to

416

:

sit there and think, man, and be honest.

417

:

Am I being, am I being obedient to

the full extent that God expects me?

418

:

And it's a high calling, right?

419

:

'cause I'm not, this is not talking about.

420

:

Perfection.

421

:

We're not talking about living it

to the T because obviously we are

422

:

flawed beings, but the desire has to

be there if you desire to only go.

423

:

Like I said, if I was a, if I, if I was

an athlete, I remember my, and my dad,

424

:

um, he played baseball and man, he, he

would, we would go to the field when I

425

:

was growing up and we would, we would,

I'd throw and I would, because I was a

426

:

pitcher and I would field, he would, he

would help me train everything like that.

427

:

And man, if my goal was

only to be 50% good.

428

:

Man, I would let some balls go by.

429

:

I would let some throws go sailing

over first base or I, I would just,

430

:

I would, I wouldn't swing at some

pitches when we were practicing batting

431

:

if I, if my desire was to go 50%.

432

:

But I said that I wanted

to be the best, right?

433

:

I wanted to be the best I wanted to be

in, in baseball, but if I wasn't able

434

:

to give my 100%, if I just, because

I had the, the thought and it was a

435

:

good idea to give a hundred percent.

436

:

And if, if I'm not showing

that, do I truly want that?

437

:

If we desire to be fully like

Christ, but we're giving 50% effort,

438

:

75% effort to wanting to be fully

obedient, do we truly, truly love God?

439

:

Can we be real about that?

440

:

Right.

441

:

I don't think anyone in this room desires

to, to, to really, I honestly, I don't,

442

:

I don't wanna assume, but I don't want

think anyone fully desires to truly like.

443

:

Just go off the deep end just for

the, just for, just for, just for

444

:

the fun of it and for and for the

idea and the possibility of it.

445

:

But let's think about it.

446

:

If we're here today, your desire is

that you want to walk in the truth.

447

:

Amen.

448

:

And if you want to walk in the

truth, you want to love God.

449

:

Amen.

450

:

And if you want to love God,

then you want to obey God.

451

:

Amen.

452

:

So if that's the case, are we

fully obeying God to the full

453

:

extent that we truly desire?

454

:

We have to be honest with

ourselves in that church.

455

:

The point I wanna make is that loving

God, love God by obeying all the way.

456

:

It's simple as that, but it's an honest

question that we have to observe within

457

:

our own hearts and have to discern and

honestly keep each other accountable

458

:

to, is that we obey all the way.

459

:

I know for myself, it's like it's easy for

me to let myself off because I feel like

460

:

I'm doing good enough, but you know what?

461

:

God didn't ask for me to do good enough.

462

:

He asked me to give everything that

I have, and it's not perfection.

463

:

Right?

464

:

It's giving all of our hearts because

he gave all of us, God never asked us

465

:

to do something that he didn't do first.

466

:

We have to be willing to give all the way,

obey all the way, and love all the way.

467

:

Amen.

468

:

I know my dad loved me all the way.

469

:

I mean, if it was I, a memory that I had

with him was I was, uh, in first grade

470

:

and we were doing presentations and.

471

:

I remember I chose to do the solar system

and present what all the planets were,

472

:

and I, it was really cool because I had

like a, I wish I had a picture of it, man.

473

:

I should have found that one.

474

:

But it's a, basically, a picture is,

it was like a black cardboard cutout

475

:

and with a bunch of styrofoam balls.

476

:

And I, and I, and I, my idea was to

like, kind of put them all on sticks

477

:

and then order them in the way from

like the sun all the way to Pluto.

478

:

You can argue Pluto is a planet.

479

:

This was like way back when,

so don't worry about it.

480

:

Right.

481

:

It's, but I remember, obviously

I'm working on it as a kid.

482

:

I have no clue what I'm doing.

483

:

I fall asleep early, so who stays

up late and finishes it for me.

484

:

My dad and I wake up the next morning and

my project is done, and it, and honestly,

485

:

it was a pretty dang good project.

486

:

I, I, I hate that mess.

487

:

It was great.

488

:

But I'm saying that I know my dad loved

me all the way just because he said, he

489

:

said, he didn't just say, I'll help you.

490

:

He said, let me do this for you.

491

:

And even then my dad, oh my gosh,

this man, I'm telling you, he would.

492

:

He just, he's so sacrificial.

493

:

I know my, my parents,

they work in team ministry.

494

:

They've been in team ministry

last 10 years since I was a teen.

495

:

Yes.

496

:

They, they kind of cramped my

style a little bit when I was

497

:

in the teens, but it's fine.

498

:

But I know my, my parents and

especially my dad loves the teens.

499

:

Not because he just shows up to devo

and not because he just gets time with

500

:

them, but he just pours into them.

501

:

He takes them out for lunch.

502

:

He takes them out for dinner.

503

:

He even, like I said, when I was

a teen, we would have sleepovers

504

:

at the house with other teen guys.

505

:

Since I've left, he's continued to have

boys over that sleepover at their house.

506

:

My par, my dad loves

the teens all the way.

507

:

He doesn't wanna sell 'em short.

508

:

He wants to make sure that they know

that they are loved and that he, that

509

:

they know that they are supported.

510

:

He goes through all of their graduation.

511

:

I think he, he went to

his third graduation.

512

:

This, this season already.

513

:

Like this, like this, man, I, like

I said, and I don't wanna, I don't

514

:

wanna put this man on a pedestal.

515

:

Like, I just, like, I

just like, he's my dad.

516

:

I love, I gotta hype him up, you know?

517

:

This is his day too.

518

:

I, I, I mean, I'll, I'll hype him

up 364 other days of the year.

519

:

Absolutely.

520

:

But you know, today I, I definitely

gotta hype him up because he truly

521

:

shows me what, when you wanna obey

God, you love people all the way.

522

:

You give all the way.

523

:

You don't sit there and sit back and say,

well, you know, this is my desire to give,

524

:

but I'm only gonna give up to this much.

525

:

He says, what can I

give to the full extent?

526

:

And I think that we also have to

embody that that's how Christ was.

527

:

He gave us all that he had to the

full extent, not withholding anything.

528

:

'cause if he withheld anything, his

sacrifice would've been in vain.

529

:

In a sense.

530

:

It would've been invalid

because he would've backed out

531

:

whether that was on the cross.

532

:

That was enduring the shame, whether

enduring the scorn, the flogging,

533

:

whatever it was, if he would've just

pulled back, he would not be the

534

:

blameless perfect sacrifice that we get

to worship and be grateful for today.

535

:

Amen.

536

:

So let's obey God by loving all

the way by and love him, by obeying

537

:

all the way it goes hand in hand,

just the same way Christ obeyed God

538

:

all the way on through the cross.

539

:

Amen.

540

:

Let's continue reading here.

541

:

That's where we're gonna kind of

get into it a little bit more here.

542

:

I say this because many deceivers

who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ,

543

:

verse seven as coming in the flesh,

have gone out into the world.

544

:

Any such person is the

deceiver and the antichrist.

545

:

Watch how that you do not lose

what we have worked for, but

546

:

that you may be rewarded fully.

547

:

Anyone who runs ahead and does

not continue in the teaching

548

:

of Christ, does not have God.

549

:

Whoever continues in the teaching

has both the father and the son.

550

:

If anyone comes to you and does not

bring this teaching, do not take

551

:

them into your house or welcome them.

552

:

Anyone who welcomes them

shares in their wicked work.

553

:

Once again, this is not your

typical Father's Day lesson.

554

:

Alright, so let's break

it down a little bit.

555

:

I, I wanna underline the word antichrist.

556

:

I don't know if you've heard about it.

557

:

I, I'm sure some of us

have heard about it.

558

:

I don't know if it's been defined for you.

559

:

Now, obviously, when we hear the

word anti, what do we think of?

560

:

Opposite.

561

:

Right.

562

:

Right.

563

:

To night and day.

564

:

Right.

565

:

Black and white.

566

:

Right.

567

:

Those, they're antis, they're

opposites of each other.

568

:

Well, like I said, this is where we,

let's say, continue to do the deep diving

569

:

of certain things and we, and we study

it out when we get to it, actually,

570

:

anti means against, or instead of, it's

anti cresto in Greek, and so the anti

571

:

is against her instead of, and then c

Christo obviously is Messiah or correct.

572

:

So if you put those together, it's

the against Christ, obviously,

573

:

but also the instead of, or

in other words, a replacement,

574

:

interesting, interesting

perspective, right?

575

:

Because now it is not just like

the opposite of Christ, right?

576

:

Obviously it's like good

and bad, light and darkness.

577

:

It's, it's not, it's,

it's, it's the replacement.

578

:

Because back in the day, people were

actually trying to, to, to deceive other

579

:

people saying that Jesus actually wasn't

fully God or that he wasn't fully man.

580

:

They try to alter and try to shift

the perception of who Jesus was

581

:

so that would fit their narrative.

582

:

And I mean I can, I'm sure you can

think about how that has formed out

583

:

from there all the way until today.

584

:

I mean, just this morning, I'll be

honest, I was on Instagram and I was

585

:

looking through and some of the things

that come up on my feed about Jesus

586

:

and about church are blowing my mind.

587

:

The, the internet has become

such a dangerous place for false

588

:

teachers to insert their ways and

their, and their doctrines into

589

:

the minds of, of our, of us, right.

590

:

And of our children

who are receiving that.

591

:

It is a dangerous place to be.

592

:

I mean, something like, let's talk

about a little bit some of the things

593

:

that I feel like that are like, that

are antichrist or replacement Jesus is,

594

:

or that Jesus was just a good teacher,

or that all religions lead to God.

595

:

Or that Jesus, that God

just wants you to be happy.

596

:

You don't have to be holy or that,

or that your truth is your truth,

597

:

and that you can stand in it.

598

:

And that Jesus affirms me

without requiring change.

599

:

That I'm saved by grace alone and that

I don't have to live a life for him.

600

:

That replacement, that idea that, that we

take Christ out of the, we take the, the,

601

:

the Biblical Christ out of the picture,

we insert him with something else.

602

:

Now obviously I think for us being

here today, I don't think any of us are

603

:

looking for an opportunity to, right

now, at least I don't think of us are

604

:

looking for an opportunity to really,

um, to create, I guess, disunity within

605

:

what the doctrine is of our church.

606

:

We all believe that Jesus is the son

of God, that he came down here, lived

607

:

a perfect life, died on the cross of

three days and was raised to life.

608

:

There are people that are out there,

like I said, that have a different

609

:

narrative of who Jesus is, whether

that's in Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness.

610

:

Yes, I'm going to nineties.

611

:

Because this is what we deal with.

612

:

This is real talk.

613

:

John talked about it back then and

we're gonna talk about it right now.

614

:

There are people here who are

dis and disfiguring the image

615

:

of the biblical Christ, who are

looking to make it fit their own

616

:

narrative and fit their own agenda.

617

:

We have to be solidified in who

Jesus is, and if anyone brings

618

:

you anything that is not biblical.

619

:

That is not the real Jesus that is an

antichrist, that is a replacement Jesus.

620

:

Or even like I said, the Jesus that tells

you that you don't have to forgive of the

621

:

people, that you just love 'em from afar.

622

:

The Jesus that tells you that you don't

have to repent of the sin or you have,

623

:

you just have to just confess to him, but

not confess to the rest of your brothers

624

:

and sisters if you need people that

get you in your life to help you out.

625

:

There are things in this life that are

going to try and disfigure and dis and,

626

:

and, uh, and, and change you and form you

away from what the biblical Christ is.

627

:

That is what our culture, that is what

the world, that is what Satan wants.

628

:

He wants to take us away from

what Jesus, who he truly is.

629

:

And that is the biblically accurate Jesus.

630

:

And like I said, as someone that is

on campus at Cal State Fullerton,

631

:

at Fullerton College, I run into

a lot of people a lot of times.

632

:

I remember talking to Eric one

time and I was telling him, I

633

:

was like, Hey, I, I, I ran into.

634

:

Those of another, um, of

another faith, another belief.

635

:

And, you know, I wanted to debate

and I wanted to go after it.

636

:

I wanted to, I wanted to, I

wanted to prove to them that this

637

:

is, this is not the Jesus that

they're preaching is inaccurate.

638

:

And I was right to do so.

639

:

I'm in every right to do so because

that's what God calls us all to do.

640

:

However, you know, I, I think, I think

sometimes pride can get in the way

641

:

and it becomes about, you know, let

me tell you how you are wrong and let

642

:

me show you who the true Jesus is.

643

:

Like I said in that tone and

that demeanor, that's not

644

:

the true Jesus right there.

645

:

I mean, Jesus obviously stood up to

the Pharisees, but he did it with what?

646

:

With love, right?

647

:

The Bible tells us to

correct with gentleness.

648

:

Now, I don't want any of us

to fall for a fake Jesus.

649

:

That's what John didn't want.

650

:

John was so he loved the church.

651

:

Somebody says, please don't be deceived,

but what should our response be, though?

652

:

Well, I think it's

these things right here.

653

:

It says To discern, to disconnect,

to correct and continue.

654

:

Discern, like I said, that whatever is

brought to you, whatever you hear online,

655

:

whatever is said to you in person,

discern, is this biblically accurate?

656

:

Where is the biblical support?

657

:

Or is it just what you think or what you

interpret the scripture to be on your own?

658

:

And honestly, disconnect.

659

:

Not in a way that's just like, I'm gonna

cut you off and never talk to you again.

660

:

But like I said, if people come up to you.

661

:

Iva witness this, they go door to door.

662

:

I, I'll never forget my

first encounter with Mormons.

663

:

I remember I never had met a Mormon

in my life, but I remember they

664

:

came up to me and I was like, I was

kind of scared 'cause I was like,

665

:

these two men dressed up in uniform,

approaching me on the street and I

666

:

was in high school at this time, so I

really didn't know what was going on.

667

:

I'll be honest, I thought

they had a gun on them.

668

:

I was freaking out.

669

:

I was like, I didn't know what to do.

670

:

But as they, as they continued

to share, I was like, oh, okay.

671

:

I don't, I don't really.

672

:

I don't think we agree on what this is.

673

:

However, I think as I've grown older

and I, as I've grown in my faith,

674

:

I've learned that, you know what, I'm

gonna continue to love these people.

675

:

'cause that's what I'm called to do,

even though I don't agree with them.

676

:

But I'm gonna shepherd them and

correct them gently and, and make

677

:

sure that I point them back to God's

word and what God's word truly says.

678

:

And I disconnect with them in that way.

679

:

Not to the sense, like I said, to

like totally disregard or totally

680

:

like in a sense of like shun them and

like just, I'm not listening to you.

681

:

Say, Hey, you share what you

need to share, but I'm gonna

682

:

share with you the truth and I'm

gonna share with you in love.

683

:

And I know as a young man, and for me,

it's hard for me to kind of like look

684

:

at a crowd that has probably seen a

lot more than I have, but I can share

685

:

with you this is that I'm glad that we

are in a church that is Bible based.

686

:

I'm grateful to be in a church that

really discerns what the truth is.

687

:

Because I think in the times in our, in

our, in our next generation, what the kids

688

:

need and what you guys need to hear is

that you need to be based in the truth.

689

:

You need to fight to know what is true.

690

:

If you don't, this world will

take you places where you do not

691

:

want to go and you will believe

in things that are just obscene.

692

:

And so I pray that in our next generation,

in our, in our older generation, that

693

:

you please continue to help us discern

in the truth so that we can know that

694

:

though, that though there are, that

though there are false teachers and

695

:

false figureheads out there, try to

deceive us that the truth is in God's

696

:

word and that it hasn't changed.

697

:

Amen.

698

:

And in those to correct, like

I said, are you in your word?

699

:

Can you back it up?

700

:

You can't just tell 'em they're wrong and

then just say, well, it's just 'cause it's

701

:

in the Bible where in the Bible, right?

702

:

We've gotta be in our word this.

703

:

We are not just church goers

or just church attenders.

704

:

We are students.

705

:

We are disciples.

706

:

We have to know and be in our word.

707

:

Amen.

708

:

Are you in your word?

709

:

I'm not calling anybody out.

710

:

I'm not trying to point fingers and

play name names, but listen, these are

711

:

the things that we have to be ready

for because like I said, this is not

712

:

the first and not the last time that

we're gonna hear about these things.

713

:

It's gonna be continuous

and they're gonna get worse.

714

:

And they're gonna get worse,

and they're gonna get worse.

715

:

And if we are not gonna be a church,

a body of Christ that is rooted and

716

:

grounded in the truth, to correct

in love with God's word, then

717

:

this church is gonna just veer.

718

:

We've gotta be rooted in the truth and

at the end, we've just gotta continue.

719

:

Don't, like I said, don't

give 'em the time of day.

720

:

They give you a plant

fit, a pamphlet, take it.

721

:

Throw in the trash after when

you're done talking with them.

722

:

Simple as that.

723

:

Like I said, they've come on your door.

724

:

Thank you for your time.

725

:

Not interested, and just

continue in your truth.

726

:

Continue in the truth of who Jesus is.

727

:

The unchanging reality, right,

the truth that we all walk in,

728

:

we have to remain in the truth.

729

:

We have to continue forward because I

think 'cause it's gonna be distractions,

730

:

there's gonna be allegations, there's

gonna be all these things that are gonna

731

:

try and veer us off of what the truth is.

732

:

But we have to stay rooted in the truth.

733

:

It's getting distorted.

734

:

And you know what?

735

:

It's not even just about other false

doctrines in a sense of just like,

736

:

oh, that there's Muhammad and Buddha

and all these things, but even in

737

:

these churches, and let's be real,

and I feel like I, I don't know.

738

:

I'm just gonna be honest here.

739

:

Can I be honest with you guys?

740

:

It's even infiltrating our churches

because we are having doc, we have

741

:

people calling themselves gay pastors,

742

:

and there's a pin drop in the room

because yeah, that's a real thing.

743

:

There are people that are, are, are

emphasizing gay marriages in church.

744

:

There are people that are, are

allowing sin to take place and

745

:

not be held accountable for it.

746

:

Like we have to understand that this is

not just outside of this building, but

747

:

this could easily infiltrate our building

if we are not rooted in the truth.

748

:

And this is why as God's chosen

people, we have to stick to God's word.

749

:

His word alone.

750

:

'cause if we don't, we are going to veer.

751

:

If we don't, we're going to allow

things that should never have

752

:

been allowed in the first place.

753

:

And that doesn't mean we get all

legalistic and we get all like all by the

754

:

book Hard rule and everything like that.

755

:

'cause that's where we used to be.

756

:

I feel you've incorporated a lot of love

and a lot of grace in the last few years.

757

:

And I think that we're trying to learn

how to balance it both in the church.

758

:

'cause I said it's a, it's a dance.

759

:

We're constantly dancing with

it because it's gonna be hard.

760

:

If we can learn as a church to do love

and truth together, then the things

761

:

that I said that are infiltrating other

churches will not infiltrate this one.

762

:

And if we are going to be the royal

priesthood, the holy people, God's

763

:

holy nation, that he has chosen for

us, we've gotta be rooted in the

764

:

truth, but also rooted in the fact

that God's love is the one that covers

765

:

all of us, and that, that we get to

live in the truth because of his love.

766

:

Amen.

767

:

In the end, John writes this in verse 12.

768

:

He says, I have much to write to you,

but I do not want to use paper ink.

769

:

Instead, I hope to visit you

and talk with you face to face

770

:

that our joy may be complete.

771

:

The children of your sister

who is chosen by God send their

772

:

greetings, and I love John's heart.

773

:

John has such a pastoral

heart for his people.

774

:

He loves his people.

775

:

Guys, I, and this is no disrespect

to anyone that is watching online,

776

:

but please come, please be connected.

777

:

Like there, what you, what you desire

for outside of this out or online and

778

:

I guess what you, what you hope to gain

relationships digitally is never gonna

779

:

be the same as is being right here.

780

:

Doing life with the people in this room.

781

:

That's why we even, we have family groups.

782

:

That's why we have ministries.

783

:

It's not just that we come together

on a Sunday and then we just go

784

:

out our separate ways and we never

see each other throughout the week.

785

:

No, we do life together.

786

:

And John shows that in his heart,

that he desires to do life with his

787

:

people and to see them face to face.

788

:

So in the same way, let us join together

and let's say continue to do life

789

:

together and to do life, not just.

790

:

In within it, just 'cause we're going

together in church, but to do life

791

:

in love and to do life in the truth.

792

:

Amen.

793

:

So actor said for this week, I want

us to live out the command, to love,

794

:

intentionally connect, encourage,

confess, forgive, whatever it is

795

:

that falls in the category of love.

796

:

Please do it and live

it out intentionally.

797

:

And finally, examine all the

voice or influences in your life.

798

:

Ask yourself, is this helping me walk

in the truth or leading me away from it?

799

:

It because if we can discern that as

disciples, we truly will be able to

800

:

discern what the truth is, not on our

own, but because of what God says.

801

:

And then we can align this.

802

:

And like I said, if you're

having a hard time, if you have

803

:

questions, please ask them.

804

:

Don't feel like this is a,

this is a, a doubt free zone.

805

:

This is where we have to be able

to ponder and, and honestly, those

806

:

questions will give us answers

that will deepen our faith.

807

:

So it's okay to ask questions.

808

:

This is, like I said, this is not a final.

809

:

Answer from Dallas or

from Marcel, from whoever.

810

:

If it's in God's word, let's discern it

together and let's work to find the truth

811

:

about what God is truly trying to speak

to us, not just what we want to hear.

812

:

'cause then, like I said, it becomes

the salad bar Christianity where

813

:

I take this and I don't want that,

but we accept the truth in its

814

:

entirety, the unchanging reality.

815

:

Amen.

816

:

So that's my lesson for today.

817

:

But I just wanna say, I encourage and

say, happy Father's Day once again.

818

:

Uh, to all the fathers in the room,

thank you for being rocks of faith

819

:

and leading your families and your

marriages, um, for faithfully.

820

:

Um, and for those that are new fathers

or are soon to be fathers, we hope to

821

:

you continue that same legacy as well.

822

:

Um, we're grateful for all those.

823

:

And, uh, I just want to pray us

out before we have one final song.

824

:

Amen.

825

:

Let's pray.

826

:

Uh, God thank you for today and just the

time to, uh, connect with, uh, not just

827

:

my brothers and sister God, but my family.

828

:

Just like, it's so awesome to be able to.

829

:

That you, it's awesome God, that

you've really prepared this for us.

830

:

That you desire, uh, nothing more,

but for us to feel this connection

831

:

that we have with you but with each

other God, and that we share in that.

832

:

And the truth that we walk in God,

that your son died for each and every

833

:

person in this room and that his blood

covers over all of our sins, God.

834

:

But we pray that we just continue

to love intentionally God,

835

:

we pray to be truth seekers.

836

:

God, we pray to be people that dive into

your word, that truly want to know, uh,

837

:

what you're speaking, um, to us about God.

838

:

We pray to be people that are

knowledgeable, um, and that are,

839

:

are studious in the word God.

840

:

Not just people who, who like to hear it

or people that like hear it passively,

841

:

but God, that people that want to

live it out and live it in action.

842

:

We pray to see them in our relationships

and in the church as we continue to grow.

843

:

We pray to see the love and the

truth that you have based for us

844

:

since the beginning, flourish and

be fruitful in our relationship.

845

:

Father, we prayed for all

this in your son Jesus' name.

846

:

Amen.

847

:

Amen.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for OC Church of Christ Sermons
OC Church of Christ Sermons
Hear the latest sermon from the OC Church of Christ

Listen for free