For the Truth’s Sake

For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.  (II John 2)

There are twenty-seven verses in II & III John. The word, “truth”, appears eleven times in those two books – five time in II John and six times in III John. Truth seems to be John’s theme, for we also find that word twenty-seven times in the Gospel of John and ten times in I John. The word, “truth”, is found two hundred thirty-five times in the Bible. It is found one hundred seventeen times in the O.T. and one hundred eighteen times in the N.T. Almost the same number of times in both Testaments.

We find the word, “true”, eighty-one times in the bible. It is in the O. T. twenty-seven times and in the N.T. fifty-four times, twice as many as the O.T. It is in the Gospel of John twenty times, in I John five and in III John once. John uses it almost half of the times in the N.T.

It is quite evident that God puts a lot of importance in the truth. It is important that we maintain God’s truth today. The truth is under attack from all directions and is in danger of being swallowed up by the devil’s lies. Of course we know it can never be completely destroyed. We are living in a day when people do not believe in absolutes. They think they can choose what to believe or not to believe. But, when they come to stand before God, it will be too late to recognize the truth, their fate will be sealed.

I. THE TRUTH IS A CHRISTIAN NECESSITY

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)

1. “Once let the truth of God obtain an entrance into the human heart and subdue the whole person unto itself, no power human or infernal can dislodge it.” (Spurgeon)
2. We should entertain the truth as the master of the house.
3. We ought to be willing to die for the truth of the Gospel of salvation.
4. The truth will be our living support, our dying comfort, out rising song, our eternal glory.

II. THE TRUTH IS A CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGE.

1. Without truth our faith is of little worth.
   1. Some truths we outgrow and leave behind, for they are but rudiments and lessons for beginners, but we cannot thus deal with Divine truth.
   2. Though it is sweet food for babes, it is in the highest sense strong meat for men.
      

      And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

2. With truth we learn much.
   1. The truth that we are sinners in painfully with us to humble and make us watchful.
   2. The more blessed truth that whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus shall be saved, abides with us as our hope and joy.
   3. The church is the place where truth is established.
      

      But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (I Timothy 3:15)

   4. We should read and study the Word of truth.
      

      Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
      (II Timothy 2:15)

III. THE TRUTH MAKES US EXERCISE OUR LOVE

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (I John 3:18)

1. No narrow circle can contain our gracious sympathies.
2. Our love should be as wide as the boundaries of grace.
   

   But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

3. Much of error may be mingled with truth received.
4. Let us war with the error, not the person.
5. Above all let us love and spread the truth ourselves.
   

   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.  (III John 5-8)