The Walk of Truth
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to follow the mandatory instructions to walk in the truth.
Sermon Proposition: There are 3 symbols of walking in the truth.
I. Walking in truth is a symbol of great joy. V.4a (3 John 3-4)
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
A. The believer is to be a dynamic testimony of the truth. (Phil. 3:17-21; Luke 24:46-49; 1 Thess. 1:2-10)
(The wonderful Baptist preacher Vance Hancur used to say, “What we live is what we believe. Everything else is just religious talk.”
B. The believer is to walk controlled by truth. (John 14:15-18; 1 John 2:24-27)
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
2 Peter 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(God has not revealed His truth in such a way as to leave us free at our pleasure to believe or disbelieve it, to obey or disobey it.)
C. The believer is to reflect truth in both doctrine and duty. (3 John 11-12)
Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
(The community of believers had cultivated a reputation for devotion to the truth of God and Jesus Christ.)
D. The believer is to walk just as the word says we are to walk. (Luke 11:27-28; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 2:3-6)
Matthew 7:21 " Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
A. The ultimate source of the commandments is the Father. (John 12:44-50)
B. The ultimate sustainer of the commandments is the Father. (John 14:19-21)
C. The ultimate supplier of the commandments is the Father. (1 John 2:21-24; 1 John 5:3-5)
“Revelation carries with it responsibility, and the clearer the revelation the greater the responsibility to believe and obey.” (John R. W. Stott, The Epistle of John)