A Picture and the Purpose of the Church

2 John 12–13 (NIV),

¹² I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. ¹³ The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

The aforementioned verses are commonly understood as the 'final remarks' or 'concluding thoughts.' John realizes that visiting them in person would be more beneficial than continuing to write about additional things. The phrase "so that our joy may be complete" was the purpose of his first letter. “We write this to make our joy complete.” (1 John 1:4, NIV).  John's ambition (ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πεπληρωμένη ᾖ) in his letter of encouragement, correction and warning is that their joy and his joy might be πληρόω [play·ro·o], full, overfilling, completely realized. Jesus spoke of the same purpose for his disciples: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete . . . I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (John 15:11; 17:13, NIV).

The relationship between pastor and people, the elders and the flock -- the goal of instruction, correction and encouragement in the Gospel seems to be for this important reason: our fully realized joy (and may I add: eternal joy!).  One hears, often enough, that doctrine divides.  Many would want to dismiss doctrine.  Give me Jesus, not theology.  But the opposite is the case. "Doctrinal deviation threatens the joy of the church because it destroys unity and imperils the approving presence of Christ in personal lives and the corporate assembly." [1]

So the letter concludes with greetings from the "children of your elect sister."  This again is undoubtedly the members of a sister congregation -- possibly even the congregation that John was a part of.  Again we have significant insight into the attitude of congregations.  This church was a "sister" church because the membership were made up of people "chosen in Christ" -- the Elect.  Someone asked me recently, "Which denomination is the true denomination?"   Part of my answer is this:  

" A faithful church is made up of born-again, regenerated members who admit they only see in part, who are convinced that what they believe is an honest representation of the Scriptures and who love and respect other churches of like faith and mind, albeit acknowledging their differences."

Yes, there are multitudes of congregations around the world, but for those in Christ -- truly chosen by God and born of the Spirit, we all share the same heavenly Father.  These multitudes of congregations then are multitudes of sister churches.  All human calls for unity are vain and redundant.  True believers and faithful churches are one.  

Father, in the small but profound letter of John, he concludes with some very poignant thoughts. These thoughts beg important questions from the depth of my soul.  Do I seek the eternal joy of my congregation?  Above all the other things, do the people of my church long for and seek my joy?  Do we view other churches of like faith as sisters -- and long for their joy?  These questions are challenging and provide well-needed correction to my thinking.   We are so often fraught with territoriality, clannishness, and protectionism.  Forgive us Father for such immature myopia. Grant to us eternal joy -- the joy that comes from the Savior, by the Spirit -- for Your glory.  Amen.

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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2442). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Have You Met "The Chosen Lady"?

One of John's devices during times of persecution was to use cryptic language (e.g. The Book of Revelation).  So an non-Christian gets a hold of this letter and reads these opening words, “The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—” (2 John 1, NIV).

To the casual reader there is little doubt that John is writing to an individual woman.  However it is more probable that John is writing to a local congregation.  This word lady used here is kyria; and is the same word as “Lord” in the New Testament -- except that it is feminine here (and in verse 5: “And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.” (2 John 5, NIV)).  So the normal word for lady and the normal word for Church is not used.  What is used is the feminine form of lord.  Interesting?

The letter is also addressed to her children.  If the "lady" is the local congregation, then her children are significantly her members.  This metaphor is extended to the end where greetings are sent from another local church, referred to as her "chosen sister." “The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.” (2 John 13, NIV)

 

"The English word “church” has its roots in the Greek word kuriakon: 'that which belongs to the Lord.'" [1].  So John the Elder is communicating with a local congregation and its members and in essence he writes to:

To the people who belong to God (κυρίᾳ), whom God has chosen (ἐκλεκτῇ) and her members (τέκνοις).

This opening phrase should inspire, assure and inform our life in the Body of Christ, the Church today.   This opening phrase exalts the preeminence of Christ in God.  It highlights His desire and His purposes for the Church today.   The Church and its members are the Lord's.  They are His by election and by possession.  Paul wrote elsewhere:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NIV).

Whether we are talking about the local congregation or its members (as regenerated participants in the Body), we are talking about men and women who are not their own; and are called to honor God, preeminently and ultimately.  John uses this metaphor intentionally.  By employing the notion of family (children/sisters) he is emphasizing the organic bond between believers and churches.  On the contrary, if one is not "born from above" they neither belong to God, nor are they members of the local church.

One can also presume the the line between the individual member and the local body is very thin, when it comes to apostolic thinking.  There seems to be a convergence of categories in the Bible so that the individual never forgets that he or she is part of the larger whole. And alternately, the local church never forgets that it is made up of important and significant individuals.   The Bible does not discount one for the other.

What an amazing life that I get to live, Father!  I was chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world and now I'm part of a community of people chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world.  Together we are a chosen congregation of believers -- elect from every nation; all belonging to God, for the purpose of bringing Him glory and honor.  And this community of elect people that meet together and serve together have a bazillion sister congregations all over the world.  Born-again, blood bought, called-out ones, all chosen in Christ, by God, for His supreme glory.  This is the "purpose driven life" -- to magnify and glorify the risen Lord in all His glory.  My purpose today is to make much of Jesus.  Every breath is to expel the matchless glories of our merciful Savior.  Every decision of the will and every act of the body is to be a road-sign of His glory.   Every thought and every feeling is to be raptured into joy unspeakable and full of glory.  You, Father, are worthy of this and much more.  May Your Spirit cause this to occur in me.   For Jesus sake,




 



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1. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.