Walk In Truth
Brent Gallagher
The letters of 1, 2, and 3 John are written in a very simple style yet contain many important truths for the Christian. In these letters, John is combating false doctrine concerning the nature of Jesus (1 John 1:22; 4:1-3; 2 John 7). He makes it clear that those who teach false doctrine are not of God (1 John 2:19). John also emphasizes that when one supports a false teacher he is guilty of sin (2 John 9-11). Just as surely as one can know he is not of God, one can also know he belongs to God and has eternal life. The apostle does not leave one guessing as to his spiritual status when he writes in 1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). John speaks of two worlds – one of darkness and one of light (1 John 1:5-7). John states that one is either of God or of Satan (1 John 3:8-10). Out of this background come two statements which John makes in reference to a Christian’s walk: “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father” (2 John 4) and “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).
There is such a thing as truth. Our world is filled with those who claim there is no such thing as absolute truth or that one cannot know or be certain about anything. The obvious question one might ask such a person as this is, “Are you sure about that?” The Bible claims to be from God and claims to be truth. The Gospel of John records Jesus’ two famous statements: “Sanctify them by Your truth: Your word is truth” and “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 17:17; 8:32). God has provided mankind with a book that can be understood and has ample evidences to prove its divine origin. In an increasingly secular and skeptical world, the Bible needs to be presented as a book that is unique and that the central character of Scripture, Jesus, truly is God’s Son and is the proper object of one’s faith.
Truth does no good unless it is obeyed and practiced. One is reminded of Jesus’ denunciation of the Pharisees when He said, “Therefore what they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not according to their works; for they say and do not do” (Matthew 23:3). The challenge is always there for Christians to back up their claims by the actions in their lives. The word that is translated walk in the letters of John, describes a lifestyle and a realm in which one lives. One is either governed by God and the Bible, or he is governed by Satan and one’s own desires. The Christian who is walking in truth will fail and sin (1 John 1:8). However, if he is truly striving to please God, he will repent of such sins and not allow sin to control or dominate him (1 John 1:7; 2:1; 3:4-10). There were Christians who lived in the first century who were commended by John for walking in truth. One wonders, if John were writing a letter today, of how many Christians could he say that he had joy concerning because of their “walking in truth”?
There truly is “nothing new under the sun.” There were false teachers 2,000 years ago. There are false teachers today. There were people claiming to be of God 2,000 years ago who really were not of God (1 John 1:6, 8). Undoubtedly, there are ones today claiming to be of God who really are not. The good news is that God has given a book wherein one can find the way to Heaven and know how to walk in this life. Every Christian should strive to be one who is walking in truth. –1 Oakwood Rd., Fairmont, WV 26554. (304) 363-1239