Truth Matters: Walking in the Truth

By Ken Askew

“The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”  ESV 3 John 1:1-4

Gaius lived during a time when a group (known as the Gnostics) was spreading all manner of false doctrine in the community.  Their religious teachings were a patchwork of ideas they obtained from philosophy, Christianity, and other religions of the time.  One of their primary teachings was that salvation was acquired, not through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, but through the acquisition of knowledge about oneself.  Now, this may sound absurd, but look at how self centered, self gratified, self satisfied our society has become.  We live in a time when the general consensus seems to be “it’s all about me.”  And we’re a smug lot to boot.

Of course these self-saving notions, both then and now, contradict the most basic tenants of Christianity.  To deny the work and power of Christ (Immanuel; God with us) through His death and resurrection is to completely deny Christianity.  And this is the primary purpose and aim of John’s letters; to encourage Christians to hold fast in the faith and walk in truth; thus shunning and avoiding the false doctrines of the day.

Now, when it came to spiritual matters, this fellow Gaius must have had it together.  Not only were people testifying to the fact that his daily actions indicated that he was steadfast in the faith and  “walking in truth,” but his general spiritual health was such that John wrote greetings with the hopes that his physical health was also doing as well.  When I read the passage I get the feeling that John was genuinely proud to count Gaius as a brother in Christ.  We’re told plainly that John was always delighted to hear that Christians were “walking in truth.”

John received testimony of Gaius’s walk through a third party.  Reading 3 John in its entirety indicates that some missionaries had passed his way and had subsequently encountered John and reported these things about Gaius.

And that brings me to my point.  What would have been reported of your behavior?  If a stranger crossed your path today and testified later as to your actions, would it be the same report these folks gave of Gaius?  Could they report that you are steadfast in the Christian faith and walking in truth?  Or would they report that you were so caught up in yourself that you scarcely noticed them?

As Easter Sunday approaches and you prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, be especially mindful that your actions bear witness to your faith.  Your true colors literally do shine through.  May your actions betray your faith in a living, resurrected, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing savior; Christ our Lord.