I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
The letter is written to the elect lady and her children, where the lady is a church and her children are its members, so the joy at finding children walking in truth is joy over members of a church walking in truth as commanded by the Father. John rejoiced greatly because he found some of the children living according to the truth in obedience to the commandment received from the Father, their conduct according with the truth believers are to live by. The following verses explain this as the old command to love one another, with that love shown by walking in God's commandments.
Walking in truth means living faithfully in obedience to the command received from the Father, with conduct that accords with the truth believers are to live by. That command is not new but was given from the beginning, calling believers to love one another, and that love is shown by walking according to God's commandments. The Father's commandment is thus associated with the children walking in truth, and the command to love one another was received from the beginning rather than introduced as new.
Walking in truth means following God's truth rather than human traditions and commandments, and finding believers so living brings great joy. For the present time, walking in truth means living by present truth in the time of the third angel's message. That message restores the fourth commandment, requiring parents to keep God's commandments and teach them diligently to their children, since the Sabbath commandment embraces both sons and daughters.
Walking in the truth one has been taught is shown concretely by accepting the Bible Sabbath, refusing Sunday observance, and intending with one's wife and son to continue attending Sabbath school and church, and finding children so walking brings joy. Seeing one's own children walking in truth brings great joy, a principle that applies to the remnant rejoicing when their children follow the Lord by living faithfully according to the command received from the Father. Finding people walking in the truth they received brings great joy, as when some who hear the truth preached continue in it while others who felt its force are ashamed to identify with it.
The letter is written to the elect lady and her children, where the lady is a church and her children are its members, so the joy at finding children walking in truth is joy over members of a church walking in truth as commanded by the Father. John rejoiced greatly because he found some of the children living according to the truth in obedience to the commandment received from the Father, their conduct according with the truth believers are to live by. The following verses explain this as the old command to love one another, with that love shown by walking in God's commandments.
Walking in truth means living faithfully in obedience to the command received from the Father, with conduct that accords with the truth believers are to live by. That command is not new but was given from the beginning, calling believers to love one another, and that love is shown by walking according to God's commandments. The Father's commandment is thus associated with the children walking in truth, and the command to love one another was received from the beginning rather than introduced as new.
Walking in truth means following God's truth rather than human traditions and commandments, and finding believers so living brings great joy. For the present time, walking in truth means living by present truth in the time of the third angel's message. That message restores the fourth commandment, requiring parents to keep God's commandments and teach them diligently to their children, since the Sabbath commandment embraces both sons and daughters.
Walking in the truth one has been taught is shown concretely by accepting the Bible Sabbath, refusing Sunday observance, and intending with one's wife and son to continue attending Sabbath school and church, and finding children so walking brings joy. Seeing one's own children walking in truth brings great joy, a principle that applies to the remnant rejoicing when their children follow the Lord by living faithfully according to the command received from the Father. Finding people walking in the truth they received brings great joy, as when some who hear the truth preached continue in it while others who felt its force are ashamed to identify with it.