1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else. 5For each man will bear his own burden.
6But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
7Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
11See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand. 12As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh. 14But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.
17From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
John ends the letter in the same way he ended his second letter. Reader, what can we learn from this little book? He is praising some and rebuking others, like Diotrephes. First, we should remember that there has always been dysfunction in the church. Some is caused by unbelievers who find their way among us. Others are believers who perhaps are still not walking in the spirit, but rather spend most of their time “in the flesh”, responding with flesh patterns they learned before they were saved. We should be wary of someone who wants to control everything. We should be wary of the teacher who thinks he’s way better than the others. The Church is described in scripture as a body having many parts. There are many things we can do in our own fellowships. Likewise, we should avoid those who cause division in the body and those who are needlessly offensive to others. (Romans 16:17-20)
Secondly, if you’re doing good, keep doing good even when you’re discouraged. Don’t be sidetracked by some unfounded criticism. Just know your calling and continue in it. In writing the church in Galatia, Paul exhorts, 9 Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 WEB)
Thirdly, don’t be discouraged by dysfunction in the church. We all still have our problems, but this is the Body of Christ. We attend church not because it feels good because we can't always have it our own way. We come together because the Bible tells us to come together (Hebrews 10:25). Church attendance is not optional for a healthy believer. I am not speaking to those of you who are infirm and unable to attend services. I am talking to those who find church attendance optional if you don’t have anything else going on. The 19th century theologian Dwight L. Moody once described church attendance as a practice “as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.” But an increasing percentage of Christians are seemingly conflicted about the need for church, believing they can stay faithful to God on their own or just by watching a preacher online.
Reader, if you are not in one, look for a church that will focus on “preaching and teaching text-driven life application of God’s Word.” You and I are hungry for biblical teaching, and that is the only thing that will bring you the nourishment you need. Realize that every assembly has its problems. We will inevitably step on each other’s toes, and we may even offend one another. But that does not give us the right to ever withdraw from the church. We come together as broken people, flawed and with problems. We are the body of Christ, and this is who God has formed us to be. We are a group of flawed people who come together to love and be kind to one another. Sometimes we’ll get hurt, but we never run. We are all works in progress. We were made perfect in Christ, but we don’t always walk in the truth of that identity. Reader, if this is you, commit yourself to forgiving others and moving forward. Make not only the disciple John proud of you, but you’ll please your Father in heaven.