What does it mean to walk in truth (3 John 1:4)?

To Gaius the apostle said, "I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in truth." (3 John 3). By the energy of the Spirit he was characterized by the truth — that is, his character was formed by it, and consequently it practically governed his life — he walked in truth. It was this walking in truth that evidenced to the brethren that the truth was in him, and so they were able to bear witness to that fact.

How important all this is we can see by the apostle's further words, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." The joys of the Christian are so many and so great that the words "I have no greater joy" bear eloquent testimony to the importance that walking in truth had in his estimation. When that was fulfilled in his children his joy overflowed.

Walking may be spoken of as the simplest and most primitive activity of the human race. It naturally therefore symbolizes activity. To walk in truth is to have all one's activities — one's thinkings, speakings, goings, doings, all one's movements of mind or body — governed by and in keeping with all that world of reality which finds its centre in God Himself revealed in the Lord Jesus, and its circumference in the furthest reaches of His will and word. A lofty standard this, truly: yet not too lofty, nor is it impracticable. We may walk through a world of unrealities governed by realities which are divine.

Hence the apostle's source of joy. "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father." Walking in truth is the result of having the truth. The truth produces truthfulness. The man who has not got the truth cannot possibly walk in truth, and will not long wear the semblance of it. To walk thus was the effect of the truth itself known: they walked in truth, "according as we received commandment from the Father."

Secondly, he not only had the truth, but he gave evidence of it by walking in the truth. His practical life was consistent with the truth he professed. What greater joy can a servant have than knowing that those, who have been blessed through the truth he has ministered, are walking according to it! This joy the Apostle had as he heard through others of Gaius, his child in the faith.

(V. 5). Thirdly, having the truth and walking in the truth, he acted faithfully towards the brethren and strangers who were wholly devoting their lives to the service of the Lord.

"Walking in the truth" does not mean that we hold the doctrines of Christianity intact — it involves this, surely, but it is more — it is obedience to the Father and love to one another; and further, as the letter reveals, the resistance of all attempts to introduce subversive teaching contrary to that which we have learned from the beginning.

The assurance that John had as to the spiritual prosperity of Gaius was not gained by personal contact, for he was at a distance and communicating by letter. It was gained through testimony borne by others. Certain brethren had arrived in John's locality and they spoke of him; and what they had to say bore witness to the fact that the truth was dwelling in him and that it found expression in his life, for he walked in truth. That which is in us comes out in our activities.

The Lord Himself laid down as a principle that, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matt. 12:34). Here we find another principle of life which is a companion to it — that which dwells in us characterizes our walk. If Satan's lie dwells in us we are bound to walk in falsity and crookedness in regard to God. When truth is in us by the Spirit of God (as we saw when considering 2 John 2) we shall walk in the truth, even though we walk in the midst of this crooked world. The walk of a Christian is to be light in the midst of darkness, and truth in the midst of error.

One thing more remains, brought out in 3 John 4. The truth that is set before us objectively in Christ, and that dwells in us subjectively by the Spirit is to govern our actions. We are to walk in truth, and walking signifies activity. All our activities, whether in thinking, speaking or doing, are to be governed by truth. If these children of the "elect lady" were so governed, a similar life is incumbent upon all of us. A saint young or old walking in truth is a lovely sight. No wonder John rejoiced greatly when he saw it; and it is equally lovely when it is seen today. We must today, as much as in the first century, protect it by refusing the false doctrine that would destroy it.

But there is a second thing which imperils the truth and that comes to light in 3 John; not the propagation of false doctrine but the rigid maintenance of official status and what is considered to be outward correctness. Of this Diotrephes was a sad example, whereas Gaius, to whom the epistle was addressed, was marked by walking in truth and being a fellow-helper to the truth. As we read this epistle we see again that the truth is of the first importance and everything else is tested and measured by it. Gaius walked in truth because the truth was in him, and all this was the source of great joy to the Apostle.

Walking in truth (New Translation) refers to a walk guided by the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Him, who is the Truth. We have seen that grace and truth subsist by Him. Creation and redemption, judgment and glory, are only understood from their relation to Him. Satan is known as Satan, because he is His adversary; the world, in its moral character, because it refused to know Him. "O righteous Father, the world has not known thee." But not only is Christ Himself personally the truth, as He said, "I am the truth," but of the Holy Ghost also it is said, "It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth." The terms here are reciprocal, as in the sentence, "Sin is lawlessness," where the terms can be transposed, "Lawlessness is sin." And also in John 1, "The life was the light of men." The light of men was the life, and nothing else was that.

He reminds her of the Lord's great commandment that we should love one another, but this love can never be at the expense of the truth. Indeed such so-called love could not be love at all, for he defines love as walking after His commandments. This seems to mean the Father's commandments, for in the previous verse he refers to walking in truth as a commandment from the Father. In the first Epistle he says, 'This is the love of God that we keep His commandments, (1 John 5:3) and the Lord Himself said, 'If ye love Me keep MY commandments' (John 14:15). Nobody can exercise love at the expense of truth; that would be only human amiability -a desire to please men. Can we show grace at the Lord's expense? We can only show grace at our own expense, and that we should show abundantly. So we are exhorted to walk in truth, walk after His commandments and walk in love.

The Apostle had much joy because he had found some of the children of the elect lady walking in truth. They were not merely confessing the truth and holding it, but they were walking in it — that is, their ways and activities were governed by it. The Father Himself has commanded this: His truth has reached us in order that we may be controlled by it. Nothing less than this is pleasing to Him. And now, turning to the elect lady herself, the Apostle beseeches her to proceed on just those lines; having in view the instruction he is about to give her as to those who propagate not truth but error.

(Vv. 4-6). In the verses that follow, the Apostle applies this truth and love to our practical walk. It is only as we are grounded in truth and love, and walk accordingly, that we shall be able to resist false teachers. The Apostle is writing to those who know the truth, and in whom the truth dwells (verses 1, 2). Now he rejoices that they are found “walking in truth”. If we are to escape error and refuse deceivers, it will not be enough to know the truth; we must also practise the truth according to the commandment we have received from the Father. From the first Epistle we know that the Father's commandment is “that we should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another” (1 John 3:23).