Introduction:  John is writing to the “elect lady” who has seemingly erred on the side of love and needs to give more heed to the truth.  The apostle deals with her error, but in the midst of it we also see that it is possible to err on the other side.  The word truth in this exact form is mentioned four times in the epistle (2 John 1:1The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
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1. GOD HAS THE PERFECT BALANCE 
1. God is Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
   See All...; John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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2. God is Love (1 John 4:16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
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3. Note:  In the proper balance, God never compromises one characteristic for the implementation of the other.  God is always love and God is always truth.  As such He never departs from one to be the other.
2. GOD EXPECTS US TO BE BALANCED 
1. We are to Stand for Truth
1. Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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2. The word of God is the Truth (John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
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3. We are to walk in the truth (2 John 1:4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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4. We are to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:13-15 [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
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5. We are to obey the truth (1 Peter 1:22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
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2. We are to Love
1. The Father’s love for the Son (John 15:9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
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2. It was a new commandment given by the Son (John 13:34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
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3. It is a token of our discipleship (John 13:35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
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4. It is a token of our salvation (1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
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5. It is to be a sacrificial love (1 John 3:16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
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6. It is an evidence of our love for God (1 John 4:20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
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3. THE PROBLEM OF IMBALANCE 
1. Most Tend to Lean in One Direction or the Other
1. Truth without love becomes harsh and full of pride. “Knowledge puffeth up” (1 Corinthians 8:1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
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2. However, love without truth quickly conforms to the world and soon believes nothing.
2. Examples of Imbalance
1. The elect lady
1. Truth – from the corrections in this epistle we are compelled to believe that the elect lady had compromised on truth.
2. Love
1. It appears as though this lady was erring to stand on the side of love.
2. However, from our previous studies we understand that Biblical love never compromises truth.  Technically the elect lady erred in truth and love.
2. The apostle Paul concerning John Mark
1. Truth
1. John Mark quit on Paul and Barnabas when they were on a missionary journey (Acts 13:13Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
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2. When it was time for another missionary journey Paul and Barnabas were ready to go.  Barnabas determined that they should take John Mark with them.  Paul disagreed and he and Barnabas split up. (Acts 15:36-40 [36] And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do. [37] And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. [38] But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. [39] And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; [40] And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
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2. Love
1. We understand that the apostle Paul did not practice Biblical love in this case.
2. Paul also understood this and later he made a correction (2 Timothy 4:11Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
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3. Scripturally Speaking You Cannot Err on One Side
1. Biblical love never compromises the truth.
2. Biblical truth contains commandments dealing with love.
3. If we miss the mark on one, we literally miss the mark on both.

Conclusion:  Do you seemingly err on the side of love?  Do you seemingly err on the side of truth?  Biblically speaking, erring in one is erring in both.  May we seek God’s face for His help in finding the balance that He wants us to have.