II John: 1-3 Elect Through Sovereign Grace.
John could have written this second letter as an apostle, but instead he uses the title of ‘The Elder’ (Cf. I Pet. 5:1-4). In his address he uses the title of ‘Elect’ as a title that all believers share, a title denoting grace, God’s sovereign unmerited favour, from which all the benefits of our salvation flow (Cf. v. 13). As a recipient of God’s covenantal grace, her children were also included. These were folks whom John, and all those who knew the truth, also loved with agape love (v. 1). Furthermore, not only are they elect according to grace, but their election is forever, because the truth abides in us (Jn. 14:6; I Jn. 5:6). Those whom God has chosen will persevere because they are preserved forever (v. 2). It is on the basis of grace that they and we also have mercy and peace. All three of these blessings come from God because of the good pleasure of his sovereign will-Father and Son (v. 3 Cf. I Tim. 1:2; Eph. 1:5; Phil. 2:13).
