Anti-antichrist Armor Pt 2
Abide In Him
1 John 2:24-29
Review/Introduction
Warnings comprise a good portion of the communication with our children in the beginning years. We warn against threats to our physical well being. We warn against threats to our social well being. John warned his spiritual “children” against spiritual dangers. The danger was real and is still a danger to believers young and old today. He warned them against the emergence of the antichrist the spiritual boogie man. A group of devil-deceived people sprang up from the very inception of the developing church determined to undermine the facts concerning the true nature of Jesus. They had even managed to infiltrate the community of believers. John exposed their connection to the Antichrist prophesied to arise in the very last days also called the beast and the man of sin or lawlessness. These believers previously heard about this coming antichrist but John warned them that the cause of the Antichrist was already being championed by antichrists. The Antichrist group claimed to possess a special “anointing” which enabled them to know more and see more than the common person.
There are still those today that claim to have the inside track. Satan plays on our desire to be special, unique, and different. These people start new movements, cults, groups all claiming to have greater knowledge or insight than anyone else. Many end up teaching that they alone have the truth. The leaders of these groups claim a special anointing or inside knowledge through a “visitation” or special revelation. They draw people to themselves or the movement itself rather than point to Jesus. The Antichrist of the last days will deceive many. He will even display special powers and ability and demand absolute allegiance. John warned these precious followers of Christ and disclosed how they could avoid being deceived by them.
I caution you today. The spirit of the spirit of antichrist exists today and its influence only increases as we approach the final “final days.” The Scripture continually warns us against false teachers and doctrinal error. The Scripture continually encourages us to pursue and embrace the truth. Satan is the father of lies and his effectiveness depends on people embracing his lies as truth. What can protect us from the sometimes a very subtle deceptions of the spirit of antichrist?
8. Beware of the Antichrist 2:18-28
a) The prophesied antichrist has already appeared 2:18-19
John recognized the presence of the spirit of antichrist. John also exposed the real reason that those particular people broke fellowship. They broke fellowship because they were not really connected. They were not there to fellowship but to fracture.
b) Every believer has a special anointing 2:20-21
John appealed to an intuitive knowledge in the still at salvation by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
John acknowledged the reality of this intuitive recognition of truth. John clarified the reason for his writing was not to teach new truth but to affirm a truth they already knew.
What we need is not new truth, but that the truth which we already know become active and effective in our lives. —Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT)
c) The antichrist opposes the true nature of Christ 2:22-23
Ultimately the antichrist and false teachers and prophets oppose Christ’s true nature and work.
(1) Denied the deity of Jesus
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
(2) Denied the unity of Jesus and the Father
This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22
Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:23
We may say that there are three New Testament confessions of Jesus. There is the confession that he is the Son of God (Matt 16:16; Jn 9:35-38); there is the confession that he is Lord (Php 2:11); and there is the confession that he is Messiah (1Jn 2:22). The essence of every one of them is the affirmation that Jesus stands in a unique relationship to God; and to deny that relationship is to deny the certainty that everything Jesus said about God is true. The Christian faith depends on the unique relationship of Jesus to God. John is, therefore, right; the man who denies the Son has lost the Father, too. —Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT)
(3) Denied the humanity of Jesus
we find this specific characteristic of antichrist in Chapter 4 and again in the 2 John.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 2 John 1:7
(4) Deceived the Saints
These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 1 John 2:26
They continually tried to seduce believers from the truth.
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1
John warned about Antichrists during his time and those same Antichrists continue their devil assigned mission to oppose Christ and his purposes today.
• Any teaching that does not keep Christ as the absolute focal point and reason for living bears the spirit of the Antichrist.
• Any teaching that does not keep Christ first place is the spirit of the Antichrist.
• Any teaching that substitutes devotion to Christ with anything else, whether it be ritual or religious duties, is antichrist.
• Any movement or teaching that focuses on the needs and wants of men rather than absolute devotion to Christ is Antichrist at its core.
These false teachers spawned a spirituality that did not center in Christ.
It depended on some super knowledge that came from a special anointing by some false teacher.
They promoted a system that encouraged people to be dependent on the “initiated” “enlightened”, “special teachers.” They asserted that without these spiritually enlightened you could not discover truth. Followers were helplessly dependent on the enlightened. John vehemently opposed such a notion by reminding his readers of their own anointing by Christ at the moment of salvation. The one denying the deity, unity and humanity of Jesus stands in opposition with both the father and the son and therefore has relationship with neither.
Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father
You cannot be Antichrist and pro-father since the Father and the Son are one.
John reminded his readers what protects them from deception.
d) Every believer has protection against the Antichrist 2:24-28
(1) Allow the truth to abide in you (anointing) 2:24
As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.
Again, notice the personal touch. John drew a contrast between the genuine sayings and those who followed the teaching of the antichrist, whose anointing was not from God but a counterfeit anointing from Satan impersonating an angel of light. John exhorted them not to allow the truth that they are heard at the beginning gets stolen or polluted but to continually abide in the core of their being and thinking. Let the truth abide in you. This is a favorite word of John. He used it 13 times in the 21 chapters of his gospel. He uses it 21 times in the five chapters of this letter and once in the one-chapter 2nd letter.
The word means to remain, to last, to stay, to dwell, to live, to hangout, to camp, to persevere.
The only protection from false teaching is hearing and embracing truth.
Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
The life-giving word of God living or abiding in us God motivates and maintains life-giving connection with God. The reality of our vital connection or abiding in God is the natural consequence of the word abiding or living in us.
Notice the if/then clause.
If what you heard from the beginning (continually) abides in you,
(then) you also will(as a natural consequence) (constantly) abide in the Son and in the Father. 2:24
The word continually abides in us. We continually abide in him. John called this abiding relationship eternal life.
This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. 1 John 2:25
This vital connection with the Trinity is what God promised those who believe. It is His eternal, immortal life as opposed to our limited, mortal life. God promises us Christ's life.
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
When we allow the truth of God to continually abide in us, it not only protects us from the false teaching of the Antichrist but it's also motivates us to continually abide in him. Eternal life goes beyond the mere extension of our present life into eternity. The eternal life that God promises is the eternal in quality as well as quantity. It is the very life of God. You've heard the phrase, "life is what you make it." The problem is, we don't have the capability to make it what God intended it to be. The abundance and full life that Jesus promised to those who follow him can only be found in him. Eternal life is only found through vital connection with the one who is life.
(2) Abide in the Father and the Son 2:26-28
You have heard me talk about vital connection with God over in over again. We spent nearly a year discussing the spiritual disciplines intended to increase our capacity to connect with him.
The major theme of John's letter has to do with connecting with God as he uses the words fellowship, abide, be in and to know intimately. John exposed those who said they were, but were not really connected and encouraged those who were to develop deeper relationship with Him. Here again, we encounter the concept of intimate connection with God.
Once again John instructed his readers to abide. 1 John 2:26-28
John reaffirmed his reason for writing. He wants to protect them from the Antichrist deceivers.
Again he contrasted the Antichrist with the genuine believers.
"As for you."
The true anointing abides in them as opposed to the counterfeit anointing of the Antichrist.
This anointing; this continual presence of the Holy Spirit truth freed them from dependence on those who would require connection to them for truth. Did John intend to imply that we didn't need teachers at all? Obviously not because this letter itself was intended to teach. God gifts teachers. God appoints leaders and teachers. God gifts pastors and teachers to teach the flock lest they be deceived. Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize and teach whatsoever he taught them. John reminded them that every believer has a direct link to the spirit of truth. There is no need for some special initiation rite or special mediator. Divinity direct!
John reaffirms their connection with God. (You abide in Him.)
John then shared three characteristics of the anointing that comes through connection with God.
1. It teaches and has taught about all things
2. It is true (it provides the true reflection of reality)
3. It is not a lie (it will not lead in the wrong direction)
Verse 28 summarizes the previous discussion about the false teachers, Antichrist, anointing and abiding.
Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 1 John 2:28
The use of the word “now” draws attention to the situation in which they found themselves in the subject matter that has just been discussed. The instruction is simple.
Continually abide in Him!
Since this is such a fundamental command, we would do well to understand just what that means. Most of the commentaries and I read tried to explain what it means to abide. I think they missed the point. I don't think they understood the concept as John was trying to teach it.
Most of them equated abiding with obedience. Abiding was equivalent to obedience.
So they would say John is commanding us to continue to obey. While that is a command given in other passages I don't think that's what John has in mind here. The main reason I feel that there is something different comes from the use of that same word in John chapter 15 where Jesus explains the results of them abiding in him and he and abiding in them. Whenever abiding is it is reciprocal. It's something that we do for Jesus and Jesus does toward us. In an attempt not to complicate the Scripture or this command I think that abiding has to do with intimate connection. John commands us to continually deepen our connection with God. Abide, live, stay, dwell.
John provides a very compelling reason to stay connected to Jesus.
The reason we should continually abide in him...
The reason we should stay closely connected...
The reason we should continually pursued deeper relationship with Christ...
Our reason for connection with him now has to do with our response to his coming.
There will be two basic responses to Jesus at His coming.
1. We will rush to meet him with great confidence because we have been connected all along.
2. We will shrink away in shame because of our lack of connection during our separation.
How can we have a relationship with someone that is not physically present?
That's easy to explain especially in this age of communication technology. Physical separation does not necessarily eliminate or even hamper connection.
We can talk on the phone
We can send e-mail
We can write letters
There can be the most intimate connection to any of these means. Yes we are physically separated from our Savior and Lord. But by reading his letters, writing Him letters, talking to him through prayer we can continually deepen our connection to him so that when he comes we will boldly run to meet him bringing ultimate reality to the connection we have already established in his absence.
Sadly, there are many who will feel the embarrassment of having ignored their Lord.
Other things were more important
Life was too busy
Spending time with him seem too hard
Other things seemed more exciting
The sacrifice at the time didn't seem worth it
At his coming, or ‘when he will come.’ The Greek noun used (parousia) occurs only here in John’s writings. It means, “presence,” then “arrival” (the first phase of presence, so to speak). It was especially used for the state visit of an emperor, king or high official to the provinces.
Think about the energy you've expended to stay connected to Jesus during his absence.
Will you be found seeking him when he returns?
Will you be found doing his work when he returns?
Will your heart be fully devoted to him when he returns?
If have continually pursued connection with him now, we will meet him with confidence and rejoice with the utmost exuberance when he returns.
If our relationship with Christ has been down the food chain from everything else in our life…
If we have only given attention to his stuff after our stuff is completed...
If our relationship with him has only been one of convenience rather than conviction...
Our physical audience with the King of the universe, the Lord of lords will feel more like a trip to the principal’s office rather than the heartthrob of a spouse on their wedding day.
Let the word continually abide in you so that you will continually deepen your connection to him. For when the word abide in you and you connect to him, there will be little chance of being drawn away and deceived by anyone or anything else.
Today, as John challenged the people of his day to examine the reality of their connection with Christ, I challenge us as a church and as individuals to honestly examine the quality of our connection.
God called every believer to bear much fruit. The secret to bearing fruit is to stay connected to the root.
Does your life feel fruitless and perhaps even barren today?
Are you a little nervous about facing Jesus when he returns?
Let change today!
Confess your apathy.
Express your longing to live differently.
