Anti-Christs Among Us
1 John Bible Study, Part 5
1 John 2:18-27
Introduction
- Last time, John gave us tremendous insight into living fully for Christ
• We have an Advocate
• We must live for Him
• God makes us complete
- V4 is the confirmation of this statement: “Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar … AND the truth is not in that person.”
- Caution: We are not all going to live perfect lives, admit it
-- We are also all going to sin and have to ask for forgiveness of our sin
-- The problem is this: When your sin no longer bothers you; then v4 is you
- If we take serious the commands of God, then God’s love is made complete in us
-- If we obey the Word, we are made complete because He dwells within us
- Tonight, John continues to encourage us by furthering his explanations
-- It is when we see why he says what he does, that our encouragement is found
- IMP: (see v17) the world and it’s desires will one day pass away!
-- The world’s values do not last for eternity, they are self-centered and empty
-- John’s cry to the believer here is asking, “Who do you live for?”
- Read 1 John 2:18-27 / Pray
∆ Point 1 – Many Anti-Christs Exist Already (18-19)
- Lots of folks want to teach about the anti-Christ but miss what John says
-- In v18 we see something specific: “many antichrists have come”; past-tense
- It is most definitely the final hour; of a clock that only God understands
-- Although many try to define this time period … but there is no definition
-- This is why once you start hearing dates/times, you can change the channel
- The end of times are not defined, but they are definitely a distinct period of time
-- The time between Jesus’ resurrection and second coming exist for a purpose
-- It exists to show us the promise of God to be revealed at His choosing
- John warns all that read this about a time coming of one who is “anti-Christ”
-- His position, his stance, his demeanor, even his words are against God
-- But not only that, many have come since who’ve gone the way of sin/despair
- Some people even follow these antichrists’ leaving sound biblical doctrine
-- 2 Tim 4:3, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
-- That time began long ago (before today) and still continues today (sadly)
-- IMP: If those who’ve left were really Christians, they would have stood firm
- These made a profession of faith; but denied its requirements/submission
-- John shows in v19 that their “going” proves they were not of Christ
-- This is critical to understand … when you know the truth, the lie is visible
-- You can always spot the nonsense once you know the truth
- IMP: The truth is always revealed by God and the Spirit
-- It’s what gives us purpose in our walk to obey; to follow; to submit
-- John’s words are actually that of sadness … those who’ve left never were in
- TRANS: Because they’ve left, those who remain are to be faithful
∆ Point 2 – Our Anointing is from God (20-23)
- Those that are faithful have an anointing from the Holy One
-- It is something that can only be received by God; because He is holy
-- Remember the promise of Jesus: He will send the comforter (John 16:7)
- But you see … we run into an interesting issue here about unity
-- How many arguments have you heard between Christians about “truth?”
-- How many different viewpoints have we seen about God’s word?
- Reading this, I see a line that we must draw between truth and anointing
-- HUGE: The Word of God is the truth; it is forever and never will be undone
-- John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
- This means that all that has been spoken from God is eternal, it’s forever
-- The anointing we’ve received is not an interpretation, but the truth itself
-- John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
- What we’ve received is the Word of the promise, which is never-ending; eternal
-- It’s anointing is that it is true, and without end or compromise
-- This is why it is forever and without end – because God is the same forever
- Granted, there are many disagreements about what was “intended”
-- Consider this: Could our understanding reveal our bent towards compromise?
-- Could we make excuses for the parts we find difficult and not want to address?
- The false teachers are easily identified because: they deny the deity of Christ
-- With wild accusations like “they are Jesus incarnate, etc.” they lie on the Word
-- They deny the Father which shows their true intention: “look at me, me, me”
-- They’d rather receive the praise than God, so they are obvious to see
-- There is no fellowship with Christ, but only misdirection and untruths
- IMP: Without the Son, you cannot have the Father, because the two are one
-- John 10:25-30, “Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
- TRANS: The Word’s promise gives us a stable foundation to have
∆ Point 3 – Hold True to God’s Word (24-27)
- The false teachers John warns about have brought forward new teachings
-- They claim to have some added revelation; which in itself is a lie
-- John reinforces this in v24 … “remember what you’ve already been taught”
-- APP: Don’t get swayed by nonsense because it’s dressed up to be pretty
- We are challenged to hold true to what we know; to the truth of God
-- We shouldn’t worry about losing salvation; which is already assured if it’s yours
-- APP: False teaching makes us question our salvation and question if it’s real
-- True biblical teaching reminds us of God’s promises, and strengthens our faith
- IMP: When a church decides to pollute the mind with doubt, is it a church?
-- EX: God’s word is certain; from the beginning; why does it need addendums?
- In v27 we see WHY he writes: “about those who are trying to lead you astray”
-- False teachers will always try to cause doubt; it’s how they control people
-- EX: “If I can get you to stop thinking – I can lead you to do my bidding”
-- THIS is the message we must stand against and why WE must know the truth!
- Believers gain reassurance and comfort because of what God’s Word says
-- Yes, it moves us to be challenged and to repent of sin; but not doubt our Lord
-- These that are being written to don’t need a “new” message (v27)
-- But, they (we) need to be reminded and instructed in what God has already said!
∆ Big Ideas
- We already have the teachings of truth; they’re placed in our hearts from God
-- John’s battle here was with the Gnostics who claimed some secret knowledge
-- Our battle is with religion that seeks to control through doubt/fear/lies
- We are to stand firm; knowing what we’ve been taught to teach it to others
- Pray
