1 John 2:18-21 Deceptions of the Last Hour 18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the[a] Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.[b] 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. John is talking about the “last days,” the time between Christ’s first and second comings. The first-century readers of 1 John lived in the last days, and so do we. During this time, “anti-Christ’s” (false teachers who pretend to be Christians and lure weak members away from Christ) will appear. We do not need to fear these evil people, however. The Holy Spirit shows us their errors, we are not deceived. However, we must teach the Word of God clearly and carefully to the peripheral, weak members among us so they won’t fall prey to these teachers “which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). The antichrists were not total strangers to the church; they once belonged to it, but they did not continue. John does not say why they left; it is clear that their reasons for joining in the first place were wrong. Some people may be “Christians” for less than the best reasons. Perhaps going to church is a family tradition. Maybe they like the social and business contacts they make there. Or possibly going to church is a long-standing habit, and they have never stopped to ask themselves why they do it. What is your main reason for being a Christian? Unless it is a Christ-centered reason, you may not really belong. You don’t have to settle for less than the best. You can become personally acquainted with Jesus Christ and become a loyal, trustworthy follower. “Ye have an unction from the Holy One” means “the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” When you become a Christian you receive the Holy Spirit. One way the Holy Spirit helps the believer and the church is by communicating truth. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), and the Holy Spirit guides believers to Him (John 16:13). People who are against Christ are also against His truth, and the Holy Spirit is not working in their lives. When we are led by the Spirit, we have a way to stand against false teachers and the anti-Christ’s. Ask Him to guide you each day (see 1 John 2:27). John Jay: “We perceive that a great breach has been made in the moral and physical systems by the introduction of moral and physical evil; how or why, we know not; so, however, it is, and it certainly seems proper that this breach should be closed and order restored. For this purpose only on adequate plan has ever appeared in the world, and that is the Christian dispensation. In this plan I have full faith.” -- Letter to Lindley Murray, August 22, 1774.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 00:36:18 +0000
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