By way of review, the grand Apostle of love, John, has emphasized that he was an eyewitness of Christ’s life (I John 1:1-2), that Jesus’ blood cleanses sinners (v. 7) and that confession of sins is necessary for forgiveness (v. 9). Now, in this wonderful chapter, the Apostle John will discuss the essence of what abiding in Christian fellowship is all about.
Discussed in Part I of this article was – I. The Ground for Genuine Christian Fellowship – I John 2:1-17. We will now review Part II. An Acknowledgment of a Strange Heresy – I John 2:18-29.
II. An Acknowledgment of a Strange Heresy – I John 2:18-29
To sum up the last section of this instructive epistle, in I John 2:12-17, the Apostle John warned us to love not the world system, that kingdom of complete evil organized by Satan, because it is contrary to God’s nature and will, and that is vastly disappearing. However, the one who does the will of God will abide forever (I John 2:15-17).
Due to the struggle between the kingdom of God and Satan’s opposing kingdom of evil, John addressed that his readers were in the period of “the last time,” the period between Jesus’ two comings (v. 18; Matthew 24:23-24). He noted that his readers had heard that the antichrist would appear to lead men astray. The word “antichrist” means opposed to Christ (I John 2:22; 4:3; II John 1:7) and is used here of false teachers. Although John has reference to the antichrist in this context as being false teachers, there will be a leader who will promote ungodliness in the last days (Daniel 7:25; II Thessalonians 2:3-9); Revelation 13:1-8). John is asserting in this context that the spirit of the antichrist is visibly present (I John 2:18). When the gospel of Christ is proclaimed in this age of grace, we need to be aware that there will be anti-forces against it!
In verse 19, the Apostle John described the false teachers, whom he called antichrist, as: “They went out from us, but they were not of us.” They were counterfeits who were a part of the congregation; however, they were not genuine Christians. By making their exit, they were exposed as hypocrites. John cautioned his readers that they need not be deceived by false teachers (antichrist), for “ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things” (v. 20).
“Unction” means anointing and refers to the Holy Spirit, who indwells the believer at the point of new birth. Because of the Holy Spirit’s teaching, believers “know all things.” We know of the things that the Holy Spirit teaches!
In verse 21, John cautioned his readers about falsehood, not because they were ignorant of truth, but because they already knew it. John also cautioned them that “no lie is of the truth’ (v. 21). Falsehood will never grow out of truth! In verse 22, the Apostle John identified the lie of the antichrists as being that they denied that Jesus is the Christ. The Gnostics of John’s day denied that God took on human flesh. They denied that Jesus and Christ are the same Person.
They purported that Christ, a divine emanation, came upon a man named Jesus at His baptism and left Him before His death. They really denied Christ’s incarnation and the true meaning of His cross. This was a crucial error to deny that the Son of God became man! John declared that the one who denied the Son was denying the Father (vv. 22-23). One cannot claim to know the Father apart from the Son! As believers, we do acknowledge and affirm that Jesus is the God-Man who was crucified, buried, but rose triumphantly for our justification!
As an antidote for doctrinal error, John urged his readers to let what they had heard from the beginning abide in them (v. 24). As believers, we need to abide (continue) in the true message. Abiding in the true message will give one assurance of eternal life (v. 25). John stated that he was writing “concerning them that seduce you” (v. 26). “Seduce” means to be lead astray. As a safeguard against false teaching, John stated: “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you” (v. 27).
The Holy Spirit will help believers to discern the damnable reasoning of the false teachers (deceivers)! We can trust the Holy Spirit’s teaching completely, for He “is truth, and is no lie,” for He is “the Spirit of truth” (St. John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). To combat falsehood, we need to abide in the teachings of the Holy Spirit. In verse 28, John urged his readers to abide in God’s word (commandments) in light of the prospect of facing Christ unashamedly at His return (v. 28). He also urged his readers to behave righteously as evidence of being born again (v. 29).
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
