The Importance of Sound Doctrine: 1 John 2:18-20

As we’ve seen over the past month working verse by verse thru the Epistle of 1 John, the purpose is that we the church may know that we have eternal life. John has presented us with three major tests to provide us with assurance of salvation. The first test was theological. The second test was the moral. The third test is the social test. These three tests can be summarized by the following: 1) True believers must believe that Jesus truly is the Christ come in the flesh, and this belief must work itself out in 2) righteousness and 3) love. First a Christian will live a godly life. Second, a Christian loves others. Third, which we’ll revisit today is that a Christian believes Jesus has come in flesh. In other words, Christians believe in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

If you have your Bible and I hope you do, please join me for the Reading of God’s Word:

1 John 2:18–20 “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 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 it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”

This is the Word of God. Let us Pray.

The main point of today’s sermon is to both warn against those who oppose Christ in their teachings and encourage his readers to hold to the gospel that saved them.

1.The Deterrent (Warning) for the Church

1 John 2:18 “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”

Background: The Gnostics (false teachers) that had infiltrated the first century church also exists today threatening to implode the modern church from within. Gnostics are part of the visible church, who join the ranks based upon empty professions of faith, walking aisles for show, and repeating empty prayers. They’re able to speak well, have exceptional people skills, able to draw large crowds and to falsely convince others of their salvation and their spiritual giftedness by their regurgitation of theological vocabulary. These false teachers sound super religious but behind the scenes are nothing but open graves of dead man bones that is set out to the trip up the church. Gnostics gain the trust of the congregation, are given platforms to teach and preach from all the while they reject the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. Doctrines to include the virgin birth, the sinless life of Christ, the bodily resurrection and return of Christ, the deity of Christ, the humanity of Christ, the substitutionary atoning death of Christ on the cross and many other essential truths of the faith. They don’t walk around carrying signs of their true allegiance but are known for their lack of sound doctrine. The false teachers are skilled at stroking your ego and tickling your ears with the messages you want to hear. They absolutely love playing the game of church and running the church like a CEO of a fortune 500 company.

Back to the Text: John is writing to the Ephesian church regarding this infiltration. John says,“it is the last hour” (present tense) meaning in redemptive history that is between creation and new creation, we are between the first and second coming of Jesus Christ.

John reiterates that you’ve heard this message before, that is, not only is Christ returning but also the antichrist is on his way. That is, he is the ‘Son of lawlessness” who will come posed as the “great deliverer” who promises to rescue his people from the hardships of life. That is, he is the ‘Son of Destruction’ who will be the one who stands against Christ and His Church, and ultimately will lead the revolt against the Christian faith. That is, he is the ‘Beast out of the Sea’ who will be the one who embarks to destroy God’s church. That is, he is the “lawless one” who will come and control the economy of the world.

Paul delivered this same message to the church at Thessalonica and he had to reiterate this message with a second volume because heretical teachers had attacked the church.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3–7 “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.”

From there Paul gives us a glimpse of the characteristics of this antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”

Don’t miss how God responds here, because they crossed the line of no return with God.

2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 “Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

God will ultimately ‘harden their hearts’ like that of Pharoah because of their unbelief. In Revelation we’re given a further description of this antichrist.

Revelation 13:1 “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.”

Revelation 13:4–8 “And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”

This is the antichrist John is speaking about here in 1 John to the church regarding the great apostasy, the great falling away from the church that must occur before the return of Christ.

Church, our world today is full of apostate churches with preachers that are tip-toeing around the truth, preaching false doctrine to pews filled with false believers listening to these ear tickling “How to ..... sermons” that are straight from the pits of hell because the lack sound doctrine.

So how are we the church to discern such preachers and teachers? I’m glad you asked!

1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, [because] for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

What do these false prophets carry into the world, into our churches?

1 John 4:3 “and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”

In way of application, this verse should both encourage and motivate the church. Encouraging in that God is using the falling away to cleanse His church of the ravenous wolves among His sheep. It strengthens the church! Motivating the church to know sound doctrine in order to guard against these ravenous wolves that threaten the flock of God.

2. The Departure (Withdrawal) of the False Prophets

1 John 2:19 “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 it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

John says, that many antichrists have departed from them. They came to the church to get what they wanted, to achieve their purpose and they left the church along with their newly acquired posse of false prophet apprentices.

John makes the point clear, they went out from us, but they were not true believers [Explanation] “for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” These unbelievers were of a different faith, a different spirit, different gospel, and a different Jesus. Don’t miss the [Purpose] “But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” Not all who attend church nor all who serve within the church are Christians. When I use this term Christian, I’m not speaking from the basis of one who professes faith but one who actually possesses faith in Christ.

Not only is God building His Church, He is also purifying His Church.

Simon Kistemaker said, “Believers (the us) belong (remain in the apostolic community); deniers (the they) depart (leave the communion of the saints).”

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,”

Paul says, there are mouthpieces for Satan positioned within the church speaking demon theology in order to divide the church. Let’s not forget if Satan could speak thru Peter (Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan”), how much greater is he working thru unconverted professing believers.

This verse brings us to the all important doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. If the first thing that comes to your mind regarding this doctrine is the eternal security of the believer, I would argue that you have an incomplete understanding of this doctrine.

The Promised Grace of Preservation:

On the one hand, God promises to preserve those whom he effectually calls:

Romans 8:30 “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

The Necessary Duty of Perseverance:

On the other hand, believers must persevere to the end in order to attain glory:

Romans 8:17 “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

The Westminister Confession of Faith Question 27.1 explains it best:

“They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.”

The words “neither totally nor finally” are important, for the confession does not deny that believers can partly or temporarily fall away— but their faith does not completely and permanently fail.

John Calvin said, “a quiet reliance upon the Lord’s promise, where he declares that all by whom he is received in true faith have been given to him by the Father, no one of whom, since he is their guardian and shepherd, will perish.”

This doctrine is clearly illustrated in Christ’s Promises of Eternal life:

John 3:15 “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (They already possess it).

John 4:14 “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Gk: ‘shall never thirst’ double negative emphasizing ‘forever’). Generally, natural springs don’t dry up.

John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

John 6:39 “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”

Not only is it impossible for a true believer to lose his or her salvation, but the perseverance of the saints means that the true believer will persevere in his or her pursuit of holiness, he or she will persevere in their walk of obedience, and will persevere in following Christ. Eternal security does NOT mean you get to live like the devil. True believers are known by their fruit which is a changed life which is marked by humility, obedience, love for the brethren and so on.

Here in verse 19, if they were true believers they would have persevered but it was all for show. I’ll give you few verses for illustration. The context for these verses are when it becomes dangerous to be a Christian, its no longer cool to be a Christian and it is true Christians that will stay around even it costs them their life.

Revelation 13:10 “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”

2 Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

Revelation 14:12 “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

John Murray said, regarding the perseverance of the saints “is not at all that they will be saved irrespective of their perseverance or their continuance, but that they will assuredly persevere.”

I say all this to say that those who permanently fall away from the faith, were never saved in the first place. They had an emotional experience, whether it was triggered by the new age strobe lights, smoke machines, and Hillsong worship music or the old school altar call where Pastors pressure people into “accepting Jesus”, “asking Jesus in your heart” which is mentioned nowhere in Scripture, basically resulting in an empty profession of Christ without actually possessing Christ.

In way of application of this verse, our preservation rests on the faithfulness of God. It is by God’s grace that we continue in the faith for faith is the instrument that God created, that God graciously gave us and God sustains to save us to the end.

3. The Discernment (Wisdom) of True Believers

1 John 2:20 “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”

John makes a sharp contrast here between false believers and true believers by using “But you....” in noting that only true believers are in possession of the Holy Spirit.

This passage refers to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit because its in context of identifying false prophets and their heretical teachings. Two points made here are:

True believers possess the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

2 Corinthians 1:21 “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,”

Psalm 18:50 “Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”

It is Christ who anoints believers with the Holy Spirit as He so graciously promised.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

True believers are guided by the Holy Spirit in knowing all things.

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

1 John 2:27 “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”

This does NOT imply that believers will know every fact in the world. They don’t become Subject Matter Experts in “all things.”

This means that believers are now equipped to understand the spiritual things that matter. They’re able to discern between truth and lies. They essentially have a built-in lie detector when it comes to spiritual things of God. If you remember it in Mark 13:22, where Jesus said, without the Holy Spirit even the elect would have been led astray because the power of the false christs and false prophets.

Christians are in-dwelled with the Holy Spirit and are able to discern false prophets and their false teachings.

So in application of these verses this morning I want to leave you with 3 Takeaways to chew on:

The health of the church depends on being rooted in sound doctrine.

The difference here is that we can be known as a ‘house of God’ (True Church) or the ‘synagogue of Satan’.

The health of the church is depended upon their guarding against false doctrine and their false prophets.

You cannot combat against false doctrine unless you know it and are holding fast to sound doctrine.

The health of the church is depended upon their growing in sound doctrine.

If you’re not growing in your faith by your spiritual intake of God’s Word, then you’re falling away, you’re backsliding, you’ve become lukewarm.

In Closing: How important is sound doctrine? You and I were delivered from sin, unrighteousness, and death by sound doctrine. Scripture says, there will come a time when they will no longer endure sound doctrine. Look around church, that time is here. The only way we’ll be able to stand against the evils of this world is by being grounded in sound doctrine. Do you know why you belief what you believe? Could you provide a scripturally supported defense for your faith today? I encourage you to learn a catechism, know the essential truths of the Christian faith. We must understand the importance that we are living in the last hour where Satan is working to destroy God’s church, God’s Word and God’s Elect and the only way we’re going to combat against these evil spirits, and principalities is for us to know our Bibles.

Let us PRAY