Don’t Be Deceived (1 John 2:18-27)

oh that’s easy

obvious

Jim Jones (1970s)

faulty man exposed to be a fraud before followers drank the Kool-aid

David Koresh (1980s-early 1990s)

deranged man leading a small group to believe he was lamb in Revelation opening 7 scrolls

we wonder how people could be so naive

that’s not how Satan normally operates though

subtle but just as deceptive

consider beliefs about JESUS

2 groups present in our town

not crazy charismatic leader

but different beliefs about Jesus

Mormons

spirit-child of heavenly father and heavenly mother

progressed to deity in spirit world

is that right? does it really matter what you believe about Jesus?

Jehovah’s Witness

created by Jehovah before physical world was created

lesser though mighty god

is that right? does it really matter what you believe about Jesus?

what if you believe sincerely?

doesn’t God really care about how sincere we are? isn’t that the main measure?

the quality of your sincerity doesn’t make a falsehood true

sincerity is not the measure for truth

can be sincerely wrong

even dead wrong

what you believe really matters

specifically about Jesus

1 John 2:22-23

what you believe about Jesus could be the difference between heaven and hell

only the Biblical Jesus can save you from your sins

we have moved into a warning passage from John to the Christian community

how can we be sure to stay in the right community of faith?

2 parts to sermon

not typical sermon (extract warning and assurance)

beware of heretics

3 safeguards against heresy

1 John 2:18-27

pew Bible 1211

beware of heretics

D.A.R.E. program

Drug Abuse Resistance Education

war on drugs 1980s-1990s

drugs are serious

once down the dark path, very hard to recover

effort was proactive

heresy is very similar

once truth is twisted too much

people think they still hold on to the truth

but it is no longer truth

often hard for them to return to truth

once embraced the poisonous lie

heretics embrace a belief that shows they are not Christians

brand new Christian may think Jesus was born like every other human

heresy BUT once corrected — correct belief

heretic embraces falsehood

not just misled or misunderstood

but no longer can affirm true Christians

orthodoxy vs. heresy

theological triage

tier 1 (Christian or not)

tier 2 (same church or not)

infant baptism vs. believers baptism (FCC)

women pastors vs. only men pastors (FCC)

tier 1 and 2 (FCC doctrinal position)

tier 3 (disagree but not disagreeable)

tier 1

historic creeds to clarify orthodoxy

Apostles Creed, Nicean Creed, Chalcedonian Creed

tier 1 issues (not a Christian if do not believe)

Trinity

the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ

heretics directed attacks on who Jesus is in the early church

justification by faith

otherwise transformed salvation into works-based righteousness

the authority of Scripture

without an affirmation of the Bible as the very Word of God,

we are left without any adequate authority for distinguishing truth from error

most fundamental truths of the Christian faith

a denial of any of these represents a denial of Christianity itself

the heretics

are identified as antichrists (2:18)

the last hour

“last days” or “last times” elsewhere in NT

last hour has been ever since Jesus invaded Satan’s domain

He dealt him a death blow in the cross and resurrection

yet the final hour is unknown

John reminds his readers (AND US) that we live in the final stage of world history

we no longer await the Messiah (He has come)

we no longer await His saving work (It is finished)

we only await His return

John asserts that it is the last hour

because there were many antichrists that had come

antichrist/antichrists

meaning — one who is opposed to Christ

when you hear antichrist,

you may think man of lawlessness in 2 Thess

or beast in Revelation

THE Antichrist

“antichrist” only used is in 1 John & 2 John

John is not focused on THE Antichrist here

but the antichristS

similar to Matt 24:24

culmination of antichrists into the Antichrist

while Antichrist is to come (singular figure)

there are many that are antichrists who oppose Christ

John identifies the antichrists in his day as those who…

left the community of faith (2:19)

for John, their departure was their unmasking

didn’t go to another church for legitimate reasons (or even illegitimate reasons)

denied the faith (wholly different)

deny Jesus is the Christ (2:22)

no minor error

but what is the issue???

John doesn’t explicitly say so we will look at other texts

denial of Jesus as the Son

2:22

denial that Jesus has come in the flesh

5:15

possibly an infant gnostic understanding

spirit = good

flesh = bad

thus Jesus must not have had flesh

or that Jesus was born a man and died a man

but was divine only during His public ministry

they likely denied that the man Jesus and the eternal Son were one and the same

possessing 2 natures

divine & human

hypostatic union

in essence denied the incarnation

Mormons

spirit-child of heavenly father and heavenly mother

progressed to deity in spirit world

Jesus not eternal

Jesus not always God

deny truth: John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Jehovah’s Witness

Jesus created by Jehovah before physical world created

lesser though mighty god

deny truth: Jesus equal with God (John 5) and not created

apostle John sees this as no minor error

2:23a

John 14:6

speak the message of the antichrist (2:18, 22)

this is the arch-lie

he who perpetrates it is none other than the antichrist

not the personal antichrist who is still to come (see v. 18)

but a living embodiment of the spirit of antichrist (4:3; cf. 2 John 7)

The heretics’ theology is not just defective

it is diabolical

seek to deceive believers (2:26)

Satan is a deceiver and is actively deceiving

Revelation 12:9 “ the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

1 Peter 5:8 “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

proselyting but not in a good way

beware of heretics

recognize deceivers for what they are

still exist

cults

some are wack jobs and easily noticed

others are subtle and even accepted in our culture

most dangerous ones are the ones who have part truth and part lie = whole lie

use same words but mean something different

prosperity gospel

John’s aim is to put his audience on alert

he gives 3 ways to safeguard against heresy

guard against heresy

Christian, you have been anointed

1x—2:20

2x—2:27

what does John mean?

anointed only here in NT

cousin word refers mostly to being anointed by the HS (Jesus)

God the HS @ conversion

indwelling presence of the HS

more so clear with by the Holy One

referring to Jesus

used in John 6:69 “and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.””

seems clear that your anointing is God the HS @ conversion

HS sent by Jesus

John 16:7 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

CHRISTIAN THIS IS A BIG DEAL

transformation at conversion only possibly by God the HS

death to life (Eph 2)

sanctification only possible God the HS indwelling

fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5)

HS lead you to all truth

John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Christian, hold tight to the truth (doctrine)

2:20-21

2:27

fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:33–34

can run too far with this verse (most heretics do)

claim you need no one to teach you

you have not arrived and possess all truth

the believer is always to be learning and growing in the word of God and his or her knowledge of God

yet John assures a true believer has enough knowledge for the challenge of the false teachers

Do you have a sufficient understanding of your faith?

Do you continue to grow in your understanding of the gospel?

like in Berea, you always test a teacher’s teaching to the Bible

truth is not what comes from this pulpit

truth is what comes from the Bible

2:24

nothing new

truth is not changing

truth is not new

Christian, you should not be seeking for new truths

VBS

Jude 3 “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Christians should always be conservative in their theology

conserving what was from the beginning

new is not good

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

doctrine is important

summation of Scripture

many heresies take 1 verse and run

Scripture interprets Scripture

truth is truth but our doctrine may change only to confront or clarify truth

prime example: marriage

1950s — was there confusion on truth?

2000s — was there confusion on truth? 2024?

anointing & the Word

some Christians get this Biblical balance out of kilter

honor Word and neglect Spirit who alone can interpret it

others honor Spirit and neglect Word out of which He teaches

only safeguard is having BOTH remain in us

Christian, persevere in Christ

abide in him (2:27)

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Mark 13:13 “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

not because salvation is the reward of endurance, but because endurance is the hallmark of the saved

Hebrews 3:14 “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

future and final perseverance is the ultimate test of a past participation in Christ

previous slide

stay in His Word—source of truth

stay close to His people—community to spur you on; or come chasing you down

present Susan Moore