30. 1 Jn2.18-28 Truth vs Falsehood Pt2

1Jn 2:18-28 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. (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. (20) But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. (21) I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. (22) Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. (23) No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. (24) Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. (25) And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. (26) I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. (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. (28) And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

When we started this portion of 1 John I said there are 4 main points. 1) The Reality and Time of the Conflict 2) The Tools for the Conflict 3) Discernment in the Conflict 4) The Means of Victory in this Conflict.

There are actually 5. So the Reality and Time of the Conflict 2) Our opposition in the Conflict 3) Our tools in the Conflict 4) Discernment in the Conflict and 5) The Means of Victory in Our Conflict

There is so much theological and doctrinal truth going on in this verse that it is difficult not to be overwhelmed with it. But let’s start with some general observations of the text.

In verse 18 John references the antichrist and then many antichrists. John identifies by name our opposition in the last hour. In verse 19 we have the stunning and frightening description of those antichrists. (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 uses the 3rp person plural pronoun. What is they in reference to? It refences the antichrists of verse 18. Six times in this verse ‘they’ is used. Also in this verse John uses from us once, of us 3x, and with us once. John is stressing unity and community of the saints. He is also inferring in this text the doctrine of perseverance of the saints in ‘continued with us’. He is stating quite clearly that all Christians of which John includes himself, are in fact in fellowship and right relationship with God the Father and Christ the Son have the anointing of the Holy Spirit and recipients of the truth who will persevere in the faith maintaining the unity of the faith and the community of the saints until the promise of eternal life is fulfilled on the last day.

II. Our Opposition: The Antichrists/ Apostates

The first question we have to ask: Is there really such a thing as an apostate? The answer is yes. Does it mean that a Christian can fall away and lose their salvation? The answer is no. It is clear that those who have claimed Christ and left the faith never had Him in the first place. Jesus, in the parable of the Sower made it clear.

Mat 13:3-9  And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.  (4)  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.  (5)  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,  (6)  but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.  (7)  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  (8)  Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  (9)  He who has ears, let him hear.”

Mat 13:18-23  “Hear then the parable of the Sower:  (19)  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.  (20)  As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,  (21)  yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.  (22)  As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  (23)  As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Not all non-Christians are apostates, but all apostates are not Christians and never have been. Apostates are those who claimed to be Christian. They have renounced the faith and are living in rebellion and opposition to God.

1. Their Origen-They went out from us – Let that sink in for a moment. These were members of the local churches to whom the apostle John was writing. As members of these local bodies of believers they would have made an outward credible profession of faith as observed by the brethren, been baptized and admitted into the fellowship of believers, participated in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper and been involved in the ministry of the gospel. The text indicates that they of their own volition left the community of the saints having renounced their confession and denied the faith. As a side note we see in contrast to the current state of Christians that promote the idea that church membership wasn’t important or stressed in the NT, that it in fact was. It is clear from this text that churches did indeed know who were members in the church and who left it.

Clearly it was and is a sign of the times that there would and will be many anti-christs. At the time of the writing of this letter the NT church was less than a hundred years old and already apostasy/antichrists had be come an issue. In fact, false teachers, false prophets, anti-christs were a common them in the epistles of Paul, Peter, and John.

Php 3:18  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

1Ti 4:1-3  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,  (2)  through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,  (3)  who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

2Pe 2:1-3  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.  (3)  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

How many celebrity Christians have we seen apostatize from the faith? Ex: Joshua Harris was a young Christian who wrote the book: “I kissed dating goodbye” He was promoted and held up by the Gospel Coalition and though he had never been a lead pastor of any church was made so of a megachurch in Maryland and was heavily promoted by Sovereign Grace Ministries in 2015. By 2019 he had renounced his faith, divorced his wife, and promoted the alphabet soup of the gay community which stands for everything in opposition to the Lord our God. Considering his influence and following what impact might that have had on them?

Maybe you know friends or family who have made a profession of faith and for a time seemed genuinely converted and pursued the things of God but have since left the faith. I personally know many. It is disheartening and can cause us to question the reality of faith in light of those who seemingly embraced and then fell away. But know for a certainty that they never converted, never embraced Christ by faith. If it is possible for a Christian to lose their salvation, then none of the promises God has made in the Scripture concerning our eternal security can be true. But they are. Our eternal security rests in the hands of God alone, just as our salvation rests in the hands of God alone.

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

We cannot know the heart of the person who applies for membership in this church. But we can perform our due diligence and have in place a means of evaluation and teaching of doctrine so that in the passing of some time it might be found that they are not of like mind or faith. Anyone who is seeking a Biblically ordered, doctrinally sound church will not balk at the delay of their membership to the church, rather they will be encouraged at the seriousness by which the church approaches new members.

2. Not Christian and never were - but they were not of us – though outwardly showing the first fruits of conversion there were never truly saved. They do not know the forgiveness of their sins through Christ and His shed blood. They were not brought into the household of God through adoption, never renewed or regenerated by the work of the Holy Spirit, never bestowed the gift of grace and faith and have never known the Spirit’s indwelling. They are false members of the New Covenant meaning they were never members of the New Covenant. These begin to question the truths of the Bible have doubts about their own faith. These will ask questions from those who are weaker in the faith and not out of the sense of wanting to know the right answer but to argue. Brothers and sisters, if you have questions bring them to those who are more knowledgeable than you who would be able to guide you through the Bible to the right answer. If you have doubts bring them before your church so that they may enter into prayer and intercession for you. This is why we have the exhortation from Paul.

Php 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

2Pe 1:10  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

How do we know they are false members of the New Covenant? Because they left it according to the will of their fallen, corrupted heart.

3. Evidence of not being Christian – lack of perseverance - if they had been of us they would have continued with us.

a. Continued holding to sound doctrine. The theme of John’s letter is separating the church from false doctrine and teaching concerning Christ in His deity and His humanity. Exposing the heresy of those antichrists who deny the doctrine of sin claiming they have not sinned and have never sinned. The slightest departure from the truth of Scripture is dangerous ground. Be students of the Scripture. Read, study, and continue to sit under sound, Biblical preaching.

1Ti 4:6  If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

b. Continued in inward sanctification producing continual and progressively maturing fruit of salvation.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Heb 12:14

Eph 4:1-3  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  (2)  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  (3)  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

c. Continued in the ministry of sound gospel doctrine which has at its heart right doctrine concerning the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

4. God’s Sovereign Watch care over His church: But they went out that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Their leaving the church was not in the furtherance of their aim but of God’s. The Lord revealed the heretics to the churches to whom John was writing. The could not stand steady, orthodox preaching of the word of God. They would not repent and so from their perspective they could not stay.

2Ti 4:3  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,

If ever there is doubt about what is a Christian, a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, the negative answer is in those who fall away. They have not persevered in sound doctrine and its practical outworkings both in the covenant community of believers and out in the world. They would not persevere because they could not, not having the Spirit working in them.

Application:

1) The best protection from apostates/antichrists is solid, Biblical preaching and teaching of the whole council of God. They cannot and will not abide it for long.

2) Take comfort in God’s watch care over His church. It is not just an organization of people but it is His sons and daughters that He purchased through the blood of Jesus Christ who in His divine providence has brought each here to this church for the benefit of your souls in the unity of the faith and the fellowship of the saints.

3) Thank the Lord for the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. If you are persevering it is because the Lord God has done a work of salvation in your soul through the working of His Spirit. The harsh reality is that we are helpless in our salvation and helpless in our enduring to the end without God working. Just as Paul said in Phil 1:6 I am confident of this very thing that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.