29. 1 Jn2.18-28 Truth vs Falsehood

The last time we were together we finished the verses dealing with do not love the world or the things in the world. We saw that it is possible for Christians to have to one degree or another a love for the world and that to the degree that we love the world we cannot love God. It was an earnest call to evaluate ourselves and our attachments in light of what God our Father has done for us in salvation and our duty of devotion to Him. This morning we begin a new section that begins a series of conflicts that the children of God have, which in turn is a means of assurance of their faith.

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.

This is a unique time in church history. John is the last of the Apostles chosen by Jesus Christ. At this time, he is well advanced in age. In writing concerning the believer’s assurance he includes a warning against the false teaching that has begun in the church. We know that John ministered to the churches in Ephesus and surrounding areas. In Revelation there were mentioned seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. It is the church at Ephesus that we have the best Biblical record. Paul preached the gospel and was persecuted in Acts 19. Many believed and a church was started. On his way to Jerusalem, he stopped in Miletus and summoned the Ephesian elders to him there and warned them.

Act 20:28-30  Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.  (29)  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;  (30)  and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

In his letter to the Ephesians, he focuses in the first 3 chapters on the doctrine and in the last 3 chapters working that out properly in our daily walk with Christ. In Paul’s first pastoral epistle to Timothy; Paul urged him to remain at Ephesus and instruct certain men not to teach any different doctrine in chapter 1. He goes on further to say in

1Ti 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,

Issues began cropping up within the church and it did not end there. It is clear that error crept in over time so much that John begins his epistle by addressing Christ’s eternal deity and His historical humanity in verses 1:1-4. This illustrates the blessing and benefit of creeds and confessions. In order for Christians to be assured in their faith John lays out tests. At this point in our text there have been 3. There is the doctrinal test in verses 1-4.

1Jn 1:1-4  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—  (2)  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—  (3)  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.  (4)  And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Every true Christian believes in the true Christ.

The second and third test are the moral and social beginning in verse 1:5-2:17. We are to obey God’s commands, love the brethren and reject the world and the things in the world.

Beginning in this section through chapter 4:6 assurance comes through the conflicts of faith. And true to form John provides us with sharp contrasts.

The Conflict between Truth and Falsehood

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.

This morning we will look at verse 18,19 and the first main point: the reality and time of the conflict.

1Jn 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.

First some general observations of the text. John finally identifies those who are in the negative in the tests of faith. From these verses it is clear that those antichrists could not abide by orthodox preaching and teaching of sound doctrine and left the fellowship of the church.

Second the supernatural work in keeping the brethren in the truth is the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Third, the antichrists are deniers, liars, and deceivers and even though they left the church they are still working to corrupt the church.

I. An Appropriate Address - Children

Children – John uses the Greek word Paidion for child. This is the second time he has used this particular word, the first being in 2:13. This is different from the term of endearment he uses through his epistle little children teknion. Teknion emphasizes the relational between the speaker and the spoken to. Paiden refers to those younger who are in need of further instruction. The terms are not mutually exclusive but only emphasize the different aspects of being a child. A child, by implication, has parents. In this particular instance Parent. Our Parent is God the Father. This is made clear in the earlier verses. ‘I write to you children because you know the Father.’ ‘Little children, your sins have been forgiven for His names sake.’ As children of God we not only have the desire to follow but as such are duty bound. You are either children of God or children of the devil. There is no in between or neutral ground. When John uses Paidon, it takes a more serious tone and it is a call for the true believers in the church to heed what John says as students concerning what has been taught before and what he is teaching them now.

He is making a distinction. The children of God versus the children of the devil. Later in 1 John he writes 1Jn 3:10  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

This is a direct reflection of Gen 3:15 and the struggle between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. And though the serpents head has been crushed the struggle goes on until the consummation the ages.

II. The Reality and Time of the Conflict – it is the last hour.

Or more literally ‘the last hour it is’. What is meant here? Throughout the NT there is reference to the last days.

Heb 1:1-2  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  (2)  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

1Pe 1:20  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.

2Ti 3:1  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

2Pe 3:3  knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

The last days is the time between Christ’s first coming and His second. But John uses the term last hour. Is he using hyperbole or is it synonymous with ‘the last days’ He is certainly keeping with the theme of Peter and Paul. Peter says in the above verse scoffers will come. Paul says in 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.

John emphasizes the time by stating it twice. The last hour before what? The ending of this age and the glorious return of Christ. He punctuates it by pointing to many antichrists have come as the sign of the end of the age. John is saying listen up, take care, be on your guard. Verse 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.

III. What you have heard

This phrase is used throughout this letter. It is a continual reminder of the apostolic teaching they have received. This particular reference is the apostolic teaching concerning the coming antichrist.

(1Jn 1:5)  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

(1Jn 2:7)  Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

(1Jn 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.

(1Jn 2:24)  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.

(1Jn 3:11)  For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

(1Jn 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.

Antichrist and antichrists literally mean instead of or against Christ. This verse points to one who is the embodiment of everything opposite of Jesus Christ. Paul writes in

2Th 2:1-12 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, (2) not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3) 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, (4) 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. (5) Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? (6) And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. (7) 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. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. (9) The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, (10) and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (11) Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, (12) in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But the emphasis is not on the antichrist who is to come but the antichrists that have come already. They are deniers of the truth, they are liars and they are deceivers. Though they had gone out from the congregation they were still attempting to deceive the people of God.

These antichrists could not bear orthodox preaching and teaching and left the church. Fast forward and it appears that in many churches the antichrists have taken over the house. We can document historically the watering down of the orthodox faith in the Anglican Church, the Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodists, and Baptists to make the message more palatable to supposed seekers all the while chipping away at the foundation of the solas.

If it was the last hour then how much more so now. Be thankful for what you have here. For the preaching and teaching weekend and week out. Be thankful for the unity of the faith and the bonds of love that is shared among you all.

Be those children that John talked about. Holding to what you have heard and been taught. Live circumspectly in light of the many antichrists at large today. Live also in the hope that if it is the last hour the day of the Lord is near.