Abiding In The Truth

Intro:

Have you ever noticed how quickly things change in our world? It feels like every time you finally get used to something, it’s already out of date. - Technology changes — the phone you bought last year is already “old.

- Trends change — what was popular on social media a few months ago is already forgotten.

- And even people’s opinions about right and wrong change almost daily.

What was considered wrong yesterday is celebrated today, and what used to be celebrated is now criticized.

It’s no secret that we live in a world that’s constantly shifting.

Someone once said that it’s like trying to build your life on a sand dune… it keeps moving underneath you. You take a stand one day, and the next day the ground has shifted again.

And if we’re honest, that’s exhausting. Is it any wonder that so many people are confused, uncertain, and spiritually unstable...??

I am sure that you have heard me say this and maybe you’ve even used the phrase yourself… “There’s nothing new under the sun”…

It is worth noting that the people who were alive in John’s day, the first ones to read his letters, were also dealing with confusion, uncertainty, and spiritual instability…

The early believers were surrounded by people claiming to have “new” spiritual insights, “new” revelations, or “new” ways to think about Jesus Christ.

These false teachers were spreading ideas that sounded spiritual but were completely unbiblical. They talked a good game, but what they were teaching didn’t line up with the gospel message the apostles had preached from the beginning.

So John writes to these believers who were feeling unsettled and unsure — just like many Christians today — and he basically says, “Don’t get swept up in all the noise. Don’t chase every new idea that comes along. Stay rooted in what you’ve known from the beginning. Abide in the truth.”

And really, that’s what this whole series is based on… Authentic Christian Living… John is showing us what real, genuine faith looks like in a world full of counterfeits. He’s teaching us how to live out the truth, not just talk about it…

As we look at our passage this morning, John is going to show us how to live authentically, by giving us 3 different ways that we can abide in the truth… Lets look at it together…

(Read vv. 24-29)

Meat:

John starts this section with the word “therefore”… In Bible study, whenever you see the word “therefore,” you should always stop and ask, “What’s it there for?” That little word is like a bridge — it connects what was just said to what’s about to be said. It tells us that what comes next is built on what came before.

In the verses just before this, John warned us about antichrists — those who twist the truth about who Jesus was ant what He did. Those who twist Scripture to say whatever they want it to say…

Two weeks ago we talked about how these false teachers had left the fellowship because they were never truly part of it.

They denied that Jesus is the Christ,

denied that He was God in the flesh,

and in doing so, they revealed that their faith was counterfeit.

John reminded us that genuine believers have something those false teachers never had — the anointing of the Holy Spirit, who helps us know the truth and remain in it.

So now, as John begins verse 24 with that word “therefore,” he’s saying, “Because of all that — because false teachers are out there, and because you have the Holy Spirit to help you discern truth — here’s what you must do: let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.”

We are to abide in…

1. The Word

1 John 2:24 “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”

He’s talking about the original message of the gospel… the truth about Jesus Christ that these believers had first received.

In other words, John is reminding them, “Don’t move away from the message that saved you.” The false teachers were pushing “new truths,” but John points them back to the old, unchanging truth of God’s Word.

He’s saying, “Don’t trade what’s eternal for what’s trendy.” Just like we talked about 3 weeks ago… Hold on to what lasts!…

The Word of God doesn’t need to be updated or improved — it just needs to be believed and lived out.

The Word is what…

1.1 Anchors us in the Truth

When the truth of Scripture abides in us, it keeps us rooted, stable, and connected to the very heart of God.

God’s Word becomes the anchor of our soul, holding us steady when everything else is shifting.

As A.W. Tozer once said, “What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.” That’s why John reminds us to let what we’ve heard from the beginning abide in us. He knows that the moment we loosen our grip on the truth of who God is, we start drifting — maybe not all at once, but slowly and subtly.

The Apostle Paul says in…

Ephesians 4:14–15 NKJV

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

In other words, God’s Word is what anchors us in the truth. It keeps us from drifting with every new teaching or cultural idea that blows through.

Without that anchor, we’re like a small boat out on a stormy sea — constantly being pushed and pulled by the waves of opinion and emotion. But when the truth of God’s Word is settled deep in our hearts, we’re able to stand firm.

Just as the Psalmist said… “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you”

Hiding His Word in our hearts isn’t just about memorizing verses — it’s about letting those truths take root so deeply that when temptation or confusion comes, our first response is shaped by Scripture, not by the world, or our feelings… .

The more His Word abides in us, the stronger and steadier we become.

Along the same lines of being an anchor… God’s Word…

1.2 Guards us from Deception

v.26…

1 John 2:26 “These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.”

Again, this was written in response to those who were intentionally spreading false ideas about Jesus and twisting the truth to lead believers astray.

And here’s what John wants his readers to understand: the best protection against deception is not argument — it’s abiding. When the truth of God’s Word lives inside of you, you can recognize a lie the moment it shows up.

Think about how experts identify fake paintings. Art authenticators don’t waste their time studying every forgery ever made — there are way too many of them. Instead, they study the originals — every brushstroke, every color blend, every subtle detail of the artist’s style.

They become so familiar with what’s genuine that when they see a fake, something inside them instantly say, “hey.. That’s not right.”

The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. When we truly know God’s Word — when it abides in us and we’ve spent time studying the heart and character of the Author — we can recognize false teaching almost instinctively.

We don’t have to panic or argue; we just know, “That doesn’t match what God has said.”

The more intimately we know the truth, the less likely we are to fall for a counterfeit.

So, the Word keeps us anchored in the truth, it guards us from deception and it…

1.3 Strengthens our Fellowship

Notice how he says, “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” Now that’s a powerful statement… our fellowship with God is directly tied to our relationship with His Word.

The mark of an authentic follower of Christ is someone who abides in the Word of God… They don’t just read it casually — they study it, they live by it, and they let it shape who they are.

Every time we open Scripture, God is inviting us to know His heart, to hear His voice, and to grow closer to Him.

A.W. Tozer put it this way: “The Word of God, well understood and religiously obeyed, is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. We must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”

That’s what John is talking about here… letting the whole truth of God’s Word live in us so that our fellowship with the Father and the Son grows deeper and stronger.

And what does God promise to those who have that relationship, who have that fellowship with Him?

v.25…

1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.”

That’s the reward of abiding in the truth. Not just existing forever, but living forever in unbroken fellowship with God.

That’s what John wants us to see — abiding in the Word keeps us connected to the very source of life itself.

Secondly…

We are to abide in…

2. The Holy Spirit

As we get to v.27, we see a shift… John transitions from speaking about the truth that we’ve heard or read and focuses on the Teacher who helps us to understand that truth.

1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

So, The Word Anchors us in the truth… and The Holy Spirit…

2.1 Teaches us the Truth

From the moment you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, God gave you His Spirit to live within you. And one of the Spirit’s main roles is to teach… to open our eyes in order that we might understand God’s truth… God’s Word…

As I stated before, when John wrote this false teachers were claiming to have special knowledge — new insights about Jesus that went beyond what the apostles had taught. They made it sound like the gospel wasn’t enough, like you needed something extra to be truly “saved”.

That same problem still exists today. False teachers may use different language, but the message is often the same: “Jesus isn’t enough — you need something more.”

Some people package it as “hidden revelation” claiming that God has given them new insight that no one else has ever seen before.

Others make it sound more spiritual... like mystical experiences are the key to really knowing God. They talk about visions, dreams, or feelings that become the authority instead of Scripture.

And then there are modern movements that teach a kind of “prosperity gospel” — the idea that if you just have enough faith, God guarantees health, wealth, and success.

All of these may look and sound different, but they share the same root problem: they move beyond the gospel. They make people believe that what Jesus did on the cross and what God has said in His Word somehow isn’t enough.

But when we are abiding in God’s Word and trusting the Holy Spirit to teach us from it, we know that He will never teach us anything that contradicts the Word that He wrote.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t reveal new truth; He illuminates the truth that’s already been spoken.

And following closely behind the fact that He teaches us…

The Holy Spirit…

2.2 Gives us Discernment

John says that this anointing that we have, “is true and is not a lie”

Not only are we being taught the truth, nut we have also been given the ability to recognize false teachings… That’s discernment… the ability to see through what looks or sounds spiritual but isn’t anchored in God’s Word.

This is something we need today more than ever… … The world is full of voices — online, on TV, even in pulpits — claiming to speak for God. Some sound convincing, even inspiring, but not everything that sounds true is true.

The Spirit gives believers the internal “alarm system” that goes off when something doesn’t line up with Scripture.

You ever been listening to something and just felt that inkling in your heart… that uneasiness that says, “Hold on, that just doesn’t sound right”? That’s the Holy Spirit doing His job, guarding you from deception.

Dr Tony Evans illustrates it this way… he says “The Holy Spirit is the referee of your soul. When something’s out of bounds, He blows the whistle.”

He keeps us from stepping into falsehood by pointing us back to what’s true.

But He doesn’t stop there… not only does the Holy Spirit teach us truth and help us discern what’s false, but He also gives us the strength to remain faithful.

The Holy Spirit…

2.3 Enables our Faithfulness

John says at the end of v.27… “...Just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

That means the Spirit doesn’t just inform us — He empowers us. He doesn’t just point us to the truth — He helps us stay in it.

The title of the sermon is Abiding in the Truth… and we are to Abide in the Word… Abide in the Holy Spirit…

The word “abide” means to stay, to remain, to continue… And let’s be honest… staying faithful isn’t always easy.

There are times when life gets hard,

when doubts creep in,

when it feels easier to drift than to stay anchored.

But this is where the Holy Spirit steps in. He gives…

endurance when we’re weary,

conviction when we’re tempted,

and encouragement when we’re discouraged.

Listen… you and I were never meant to live the Christian life on our own. God gave us His Spirit precisely so that we could stand firm and finish well.

To quote Dr. Tony Evans once again “The Holy Spirit is not your assistant — He’s your power source.”

He’s the one who keeps your spiritual engine running when everything in you wants to quit.

The same Spirit who brought you to faith in Christ is the one who will keep you walking faithfully with Him until the very end.

So John has shown us that we’re to abide in the Word and abide in the Holy Spirit — but he doesn’t stop there. In the final two verses of this chapter, he brings it all to its core…

We are to abide in…

3. Christ

Everything flows from our relationship with Christ. The Word points us to Him. The Spirit leads us to Him. And abiding in Christ is what gives meaning and direction, to everything else in the Christian life.

John says in v. 28…

1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

Abiding in Christ is an everyday thing… It’s more than just showing up to church, singing a few songs, and listening to a sermon.

Abiding means walking with Jesus on Monday morning just as closely as you did on Sunday morning. It means inviting Him into your daily routines — your work, your decisions, your conversations, your struggles.

Too many believers treat their relationship with Jesus like a weekend visit instead of a daily walk. They clock in when they get to church on Sunday morning, and they are clocked back out before they even make it to the restaurant for lunch.

Listen… truly abiding in Christ means that we are staying aware of His presence, relying on His strength, and aligning our lives with His Word, whether we are in the pew, in traffic, or at home.

And when we live that way, John says that it…

3.1 Brings Confidence, Not Shame

At some point, every believer will meet Jesus face to face… but not every believer will be ready for that moment.

Those who’ve lived in close fellowship with Him won’t shrink back in regret or embarrassment; they’ll stand before Him with joy and confidence…

But if we have not been fully abiding in Christ and our relationship with Him has been growing more distant, then His appearing will feel uncomfortable and shameful.

But if we’ve been walking with Him daily, His coming will be like greeting a dear friend that we’ve known all along.

One commentator puts it this way… “Abiding in Christ means living in such a way that if Jesus showed up today, you wouldn’t have to change a thing”

That’s the kind of confidence John’s talking about… not arrogance… but assurance. A heart that’s been walking with Jesus shouldn’t be scared to meet Him.

Which means that… Abiding in Christ…

3.2 Leads to Righteousness

v.29…

1 John 2:29 “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”

There are those who believe that because they’ve been saved — because their sins are forgiven — they can just continue living the same sinful lifestyle.

They treat grace like a free pass instead of a life-changing gift.… … But John makes it clear: genuine salvation always produces transformation. When Christ truly abides in you, you cannot stay the same!

To quote A.W. Tozer again, he said that… “The saved man is not a man who wants to sin, but one who wants not to sin and, when he does, he grieves over it.” (repeat)

That’s the mark of someone who’s truly abiding in Christ — their heart begins to align with His… What grieves Jesus, should grieve us, His Followers, as well.

So if someone claims to know Jesus but there’s no evidence of change, no hunger for holiness, and no desire to walk in righteousness — John would say, that person may have religion, but not relationship.

Abiding in Christ always leads to righteous living, because His life flowing in us produces His character through us.

And that’s really the culmination of what John is trying to get us to understand…

Abiding in Christ isn’t about religion; it’s about relationship.

It’s not about trying to appear spiritual; it’s about living in continual fellowship with the One who is our righteousness.

And When we abide in Him, His nature begins to shape ours. His desires become our desires. His priorities become our priorities.

And The more closely we walk with Him, the less room there is for sin to take root. The more we rely on Him, the more we reflect Him.

That’s authentic living… …

not a performance, but a relationship.

Not striving, but abiding.

Not religion, but real life in Christ.

Closing:

So let me ask you this morning — are you abiding in the truth? Not just agreeing with it, not just hearing it on Sundays, but letting it shape how you live every day?

John’s message is simple but powerful: if we’re going to live authentically in a world full of counterfeits, we must stay rooted in the Word, walk in step with the Spirit, and remain close to Christ.… That’s where real strength, real stability, and real joy are found.

And the reality is, you cannot abide in something you are not connected to… Maybe for some of us today, it’s time to come back to that place of connection… to stop drifting, to stop coasting, and to say, “Lord, I want to walk with You daily.”

Because the life that abides in the truth is the life that shines with the reality of Christ. And when He returns — or when our race is done — may He find us…

anchored in His Word

Being led by His Holy Spirit

And becoming more like Him each and every day.

That’s authentic living… and that’s the kind of life that will stand firm when everything else fades away.

Prayer: