1 John 2c

Do Not Love The World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Love = Agape = Unconditional/ Undying love/ Devoted Love— We prioritize what we love most. If we love our spouse, we put them above others. So to, if we love the world more than God, the things of this world will have priority.

For all that is in the world:

Lust of the flesh - the yearning for the things our earthly bodies crave. Food, Drink, Drugs, Sex — Lie = Things that will fullfill us

Lust of the eyes — Bodily Lust, Entertainment, Jewelry, Cars, Houses - Lie = Things that look great that we are told will that will Look/Feel Good

Pride of Life — Being elevated in our accomplishments, Being above another because XYZ - Lie = That we are better or more righteous than our fellow man.

This is a finite world and it will soon pass away. But those in Christ, who yearn for the will of the Father, will carry on.

Deceptions of the Last Hour

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which 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 they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

2:18 It is the last hour time preceding Jesus’ second coming (1 John 2:28).

Antichrist is coming the false-messiah from Jesus’ discussion of the end times. Jesus had noted that those who falsely claim authority—as anointed (messianic) leaders—would come (see Mark 13:21–22; Matt 24:4–5, 24).

The singular term “antichrist” (as opposed to “antichrists”) might refer to the evil figures described in 2 Thess 2:3–10 and Revelation 13:1–10. It also could refer to the general movement of people falsely representing Jesus (compare 1 John 2:22; 4:3).

Many anitchrist Refers to those who have withdrawn from the community John is addressing. He identifies them in this way because they spread false teaching about Jesus. By extension, the term could refer to anyone who is opposed to Jesus. This would fit with John’s larger dichotomous viewpoint that people are either in the light (of Jesus) or in the darkness (against Jesus).

2:19 They went out from us Although the antichrists emerged from the Christian community, they do not represent the viewpoints of the Church or Jesus.

For John, the origin of a viewpoint does not validate it. Rather, people must remain within Christ—within the church community and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Following Jesus’ teaching in John 14:6, John views the world through the lens of whether people are of Christ or not. He considers minor heresies to be extremely dangerous since they inevitably result in major heresies.

they were not of us John indicates that these secessionists—antichrists—are not authentic believers in Jesus.

that it might be shown Because the antichrists withdrew from the Christian community, they could not receive correction. Their decision to depart from the Church revealed their true character. John’s correctives seem to indicate that his opponents were teaching hatred, accommodating the values of society and denying that the eternal Christ came in the flesh (1 John 2:15–17; 3:15; 4:2). They were also actively misleading others (v. 26).

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

2:20 Annointing from the Holy one The Holy Spirit has come upon the believing community; God has chosen them for a specific purpose.

This anointing served as further evidence of the Christian community’s genuine relationship with Christ, one another, and John (compare v. 3). It provided them with the discernment necessary to reject the false teaching of the antichrists (see v. 27).

2:21 because you do know it John appeals to their knowledge of the truth, setting up the argument in the remainder of this chapter. John writes to remind his audience of what they believe and who they are.

22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

2:22 One who denies The antichrists in the community denied that Jesus was the anointed one of God, the Messiah, who suffered and died as a human (compare 1John 4:2).

2:23 does not have the Father John emphasizes that the only way to relationship with God the Father is through God the Son (compare John 14:6).

Let Truth Abide in You

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. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

2:24 A reference to the message of Jesus’ saving work and, by extension, to the commandment to love as He loved (see 1 John 2:8 ).

Although salvation is not dependent on any action a person can take, remaining in authentic relationship with God is.

This furthers John’s overall dichotomy between those who live as if they are of the world, by the principles of society, and those who live as if their entire lives belong to God.

2:25 The gift that Jesus freely offers the world via His death and resurrection. See John 3:16.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 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.

2:26 trying to deceive Refers to the antichrists.

2:27 Need that anyone teach you John appeals to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in believer’s lives, which helps them discern truth from falsehood (compare 1 John 2:20).

Hold fast to true teaching. Test what you are being taught with the Bible, challenge feelings with the word of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Acts 17:11, 1 John 4:1

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. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

The Lord’s return is coming, be made righteous in him so that there is no shame when he returns.

Road to Salvation - How to be made Righteous

Romans 3:10 - As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

Nobody is perfect/Sinless, not one.

Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

All are guilty of sin and therefore not worthy of heaven and to be in God’s presence

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It is by the grace of God and his mercy that Christ died for our sins

Romans 5:12 -  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

Man has been guilty of sin since Adam and all die because of Sin

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

the cost of sin is death, but God has given us the gift of eternal life through Christ

Romans 10:9-13 -that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”(Jeremiah 17:7) 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Confessing Christ as lord and believing in God’s work through him will bring Salvation.

God’s gift is for all. There is no division in God’s eyes of race or gender. there is no sin to great.

God only requires belief and confession that Christ is your Lord and Savior.