Abide In The Truth

I. The Promise. Vs. 24-25

Let’s start by addressing “that”-

“That” which you heard from the beginning is the message of the gospel. When the apostles began to teach everyone about the Incarnation of Christ, His life, His death and His resurrection. That is the same message that you here tonight also heard and believed unto salvation. (Rom. 1:16) Paul mentions this message in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Now, if that message abides in you, the Bible tells us that you will abide with the Son and the Father. Fellowship.

The first two chapters of this letter from John focus on the key idea of fellowship. He is just reviewing what he has already told us. That if the message of the Gospel abide or remains in you, you will remain in the Son and the Father. He has explained that a real Christian lives a life of obedience (walking in light, not darkness), love, and truth. It is impossible to live in fellowship with God if you are disobedient or hateful or untruthful.

Now, let’s address the Promise.

If you are a true child of God, you will abide in Christ and with the Father. God has made this promise many times in scripture. That if you are in Christ you will have eternal life. But don’t take my word for it.

John 3:14-17 “14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

John 6:40 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

WE SERVE A GOD WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES!! *Abraham*

We have a refuge from false teachers in the message of the Gospel and a promise to anchor to. The message of the Gospel is a message of Hope. That hope we have in the Gospel of Christ anchors the soul. (Heb. 6:19)

II. The Problem vs. 26.

There are those who come in the name of Christ that will try to lead you astray. False Teachers. Previous verses call them antichrists. Many have already come to lead God’s children astray, and to deceive.

Many come and deny the Father and the Son and try to add works to faith. Or to try to tell believers that they can lose their salvation. Why not throw prosperity gospel in there as well? They are all coming to deceive.

Gnostics: John was telling the people of his day that they did not need what the Gnostics were teaching. The Gnostics pretended to have super knowledge, which in their own eyes made them super saints. Like a guy who has just graduated from seminary. He has an elevated view of himself based upon some new found knowledge.

These false teachers want to indoctrinate us and take the place of the Holy Spirit trying to tell us what they think as they twist scripture. (Remember that our defense against false teachers is the Holy Spirit. We have an anointing from the Holy One (vs.20)

We should not accept everything a person tells us simply because he claims to believe the Bible, for it is possible to “twist” the Bible to make it mean almost anything.

Satan is not an originator; he is a counterfeiter. He imitates the work of God. For example, Satan has counterfeit “ministers” (2 Cor. 11:13–15) who preach a counterfeit gospel (Gal. 1:6–12) that produces counterfeit Christians (John 8:43–44) who depend on a counterfeit righteousness.

But John is stating here that he has written these things to us concerning those who deceive you. John is telling his audience to keep the main thing, the main thing.

That if you stay true to the gospel message, which we have heard from the beginning, you will have fellowship with the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. That message comes with a promise as well, that if you let the Gospel of Christ abide in you by faith, then you can have eternal life. Fellowship with God- forever.

III. The Protection vs. 27

The word anoint reminds us of the Old Testament practice of pouring oil on the head of a person being set apart for special service. A priest was anointed (Ex. 28:41), and so was a king (1 Sam. 15:1) or a prophet (1 Kings 19:16).

Today we do not physically and externally anoint with oil, but our anointing is spiritual and internal.

So we have a refuge or protection from false teachers in that we don’t need the false teacher’s teaching- we have the Holy Spirit of God.

When you are saved, by putting your faith in Jesus Christ, one of the things that the Holy Spirit of God does for you is that He anoints you. He anoints you to understand divine truth which you could not understand before.

Teachers are important, that’s why God gifted some as teachers referenced in Ephesians. We all have a need to sit under good teaching. The disciples had Jesus, Timothy had Paul. The purpose of John writing this is that we ought to get to the place where the Spirit of God is our Teacher.

As you study God’s Word give the Spirit an active role in your studies. Ask God to teach you and lead you. Ask God to make it real to you.

The Holy Spirit only deals in truth because, being God, He cannot lie. The Holy Spirit will never conflict with the Word of God, rather, He leads in truth through the word of God. (John 16:13)

What does it mean to abide? Abiding in Jesus is to live in harmony with the teachings and will of Jesus Christ.

There is a promise: if you Abide in the truth.

There is a false teacher problem: Abide in the Truth.

We have Protection from false teachers in the Holy Spirit: Abide in the Truth.