3. Sure of the Truth

“The Truth the whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth, so Help me God.”

Question#1 “When have you believed something that turned out not to be true?”

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Life Connection

Many people have the attitude: “You have your truth; I have mine.” Such reasoning is fatally flawed: two opposing “truths’ can’t both be true. Much like gravity, truth remains the truth, whether we believe it or not. We discover truth when we look to God, the Author of all that exists. The truth about God, sin, judgment, and salvation are unchanging, and the surety of those truths become evident as we choose to live according to them.

John writing perhaps from captivity on Patmos says this to the church.

1 John 2:18–21 NKJV

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. 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.

Truth secures us in the faith. John’s primary concern much like Jude, was with Christians and false teachers that opposed the true faith. These false teachers needed to be exposed for what they really were, antichrists.

That word anti has two basic meanings one to be against, two to be a substitute for.

There are many antichrists meaning against Christ and one day there will be an Antichrist, one who tries to take the place of Christ.

John begins verse 18 with the statement, “Little children” this is a term of endearment. He is stating his concern for them like a father.

Then he says, “it is the last hour” or “last time” this was a time the Jewish people had been looking for in which God would establish His Eternal Kingdom. They looked for it to be swift and immediate. However, from a Christian prospective we understand this to be the period between Jesus first and second coming.

One commentator wrote this,

Every hour is the last hour. In the world there is a continual conflict between good and evil, between God and that which is anti-God. And in every moment and in every decision a man is confronted with the choice of allying himself either with God or with the evil forces which are against God; and of thereby ensuring, or failing to ensure, his own share in eternal life. The conflict between good and evil never stops; therefore, the choice never stops; therefore, in a very real sense every hour is the last hour!

John warns that antichrists are coming and have come.

1 John 2:19 NKJV

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.

I have heard many pastor mis use this verse and try to apply it to anyone who leaves a church they are pastoring. This is not refering to believers who have chosen to worship in a different body of Believers. This is speaking of false teachers who withdrew from the true church demonstrating they were never really part of the church in the first place.

1 John 2:20 NKJV

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

John writes the unction or the anointing comes from God who reveals the truth.

1 John 2:21 NKJV

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.

John was preaching to the choir, he was not writing to reveal truth but to tell them to be anchored in the truth.

Question#2 “How does our culture reflect anti-Christian views?”

In verses 22 -26 John is going to ask a question and quickly answer his own question.

1 John 2:22–26 NKJV

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

Who is a liar? Answer he who denies Jesus is the Christ. John if he lived in our day would say, “Except no substitutes.” “Jesus is the real deal.”

As we look at the world around us we see many who deny Christ, why is that?

Question#3 “What are some truths about Jesus that are difficult to grasp or believe?”

Trinity is hard to understand.

Many people don’t understand love and Jesus is the personification of love.

1 John 2:27–29 NKJV

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. 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.

John is describing here the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

Verse 27 is not a proclamation, that at Salvation you get a Digital download and you now know everything and have no need to learn. It is saying the Holy Spirit will help you discern right from wrong. Things you did before you knew Christ that seemed okay to you to do now bother you. People feel conviction that they never felt before.

Question #4 “How does the Holy Spirit help us discern truth?”

Question#5 “What role does our church group play in helping us remain in the truth?”

Live It Out

Truth is found in Jesus alone. cHoose one of the following applications.

Examine your life. Have you genuinely embraced the truth by trusting in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?

Prioritize your life. In light of Christ’s imminent return, are your priorities in the right order? If not, what changes need to be made to rearrange your priorities? This week do a thorough evaluation of your priorities and be honest with yourself. Ask God to help you with these priorities.

Invest in someone’s life. Do you know someone that needs to hear the truth? Perhaps a neighbor, coworker, a classmate, or a friend? If so, then share the truth of the gospel with them this week. Take it a step further and buy them a Bible, if you believe they may not have one.

Prayer Requests: