Discernment in an Age of Deception, Part 2

1 John 2:24–28 NKJV

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. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 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. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

Prayer

Last week we saw a clear warning from Scripture what the antichrist will be like.

He will be one who is a deceiver and manipulator, and will seek to replace Christ.

But more than just one singular figure, we saw that there are many antichrists.

Many who seek to stand in the place of Jesus.

1 John 2:22 NKJV

Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

He is a figure which seeks to take the place of Christ.

And his is known by his slogan which is…

1 John 2:23 NKJV

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

We talked about discernment, and very basically the need for truth being acknowledging the Son.

The two points from last week were...

Discernment thrives where truth reigns.

Deception thrives where lies reign.

But John gives us more to be able to grow in discernment.

Another question we should be asking then is: how can the Christian guard against the deception of the antichrists?

SO this sermon will be divided into two sections, and really answering, two questions.

So the first question is: how does truth begin to reign in our lives?

Truth Reigns when we Abide in Christ

What does this truth, once it is reigning, produce within us?

Abiding in Christ produces in us Confidence at His Coming

1 John 2:24–25 NKJV

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

Walking in Discernment

1 John 2:24 (NKJV)

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.

When John encourages them to abide in the message that they have “heard from the beginning”

He is not encouraging them to stay within the message because it is old.

This is a fallacy of so many within our own day.

They remain in their “faith tradition” because it is what has always practiced.

They remain in the their church because it is really old and has a tradition.

John’s argument is not because it is old, but because it is TRUE.

The message of the gospel, is to be abided in because it is true and right, not because they have had it from the beginning.

The antidote to the heresy of these false teachers is to return to the teaching given by the apostles.

1 John 2:24 NKJV

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.

Abiding in Christ

What does John mean by abiding?

I would argue that John has the same thing in mind here as Jesus did.

When Jesus was preparing to depart from this world, he told his disciples in John 15...

John 15:1–2 NKJV

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

So Jesus gives this potent picture of a vineyard.

With Himself being the true vine.

In the Old Testament, Israel was said to be the vine.

But Jesus is saying here that He is the vine.

And His Father is the One who tends to and grafts in certain branches.

He goes on to say..

John 15:4 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Jesus Himself gives a clear word picture of Him being the vine and us being the branches.

And Jesus has so associated His Word with the Word that He can say in John 15:4

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John Conclusion

“Christ is Christianity itself; He stands not outside of it but in its centre; without His name, person and work, there is no Christianity left. In a word, Christ does not point out the way to salvation; He is the Way itself”

Connected to the Vine

So the question initially was, how does truth begin to reign in our lives?

Truth reigns when we remain in Christ.

John 15:5–6 NKJV

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Jesus says that life itself is found in Him.

Also notice that Jesus says, that apart from Him we can do nothing.

He is the source and the substance of life.

And the only hope for the Christian is to stay connected to Him.

The only source and substance from the Christian comes from Christ.

How does someone go about abiding in the truth of Christ?

1 John 2:24 NKJV

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.

These words from Jesus come just after many have said to believed in Him.

John 8:31–32 NKJV

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Remaining in the Truth

Truth Reigns when we Abide in Christ!

Or again in John 15:7-10

John 15:7–10 NKJV

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

For Jesus, the life of the Christian is the life of one who abides or remains in His words.

Which means that we cling and hold fast to the words which He has spoken.

The Gospel according to John c. The Children of Abraham (8:31–59)

But Jesus now lays down exactly what it is that separates spurious faith from true faith, fickle disciples from genuine disciples: If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

I love what Carson says here because it is the dividing line of a Christian and an antichrist.

An antichrist will use and abuse Jesus’ words, only seeking to use his words when he can twist them.

An antichrist will seek to undermine people’s faith and trust in Christ’s words.

But a Christian, they are ones who…

The Gospel according to John c. The Children of Abraham (8:31–59)

such a person obeys it, seeks to understand it better, and finds it more precious, more controlling, precisely when other forces flatly oppose it. It is the one who continues in the teaching who has both the Father and the Son

The Christian is one who continues to grow and love and appreciate the words of Christ.

The Christian is one who sees the great love with which God has loved him, and seeks to bring his life into greater conformity to.

The Example of Paul to Timothy

Near the end of his life, the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and encouraged him in the face of raging opposition.

2 Timothy 3:1–2 NKJV

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

So Paul is painting a horrendous picture.

This is what the world will look like,

2 Timothy 3:14–17 NKJV

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The encouragement from Paul to Timothy is the same thing as John is telling his disciples.

Remain in the teaching in which you have heard and read before.

Truth Reigns when we Abide in Christ!

What is the promise for those who abide?

1 John 2:24–25 NKJV

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

Truth has dominion when we remain in Christ!

Eternal Life

John 17:3 NKJV

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

For Jesus, eternal life, is that we know God.

Eternal life can be best summarized as our experiencing, understanding, and knowing God in the face of Jesus Christ more and more.

It’s not only the beginning of our Christian lives that we need Christ, but it’s actually through this abiding in Christ that we will one day be perfected.

1 John 3:2 NKJV

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

The Christian life doesn’t simply begin with Christ, it is the beginning, it is the middle, and it is the end of the Christian life.

I wonder what you think about Christ being the beginning, middle, and end of the Christian life?

Does that excite you?

Does that bring you comfort?

Does that encourage you?

If you’re a Christian, to hear that Jesus is the beginning of our life in God and the middle and the end is exciting.

Because it means that we don’t earn our favor with God, but He has bought it completely.

It’s exciting because we don’t have to strive to earn God’s favor.

So if you’re NOT a Christian, it probably sounds pretty dull.

It probably sounds boring.

It probably sounds miserable.

Truth reigns when we abide in Christ.

I think we know this truth, but the question is, why don’t we do this?

There could be many answers to that question, but one I want to focus is on is we have too “small of a Christ” in our minds…

At times, I wonder if some perspective would help give greater awe and wonder at Christ.

1 John 2:28 (NKJV)

abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

It is helpful to get a snapshot of the end to determine what is important in the present.

Revelation 19:11–16 NKJV

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

What confidence can a person have in this?

What confidence can we have before this great Savior?

What confidence can we have when He comes back for us?

1 John 2:26–28 NKJV

These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 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. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

Confidence in Our Discernment

1 John 2:27 (NKJV)

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you;

The Word

“The Word Says”

So this anointing which John is referring to is the exact same as we saw earlier.

It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

But the Holy Spirit has means by which He communicates with His people.

Which is the Word of God.

Why does John say that we have no need for anyone to teach you?

If that’s the case, then we have no need for this letter itself.

But what I want you to see is not that we have no need for teachers.

Ephesians 4:11–12 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

SO what John CANNOT be meaning here is that New Testament believers do not need teachers at all.

But what is more probable is he is picking something up from the Old Testament.

In the book of Jeremiah, there is a place where Jeremiah talks about the sins of the past and how the nature of the Old Covenant is different from the New.

The Old Covenant is based upon tribal punishments, but the New Covenant will be different entirely.

Jeremiah is pointing to a day when the New Covenant would be upon the people.

Jeremiah 31:34 NKJV

No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

John is not denying the proper place of teachers within the Christian community, he is denying the place of mediating teachers.

This is what the OT priestly system was based upon.

But John is saying, NO MORE!

He is denying that teachers have the power to mediate between man’s relationship with God any longer.

The Priesthood of All Believers

I don’t come every week and mediate between God and you.

I don’t stand between God and you as our catholic friends would like to believe.

John 16:13 NKJV

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

He has first guided the apostles into all truth, and what we have today is their written words.

Notice that it is because the Bible is divinely inspired that it is valuable for teaching doctrine. In fact, the Bible is the only true source of sound doctrine. All teaching should be measured by whether it comports with Scripture or not.

SO we see that it is the WORD of God which is these believers standard.

Abiding in Christ produces in us Confidence at His Coming

But it’s NOT the Word alone…

1 John 2:27 (NKJV)

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.

The Spirit

“The Spirit Affirms”

The Work of the Spirit in the life of the believer is making clear and affirming what the Scriptures have said.

Ephesians 1:17 NKJV

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

So the Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom, which gives us understanding and knowledge of Christ.

And the Spirit’s job is to reveal to us Christ!

How does He do this?

Ephesians 1:18 (NKJV)

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling...

He does this by illuminating our eyes to the glories which are revealed.

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

The believer learns to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit.

He is the One who regenerates them and and leads them into all truth.

Romans 8:13–16 NKJV

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

He is the One who they learn to know operates their faith.

He is the One by faith they receive all of the benefits of Christ.

He is the One who comforts them by praying for them with unutterable groans.

He is the One who testifies that they are indeed Children of God.

Abiding in Christ produces in us Confidence at His Coming

1 John 2:28 NKJV

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

The Fruit

“Confidence before Him”

The fruit of abiding in Christ is simply this: confidence.

Confidence that when He comes we will not be ashamed.

Ashamed refers to the guilt and terror of judgment by God. Those who remain in him avoid this grim prospect. (CSB Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 2))

I like how the ESV renders it, “we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

The idea here is that the guilt and terror of judgment cause us to fear His coming.

The guilt and terror comes from knowing that we have been indulging in your vices.

The guilt and terror comes from neglecting to abide in Christ.

The guilt and terror comes from our flesh which makes Christians stupid to the realities of sin.

But John is extending to us a Godly confidence.

For faith is not a naked and a frigid angst of Christ, but a lively and real sense of his power, which produces confidence.

Indeed, faith cannot stand, while tossed daily by so many waves, except it looks to the coming of Christ, and, supported by his power, brings peace to the conscience.

A Godly confidence delights to look on God in the face of Christ.

A Godly confidence calmly waits for Christ and does not dread His coming.

Abiding in Christ produces in us Confidence for His Coming.

It produces in us a spirit which stands firm and does not shrink back when he comes.

Truth reigns when we abide in Christ.

Abiding in Christ produces in us Confidence at His Coming