Jun. 18, 2025
“WALKING IN THE LIGHT”
“WATCH OUT FOR DECEIVERS”
1 JOHN 2:18-27
“It makes no difference what you believe, just as long as you are sincere.”
It takes more than “sincerity” to make something true.
It is not enough for a believer to walk in the light and to walk in love, we must walk in truth. The issue is truth, or consequences.
John gives us Three Marks Of The False Teacher Who Is Controlled By The “Spirit of Antichrist.”
- He Departs From The Fellowship. 1 John 2:18-19
John begins by reminding believers that with the coming of false teachers, dawn is on the horizon because he said:
1 John 2:8 “Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.”
John now says:
1 John 2:18 “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.”
He calls these figures “antichrists” vs.18. The Greek term antichristos, used here for the first time in Christian literature, is a compound of two words: “anti” meaning in place of, or against, and “christos,” Messiah or Christ.
He says, “…and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming..” vs.18. When did they hear this?
2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”
1 Thessalonians 2:7 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”
What can we learn about these deceivers from John?:
*First, false teachers are plentiful. vs.18 by the end of the first century, John could say, “…many antichrists have come…”
*Second, false teachers come from within the church:
1 John 2:19 “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.”
John says these “antichrists went out from us,” indicating a departure from the true, apostolic churches.
This doesn’t mean that every false teacher was once masquerading as a Bible-believing Christian. Paul warned the elders of the church in Ephesus:
Acts 20:29-31 “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”
*Third, false teachers never truly experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ. vs.19 “…that none of them were of us.”
2. He Denies The Faith. 1 John 2:20-25
1 John 2:20-21 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21I 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.”
*First, genuine believers have the Holy Spirit, “an anointing from the Holy One…” most likely refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit given to those who are truly saved:
Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Similarly, Jesus said to His disciples regarding the Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
And Paul says:
2 Corinthians 1:21 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.”
*Second, genuine believers know God’s saving truth. In the upper room prior to His arrest, Jesus promised His disciples:
John 16:13 “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.”
Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
vs.20 “…and you know all things” This doesn’t mean we know everything there is to know about spiritual things. The context refers to the foundational, saving truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ:
1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
2 Peter 1:3 “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
Six Benefits Of Truth:
- Truth gives stability to our faith.
- Truth strengthens us when we’re tested.
- Truth enables us to understand the Bible accurately.
- Truth equips us to detect and confront error.
- Truth allows us to live with confidence.
6. Truth releases us from fears and superstitions.
*Thirdly, genuine believers are able to discern lies.
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Ephesians 2:21-22 “in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
1 John 2:21 “….and that no lie is of the truth.”- this is language of discernment, truth detectors are fine-tuned to discriminate between truth and fiction.
*Fourthly, false teachers deny who Jesus really is, the incarnate God-man.
1 John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.”
They deny that “Jesus is the Christ” vs.22.
1 John 2:23 “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”
2 John 1:7 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
*John now instructs us:
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 tells us to stick with the truth of sound doctrine, “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning…” vs.24, so that “…you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”
1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.”
We should recall the opening words of John’s letter:
1 John 1:1-2 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.”
If we stick with the truth about Christ as revealed in the Bible, we won’t be lured away by false teachers.
3. He Tries To Deceive The Faithful. 1 John 2:26-27
1 John 2:26 “These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.”
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 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, you will abide in Him.”
The anointing of the Holy Spirit “abides in you” vs.27.
Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
2 Peter 1:3 “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
*How To Keep From Being Deceived:
- Spend Time In God’s Word.
- Stand Firm In Your Convictions.
- Stay Focused On Christ.
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