1 John Episode 6 - Standing Firm in the Truth

In Episode 6, we explore 1 John 2:18–27, where John warns believers about false teachers and the spirit of antichrist while encouraging them to remain steadfast in the truth. Discover what John means by "the last hour," the significance of the Holy Spirit's anointing, and why remaining anchored in the apostolic message about Jesus Christ is essential for discernment. This episode reminds us that in a world of competing voices, our confidence is found in God's Word, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and abiding in Christ.

Transcript

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Welcome to episode six of our journey through the first epistle of John. Thank you for joining me again as we continue working our way through this remarkable letter. Over the past few episodes, John has been encouraging believers to walk in the light, to live in loving relationships, to grow in spiritual maturity, and to guard their hearts against the values of the world. Now John turns to another challenge facing the early church. It wasn't persecution from outside the church, it was deception from within. Throughout history the church has always faced opposition from outside, but perhaps the greater danger has often come from people who distort the truth while appearing to be part of the Christian community. John wants believers to understand how to recognize false teaching, remain grounded in the truth, and continue walking closely with Jesus. I think this is one of the most relevant passages for our own generation. Never before have Christians had access to so many voices. Through podcasts, social media, YouTube, books, and online ministries. We can listen to hundreds of different teachers every week. Many are faithful servants of Christ, some are not. John reminds us that discernment is not optional, it is essential. John begins with an interesting statement. Dear children, this is the last hour. The Greek expression is Escate Hora. John is describing the period between Christ's first coming and his return. From the moment Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, the church entered what the New Testament calls the last days. Every generation since the apostles has lived with the expectation that Christ could return. That expectation wasn't intended to create fear, it was intended to encourage faithful living. John is reminding believers that history is moving towards God's appointed conclusion. Therefore, we should live with wisdom, faithfulness, and spiritual alertness. John says you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. Whenever people hear the word antichrist, they often immediately think about the future. The New Testament certainly speaks elsewhere about a future figure of great deception. But John's emphasis here is different. Notice that he says many antichrists have already come. The Greek word is antichristos. The prefix anti can mean against Christ, but it can also mean instead of Christ. An antichrist is therefore anyone who opposes Christ or offers a substitute for the real Christ. John isn't primarily talking about political leaders, he's talking about false teachers, people who distort the identity of Jesus, people who present another version of Christ. That warning is just as relevant today. Not every Jesus being presented in our culture is the Jesus revealed in Scripture. Some present Jesus merely as a great moral teacher. Others reduce him to a political revolutionary. Others see him simply as a spiritual guide among many. Still others deny his deity altogether. John says whenever the true identity of Christ is denied or distorted, the spirit of Antichrist is at work. John then makes a statement that has often puzzled readers. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. John is referring to people who had once identified with the Christian community, but eventually abandoned apostolic teaching. This wasn't simply about changing churches. It wasn't about disagreement over secondary issues. John is talking about people who rejected the truth about Jesus himself. Their departure revealed that they had never truly embraced the apostolic gospel. That doesn't mean everyone who struggles with doubts has abandoned Christ. Questions are part of spiritual growth. Thomas questioned, Peter failed. Many believers wrestle with difficult issues. John is speaking about people who deliberately reject Christ while attempting to persuade others to do the same. John then turns from warning to encouragement, but you have an anointing from the Holy One. The Greek word for anointing is chrisma. In the Old Testament, kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil as a sign that God had set them apart for his purposes. John now uses this picture spiritually. The believer has received the Holy Spirit. This connects beautifully with Jesus' promise in John's Gospel. Before his crucifixion, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and guide believers into all truth. John isn't speaking about a mysterious spiritual experience reserved for a few. Every genuine believer has received the Holy Spirit. The Spirit doesn't merely comfort us, he illuminates God's word. He helps us recognize truth. He produces discernment. He continually points us towards Christ. John then says something that can easily be misunderstood. You do not need anyone to teach you. At first glance that sounds strange. After all, John himself is teaching them. Elsewhere in the New Testament we read The Christ has given teachers to the church. So what does John mean? He's not saying Christians don't need pastors, Bible teachers, or spiritual mentors. He's addressing the false teachers who claimed believers needed their secret knowledge before they could truly understand God. John rejects that completely. Everything necessary for salvation has already been revealed in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit enables every believer to understand the essential truths of the gospel. Good teachers don't replace the Holy Spirit. They work alongside the Holy Spirit, faithfully explaining God's word. Whenever a teacher draws attention to themselves instead of Christ, claims exclusive revelation or suggests that only they possess the real truth, alarm bells should begin ringing. Healthy Christian teaching always points beyond itself to Jesus. John now comes to the heart of the matter. Who is Jesus? This is the question that determines everything. John writes, Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. The Greek word Christos means the anointed one, the promised Messiah. To deny Jesus is the Christ is to reject God's chosen Savior. John goes even further. No one who denies the Son has the Father. That statement remains just as important today. Sometimes people say I believe in God, but I don't believe Jesus is necessary. John would lovingly but firmly disagree. You cannot separate the Father from the Son. Jesus Himself said I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John simply echoes his master's teaching. The Father has revealed himself through his Son. To reject the Son is to reject the Father's revelation. To receive the Son is to know the Father. One word appears repeatedly throughout John's writings. The word is meno. It means to remain, abide, continue or dwell. John says, See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. Notice that the answer to deception isn't constantly chasing new ideas. It is remaining faithful to the truth we have already received. There is something in human nature that is often attracted to novelty. People like discovering something new, a new interpretation, a hidden revelation, a secret code. John says the gospel doesn't need improving. It doesn't need replacing. The message the apostles preached is still the message that saves. I've noticed over many years of ministry that healthy Christian growth usually isn't about discovering something nobody has ever seen before. It's about going deeper into truths we've known all along. The longer I walk with Christ, the more I appreciate the beauty of the simple gospel. Christ came, Christ died, Christ rose again, Christ is Lord. Those truths never grow old. We live in an age where almost every opinion is presented as equally true. People often say your truth may be different from my truth. John gently but clearly reminds us that truth isn't something we invent. Truth is ultimately found in a person. Jesus said I am the truth. That means our responsibility isn't to create truth, it's to remain faithful to the one who is truth. This requires humility, it requires discernment, it requires a willingness to test everything we hear against the scriptures. Not every persuasive speaker is trustworthy, not every popular message is biblical, not every spiritual experience comes from God. John's answer isn't fear, it is remaining close to Christ. The closer we remain to Jesus, the more familiar his voice becomes. Just as a shepherd knows the sound of his own sheep, the sheep learn to recognize the voice of their shepherd. That comes through spending time in his word, listening to his spirit, walking with him day by day. One of the privileges of walking with Christ over many decades is that you begin to recognize a pattern. Teaching styles change, church movements come and go, popular books rise and fall, certain personalities become well known for a season and then disappear. But Jesus never changes, his gospel never changes, his word remains true. I've learned that one of the safest places to live spiritually is close to Christ and firmly anchored in the scriptures. I've certainly benefited from many gifted teachers over the years, but I've also learned never to place my confidence in personalities. Our confidence must always be in Christ. Faithful teachers point us to him. The Holy Spirit glorifies him, the scriptures reveal him. Everything centers on Jesus. John's message is both encouraging and challenging. Yes, there are false voices, yes, deception exists, but believers are not left defenseless. We have God's word, we have the Holy Spirit, we have the truth about Jesus Christ, and we have the promise of eternal life. John's encouragement is beautifully simple. Remain in Christ, remain in His Word, remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit, remain faithful to the gospel you first received, because the one who called you is faithful. Until next time, may you remain firmly anchored in God's truth, walk closely with Jesus, and continue growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.