I John 2:18-27

False brothers

Would you open your Bibles to…

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Intro

√ False brothers

Their name (vs. 18)

1Jo. 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.

√ Antichrist

"antichrist" means…

"against" & "in place of"

Ap. They won't call themselves by their Biblical name!

Rather, they will be known by their doctrine.

√ Their character

Revealed by their name

√ The sign of Antichrist

Their presence is a sign that we are living in the "last hour".

Their MO - modus operandi (vs. 19)

1Jo. 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.

√ Abandoned the True Gospel

Ex. Rise of false religions and cults

Mormon, J.W.'s, Adventists, Unity, etc. - all left the true Gospel to establish their own "truth".

Main point? (vs. 20-21)

1Jo. 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

1Jo. 2:21 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.

Their doctrine (vs. 22-23)

1Jo. 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.

1Jo. 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

√ Deny Jesus

Either His humanity, or His divinity

This is the defining issue which separates the historic Christian faith established by Jesus and His apostles from the cults and false religions.

"another Jesus"

2Cor. 11:1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly--and indeed you do bear with me.

2Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

2Cor. 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2Cor. 11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!

√ Deny the Trinity

The revealed nature of the Godhead

The Christian response (vs. 24-27)

1Jo. 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.

1Jo. 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life.

1Jo. 2:26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

1Jo. 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 abide in Him.

√ No "new" Gospel

Note John's exhortation in vs. 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."

Paul's warning….

Gal. 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,

Gal. 1:7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal. 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Gal. 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

√ Test of Truth

Confirmed by the Holy Spirit and the Word.

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