In what specific situations have you grieved the Spirit (Eph. 4:30)?John urges his readers to know the truth and watch out for counterfeits. Have you ever been scammed or deceived? What happened? How did you feel afterwards?
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Have you ever realized that one of your spiritual beliefs was erroneous? What happened to make you realize you were wrong?
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The aged apostle John warned his flock about the fundamental tests of genuine Christian fellowship. True believers, he insists, will pass the doctrinal test—they will subscribe to orthodox views of Christ and of sin. They will also pass the moral test—obeying the commands of Christ and loving the brethren (while not loving the world).
Now, in his unique literary style, John “spirals” back around through these same essential truths. By constantly repeating these themes (he does so four times) and examining them from various angles, he drives home these truths in the minds and hearts of his readers. In this section he speaks of false teachers (called “antichrists”) who depart from the true Christian fellowship, deny the Christian faith, and deceive the Christian faithful. This serves to underscore the need for the people of God to make sure they are doctrinally astute and pure.
Antichrist: This term is found only in John’s epistles (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7). From the Greek word antichristos (“against/instead of Christ”), it refers to an enemy of Christ or one who seeks to usurp His rightful place. In 1 John 2:18 it is a proper name and refers to the coming, final world ruler, energized by Satan, who will seek to replace and oppose the true Christ. Its second usage (2:18) is plural and refers to the false teachers who were troubling John’s congregations, because their false doctrine distorted the truth and opposed Christ. The term, therefore, refers to a principle of evil, incarnated in men, who are hostile and opposed to God.
Read 1 John 2:18–27, noting the key words and definitions next to the passage.
1 John 2:18–27 (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.
the last hour (v. 18)—The phrase refers to the “latter times” or “last days,” i.e., the time period between the first and second comings of Christ (1 Tim. 4:1; James 5:3; 1 Pet. 4:7; 2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 18).
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.
They went out from us . . . none of them were of us (v. 19)—The first characteristic mentioned of antichrists, i.e., false teachers and deceivers (vv. 22–26), is that they depart from the faithful; i.e., they arise from within the church and depart from true fellowship, leading people out with them.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
an anointing from the Holy One (v. 20)—The Holy Spirit guards believers from error (see Acts 10:38; 2 Cor. 1:21).
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.
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.
denies the Father and the Son (vv. 22–23)—A second characteristic of antichrists is that they deny the faith (i.e., sound doctrine). Anyone denying the true nature of Christ as presented in the Scripture is an antichrist (see 4:2; 2 Thess. 2:11).
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.
heard from the beginning (vv. 24–25)—The gospel that cannot change. Christian truth is fixed and unalterable (Jude 3).
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
those who try to deceive you (v. 26)—A third characteristic of antichrists is that they try to deceive the faithful (see also 1 Tim. 4:1).
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.
do not need that anyone teach you (v. 27)—John is not denying the importance of gifted teachers in the church (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11), but indicates that neither those teachers nor those believers are dependent on human wisdom or the opinions of men for the truth. God’s Holy Spirit guards and guides the true believer into the truth.
abide in Him (v. 27)—In response to such deceivers, the task of the genuine believer is to “walk in the truth,” i.e., persevere in faithfulness and sound doctrine (see vv. 20–21; 2 John 4; 3 John 4).
1) What is significant about John’s statement that he writes in “the last hour” (v. 18)?
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2) What does verse 19 say about the perseverance of the saints? What will be true of those who are genuinely born-again?
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3) What did John mean by the anointing (v. 20)? Who gets this anointing?
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4) How can we discern the presence of an antichrist? What characteristics set true believers apart from the antichrists?
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5) What is the promise or reward for those who stay faithful to the truth (v. 27)?
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John taught about the Father and the Son. For more insight on this relationship, read John 5:32–38.
32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
6) According to Jesus’ own words, how is denying Christ tantamount to also denying the Father? (See also 1 John 2:22.)
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7) How is the Holy Spirit like a built-in lie detector (2:20, 27)?
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8) What are some “antichrist” attitudes and behaviors that are common in our culture?
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9) Define what it means to “abide” in the truth and in Christ (2:24).
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10) How does God’s Holy Spirit guide believers into the truth (see John 15:26; 16:17)?
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John’s love of truth is evident in all his writings. He uses the Greek word for truth twenty-five times in his gospel and twenty more times in his epistles. He wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4 NKJV). His strongest epithet for someone who claimed to be a believer while walking in darkness was to describe the person as “a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4 NKJV). No one in all of Scripture, except the Lord Himself, had more to say extolling the concept of truth.
11) As believers in Jesus, we have been given the very Spirit of God to guard and guide us (John 16:13; 1 John 2:20), to empower us (Acts 1:8), and to be our Helper (John 14:16). Evaluate the work of the Spirit in your life.
In what specific situations have you grieved the Spirit (Eph. 4:30)?
How have you quenched the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19)?
When have you failed to walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)?
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12) List two specific things you will do this week to abide in the truth and protect yourself from falling into error.
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Write out additional reflections, questions you may have, or a prayer.
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