1 JOHN 2:18–21 THE DOCTRINAL TEST OF TRUTH PART 1

In the first part of this chapter, John applies a character test; now he applies a doctrinal test to indicate the genuineness of his reader’s spirituality.

John has been dealing with the idea of light. God is light and Christians need to walk in the light. In this verse, John deals with the problem of counterfeits to light.

In these verses John answers that they may reassure themselves on the basis of their attitude toward the truth of God as revealed in Jesus. They can be certain of their salvation if they believe that Jesus is God incarnate and if they continue in that conviction.^[i]

 

In this section John follows a threefold outline. First, he develops a contrast between the antichrists of his day and God’s true children, a contrast that is at the same time a contrast between falsehood and error (vv. 18–21)^[ii]

It makes no difference what you believe, just as long as you are sincere!”^[iii]

1. False Believers Depart from the faith v18-19

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.

The words “little children” here mean a small child. John’s readers stand in need of a very steep learning curve. They are babes in the midst of raving spiritual wolves. They need the mature warnings of the apostle John. They needed to grow up spiritually.

1 Cor. 3:1 “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.”

The “Antichrist” is someone who is against Christ. He also comes instead of Christ even now many antichrists have come,

At the time of writing 1 John, Christianity was not yet 60 years old yet “many antichrists” had already come. There were already many false teachers spread throughout the Roman Empire teaching things contrary to the Word.

Mt 24:24 For there shall arise false Christ’s and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect,

When John writes that “many antichrists have come,” he is not saying, then, that the final singular figure of antichrist is in the world, though, of course, that could have been a possibility. Rather, he is saying that the spirit that will characterize the final antichrist is already working in those who have recently left his readers’ congregations. The future antichrist will be a substitute for Christ, as much like Jesus as it is possible for a tool of Satan to be. Similarly, these Gnostic teachers appear to be angels of light but are actually satanic in both their works and outlook.^[iv]

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.”

This verse speaks to the issue of the antichrists of verse 18. They formally connected to the church but were never a part of the genuine body of Christ.

It is interesting to note, as Stott does, that 1 John 2:19 has an incidental but very important bearing upon two great Christian doctrines: the perseverance of the saints and the nature of the visible church. The bearing of the verse upon the first doctrine is seen in the statement that if the false teachers were really members of the body of Christ, they would have continued with other members of the body of Christ. This implies that perseverance is the ultimate test of genuine participation in the life of Christ. Those who are saved will persevere. On the other hand, the doctrine is not given in order to lull anyone into a false sense of security before God. As Bruce writes,^[1]

2Pe 3:17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

1Pe 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

 

The second doctrine upon which the verse throws light is that of the church, for it gives warrant for a distinction between the visible and the invisible church. It must be granted that Christians should pray that the church be as pure as it is possible for the church on earth to be, and work toward that goal. But when this is said, it must at the same time also be acknowledged that the church on earth will always contain tares as well as wheat and that Christians must exercise the utmost care in how they deal with them. The great temptation, particularly for those who are most serious about the church and its doctrine, is to root up the tares. But those who incline to this must remember that in Christ’s parable (Matt. 13:24–30) it was precisely this course that was forbidden to the householder’s servants. They said, “ ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up [that is, the tares]?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.’ ” The time for separation was to be at the time of the final harvest when the wheat should be gathered into barns and the tares burned.

The implication of Christ’s parable and John’s statement is that some Christians are so much like non-Christians and some non-Christians so much like Christians that it is impossible to tell the difference between them in this life.

1. False Believers Deny the Faith v20-25

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

This is a spiritual lie detector

The effect of this anointing--it is a spiritual eye-salve; it enlightens and strengthens the eyes of the understanding:

Over against the antichrists who have left the church John sets God’s true children. These are distinguished by two essential characteristics: First, they have been anointed by the Holy One, and second, they all know the truth centered in Jesus Christ.^[2]

 

More modern versions have it, namely, “you all know.” The point is not that Christians know everything. They certainly do not. But rather that all who are Christians at least know the full, absolute, and reliable truth concerning Jesus. Whatever their other doubts may be, they at least have no doubt regarding Christ’s person. Once again we should notice that John’s purpose in writing is not to impart fresh truth but rather to bring his readers to the point of using more effectively that which they already know.^[3]

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

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.

V21 Those who know the truth in any respect are thereby prepared to discern what is contrary to and inconsistent with it. Those that are well acquainted with Christian truth are well protected against anti-Christian error and deception.

FBI counterfeit bills

Principle: Truth and error always stand in opposition to each other.

Application: Truth and error are mutually exclusive in God’s economy.

Principle: Fakers eventually gravitate to their fundamental beliefs.

2 Peter 2:22 “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”

Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32

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