DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What does it mean to "abide in Christ," and how can you practically do that in your daily life?
How can you discern between truth and deception when it comes to teachings about Jesus? What are some ways you can guard yourself against falsehoods and lies about Christ?
What does it mean for Jesus to be "the Christ," and how should that impact the way you live?
In what ways can you on the Holy Spirit for truth, guidance, and perseverance in your faith?
SERMON MANUSCRIPT
If you know me, you know I’ve grown to love CrossFit. Over the years, I’ve grown increasingly engrained in its culture. I have the grips, the shoes, and the knee sleeves. I know the terminology, and my knees hurt from time to time. Once a year, I train in what we would call the Crossfit Open, a three-week-long worldwide competition.
In years past, I’ve done well in the Open and been proud of my results. But this year was a different story. Countless factors contributed to my subpar performance, but let’s just say I had a disappointing Open— so disappointing that I quit 3/4 of the way through my second attempt of the last workout. I hit a wall and had enough, so I threw in my towel and quit.
CrossFit culture is an encouraging culture, a culture of high-fives and “atta-boys!” Given its challenging demands, CrossFitters are proud of each other and are there to encourage each other as they cross the finish line. We celebrate our friend’s willingness to fight until the end. So, needless to say, not many people lined up to encourage me that day. I was met with disappointed nods, not excited high fives.
John Stott says, “Endurance is the hallmark of the saved.” When it comes to the Christian faith, it’s not as much about how you start as it is about how you finish. As one commentator puts it, “It is not enough to say that we once believed; it is necessary that we continue to believe… Future and final perseverance is the ultimate test of genuine participation in the life of Christ. If one does not abide in him, it is a sure sign that one has not been anointed. For those anointed by the Spirit abide in Christ and the truth.”
As we will see in our passage today, some will throw in the towel and leave. Some will go out from us because they were not of us. Today, we will begin to see that one of the marks of a true believer is their endurance until the end. It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.
Those who are truly in Christ have Christ truly in them, and those who have the Spirit within them are those who will finish running the race with true endurance. Therefore, we must rely on the Spirit, trusting his teaching and leading, not abandoning the gospel we’ve embraced. The language John often uses is “abide.” We are to abide in Christ as his words abide in us.
Today, we will begin to see that falsehood is one of the greatest threats to the Christian faith. Lies are the fiery darts shot by the evil one. Therefore, it’s pertinent for us to have the words of Christ abide in us as we abide in him.
Let’s dive in,
“[18] Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. [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 it might become plain that they all are not of us. [20] But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. [21] I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. [22] Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. [23] No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. [24] Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. [25] And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
[26] I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. [27] But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
THE LAST HOUR
At the start of our passage today, we’re introduced to two difficult concepts: (1) the concept of the last hour and (2) the concept of the antichrist. John is seemingly saying that the last hour and the antichrists are like peanut butter and jelly; they’re expected to go hand in hand.
I had a lot of questions as I studied this verse this week, so I’m assuming you might, as well. Let’s, therefore, spend a brief moment unpacking these two things.
First, the concept of “hour” is pretty common in John’s writings. In his gospel, John frequently talked about the cross as a time that had not come. The Pharisees often sought to kill him but couldn’t because his hour had not come. But now we know that his time has come; the hour has come that the Son of man would be glorified on the cross (Jn. 12:23).”
Well, now John uses that same word concerning a seemingly different time. The last hour has come. So, the hour of Jesus’ glorification on the cross was coming. That hour has come. And, now, John finds himself in the last hour.
Now, I did the math. Roughly 17M hours have passed since John penned these words.
So, what do we do with that? How do we grapple with the concept that John was in the last hour two thousand years ago? If John was in the last hour, are we in the last, last, last hour?
Many commentators agree that this phrase signifies the entire period between Christ's first and second comings. J.H. Newman summarizes this by saying, “History has changed its direction. It runs not towards the end, but along it, and on the brink of it; and is at all times near that great event, which, did it run towards it, it would at once run into it. Christ then is ever at our doors.”
Commentators get this idea from various places in Scripture:
“On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.” — Acts 2:16–17
“Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.” — 1 Cor 10:11
“But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days.” — 2 Tim 3:1
“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.” — Heb 1:1–2
“Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” — Heb 9:26
“He was chosen before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times for you.” — 1 Pet 1:20
MANY ANTICHRISTS HAVE COME
So, John is saying that we are in the last times, and during the last time, the antichrist is coming. But who is the antichrist(s)?
This is a question that has been asked often throughout history. What is an antichrist? And who is it?
Anti means against, to be an opponent of someone. So, an antichrist is someone who is against Christ. This is one who either puts himself in the place of the Christ or who becomes an enemy of Christ. Jesus, in Matthew 24:5,24, says, “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray… For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” There is also a beast mentioned in Revelation 13 that will be allowed to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, making war on the saints. Many connect the beast mentioned in Revelation 13 to the antichrist. So, it seems that there very well may be a final antichrist that comes one day to wage war against the saints. But there are undoubtedly many antichrists who have and will continue to come to wage war against Christ and his church.
This reminds us of the simple truth that opposition is inevitable. In this last hour, leading up to Christ’s final return, there will be many antichrist. There will be many who wage war against Christ and his church by telling lies about Christ and his church.
We are a Jesus people. He is our hope. He is our joy. He is our love. He is our life. He is our commonality, the glue that holds us together. Without Jesus, we are nothing. And many will seek to wage war against the object of our hope, joy, love, and life. Do not be surprised by this. This is how we know it’s the last hour. This is how we know that the end is near, the ever presence of those who oppose Christ with falsehood.
THEY WENT OUT FROM US
John then says, “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 it might become plain that they all are not of us.”
Who is he talking about here? Who is the “they” here? The “they” are the antichrist described in verse 18. The many antichrist that have come are those who have gone out from among them. So, John is pointing his finger at specific people who have left the church, saying, “They are the antichrist.” There’s no speaking in code with John here. There’s no sugar coding it. He’s a straight shooter. He’s saying that there were some who were a part of the church who have left the church in order to wage war against the church by seeking to deceive the church. They left us because they were not of us.
This tells us that not all who start will finish. Not all who are a part of the physical church are a part of the true/spiritual church. The longer we live the Christian life, the more likely we will begin to see some leave the Christian faith. Some will go out from us because they were not of us.
In this last hour, many outside the church will oppose Christ. But there will also be some who were within the church who leave the church and seek to oppose the church. There will be some who take off the name tag of Christ and put on the name tag of antichrist. They left the body of Christ because they were never actually a part of it. They left Christ because they were not in Christ. They left Christ because Christ was not in them. True evidence of being in Christ is abiding in Christ. Fruit of being in Christ is continuing in Him. Endurance is evidence of genuine faith.
John seems to be intentional in making this distinction. They left because they were never in— “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 it might become plain that they all are not of us.” Evidence of faith is continual allegiance. Faithfulness last year is not an excuse for disobedience this year. Abiding yesterday doesn’t trump forsaking today. Those who are in Christ will continue in Christ. One of the many marks of a believer is remaining in Christ.
Now, I want to present a caveat here. Not everyone who leaves a local body of believers is necessarily lost. I don’t want us to start an antichrist list of people in our head who have left Harbor. There’s a slew of reasons one could potentially leave a local body, some good and some bad. That’s not necessarily the point of this passage. Leaving a local church doesn’t necessarily indicate spiritual separation. This is a forsaking of allegiance to Christ. This is turning from being for Christ to being against Christ. This is setting aside truth for falsehood. This is exchanging Biblical truth for personal truth. This is one saying, “I know what God’s word says, but…”
John is saying that their reason for leaving has made it clear where they stand— “They went out that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” “Plain” means clear. So, one of the clearest ways to know someone is in Christ is their willingness to continue with the people of Christ as they embrace the truth of Christ. In forsaking Jesus and the church, you’re declaring your allegiance.
ANOINTED PEOPLE
John then says in verse 20, “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.”
To be anointed by the Holy One is to be marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, anointing someone with oil was a symbolic act of God setting someone apart for a specific task: prophet, priest, or king. In the New Testament, we are spiritually anointed by the Holy Spirit, meaning we are set apart by God as his holy people.
Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of truth.” The Holy Spirit has come to bear witness to Jesus, to help us know the truth about him. The Holy Spirit has come to help us know and discern the truth that has been revealed to us about Jesus in his word. The Teacher has come to illuminate. So, those who have the Holy Spirit have been given truth. They know the truth because they know the God of truth. If the Spirit of truth resides within you, then you know truth.
Later on in this letter, John says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” So, we don’t blindly accept every teaching we hear. Test what you hear with what the Bible says! With our Bibles open, we must seek to discern truth from deception by carefully studying and critically listening. We must seek to discern whether a teaching aligns with God’s truth. By depending upon the Spirit as we seek to discern truth, we can withstand the deceitful schemes of the antichrists. If what you hear aligns with the Bible, accept and apply it. If what you hear does not align with the Bible, reject and deny it!
JESUS IS THE CHRIST
John says, “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” So, as we discern what is true and what is a lie, we must look at what is being taught about Jesus. Be leery of pastors who mention Jesus in passing. Be leery of teachers who deny Jesus as the Christ. Be leery of spiritual influences who never mention Jesus.
Jesus is the sticking point. He is the glue. He is the cornerstone. He is the door. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. You cannot have God without Jesus. You cannot have a relationship with God apart from Jesus. So, as we discern what is true and what is a lie, we must examine what we are taught about Jesus. All teachers who proclaim a way to the Father apart from Jesus proclaim a lie. In using the words of John, they are a liar.
Now, I want to take our mouse and double click on that phrase, “Jesus is the Christ.” What does that phrase mean? What does it mean to deny that Jesus is the Christ?
The phrase Christ is a Messianic term that communicates something specific about Jesus. The Hebrew word Messiah is translated Christ in Greek, and it means anointed one. As I mentioned a moment ago, in the Old Testament, “anointing was the designation of something as sacred, set apart, or special to God.” It’s being set apart and empowered by God for a specific task.
We see this fairly often in the Old Testament in reference to prophets (1Kings 19:16), priest (Exodus 28-30), and kings (1 Samuel 9 & 16). So, to call Jesus the Christ is to call Jesus the anointed one. To call Jesus “the Christ” is to declare that he is the one God has set apart for a specific task of God. Jesus is not merely anointed with oil at the hands of men; he is the anointed one of God who was sent by God. To call Jesus the Christ is to declare that He is the one who has been set apart by God to be the greater Prophet, Priest, and King. God anointed Jesus above all those that came before him (Heb. 1:9). He is the greater prophet referred to by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15. He is the high priest of our confession, as we see in Hebrews 3:1. He is the great King God has raised up to reign over the Kingdom of God.
God sent His Son to dwell among us. And where he deserved the highest praise and honor, he emptied himself and became a servant. He humbly came to bring good news to the poor. He gently came near to the brokenhearted to lift up those who had been cast down, set captives free, and return mourning to laughing.
So, confessing Jesus as the Christ is acknowledging his words as God’s words. You’re confessing he is the anointed prophet who came to proclaim good news to the captive. You’re declaring truth to be wrapped up in Jesus.
Confessing Jesus as the Christ is acknowledging your need for a Savior. You’re confessing he is the anointed priest who came to offer the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. You’re confessing your own brokenness and his own righteousness.
To confess Jesus as the Christ is to acknowledge Jesus as you’re Lord. You’re confessing he is the anointed king who reigns and rules over all. You declare that you have handed over the keys to your own life and that Jesus is Lord.
John says that you cannot deny Jesus and embrace God. Union with God is a byproduct of union with Jesus. To confess the Son is to embrace the Father. To deny his teaching is to deny God’s teaching. To deny his atoning work of the cross is to deny God’s way of eternal life. To deny the Lordship of Christ is to wage war against God.
CONTINUE TO EMBRACE THE GOSPEL
The longer we live, the more we will be tempted to look for something new. Disdain for monotony is an enemy of truth. The moment we grow weary of embracing the same truth every single day, we open ourselves up to heresy. So, John calls the church to continue embracing what they heard from the beginning— “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he has made to us— eternal life.” Abide means to stay, remain, or reside; it is to not forsake, but stay close. So, let that which we heard from the beginning abide in us. Let the gospel message you once embraced stay close to your heart. God has promised to us eternal life in Jesus. So, do not grow weary in the beauty of this promise. Let the truth of Jesus that has been present from the beginning of time rest heavily in your hearts. Let it abide in you as you abide in Him. To continue to embrace the truth about Jesus is to continue to abide in Jesus.
SUMMARY
In verses 26 and 27, John summarizes what he’s been saying. He says, “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie— just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
Church, in our digital age, I’ve learned over the years that it seems, at times, a lie is more profitable than truth. And the Bible tells us that some teachers and preachers are maliciously lying for the sake of deception. There are people whose sole motivation is deception. So, may we be careful. With the helping of the Holy Spirit, may we carefully evaluate the message we embrace.
When John says, “You have no need that anyone should teach you,” he’s not claiming that we should reject all human teachers. Instead, he’s emphasizing the fact that we have direct access to the truth of God. We have the Bible and the Holy Spirit who is there to help us discern truth. Therefore, let us strive to have his truth abide in us as we continue to abide in him. The most anointed people are those who abide in the words of Jesus.