1 JOHN 2:18-27
• The last hour: From the time Jesus entered the world until the time He comes again.
• The Antichrist: Also the “Beast” (Rev. 13:1-18; 17:3, 7-17) and “Man of Lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3-4)
• Antichrists: False teachers throughout the history of the church.
• Anointed by the Holy One (1 John 2:20)”: Same as Paul’s “baptized” by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).
• Jesus was fully God and fully man. Any other teaching is false (1 John 2:22-23).
• The Father cannot be separated from the Son, and the Son cannot be separated from the Father. A relationship with the Father is always through Jesus (John 3:36; 1 John 2:23).
• While we will always need human teachers, the Holy Spirit is our primary Teacher (1 John 2:27; John 14:16-18, 26; 16:13).
Three Take-Aways from 1 John 2:18-27
1. Beware of false teachers.
• The Heretic: Contradicts essential teaching of the Christian Faith.
• The Charlatan: In it for the money.
• The Prophet: Claims to speak fresh revelation.
• The Abuser: Uses position to take advantage of people.
• The Divider: Uses false doctrine to disrupt or destroy a church.
• The Tickler: Teaches only parts of the Bible that are acceptable.
• The Speculator: Obsessed with presenting novelty, originality, or speculation.
-Tim Challies, 7 False Teachers in the Church Today
https://www.challies.com/articles/7-false-teachers-in-the-church-today/
2. Be wise and discerning. The Father loves you so much He sent His Son. Jesus loves you so much He died for you on the cross. You are anointed by the Holy One—the Holy Spirit of truth.
3. True believers persevere (1 John 2:19).
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
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