1 John 2:18-27 – Don’t be side-tracked

In John’s days, false teachers were present and active. So he wrote to advise believers not to be taken in by their unorthodox teachings. The “last hour” here is referring to the period that span between the first and second coming of Christ. It is not “last” in the sense of the end. Here, he reminded them of the coming of the Anti-Christ, the arch-enemy of Christ. They already knew of the prediction of his coming. However, he told them that there were already many anti-christs among them. Like the Anti-Christ, these little anti-christs also held similar values and agenda, and would be in opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ. John deduced that the presence of these anti-christs were clear indication that believers are living in the last hour. However, true believers have the anointing within them to teach them. This anointing had variedly been interpreted. Some say it refers to the Word of God, others think it is the Holy Spirit. It is likely to be the combination of both i.e. the Holy Spirit enforcing the truth of the Word of God in a believer’s life.

Since John’s main intention was to expose the false teachers, he then revealed several things about them. Firstly, these false teachers left the apostolic fellowship. In verse 19, the pronoun “us” is not referring to the fellowship of believers that John was writing to. He was probably referring to the Apostolic Church in Jerusalem and Judea. Suffice to say that these false teachers had departed from the apostolic teachings. John showed here how urgently he himself wanted to dissociate from the false teachers. In saying that “they all are not of us”, he was underscoring the fact that these teachers did not share the spirit and viewpoint of the apostles. And if they had held the same perspective, they would not have seceded from the true church. Secondly, they would deny Jesus Christ. And in denying the Son they had also denied the Father, for one cannot have one without the other. By denying the Father and the Son, they had made themselves liars.

John then pointed his readers to the truth that they already knew. He assured them that they could differentiate truth from lies because they were instructed in them. Furthermore, they had comprehended and appropriated the truth and would not be confused by lies. In verse 24, he then admonished them to remain in the truth that they had heard from the beginning. If they do so, they would remain in the Son and the Father. As they remained steadfast in God and His truth, they would experience eternal life.

The advantage for us believers is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This Spirit will teach us things concerning the truth. He is within us to bring light to the truth in the Scripture. If we remain true to God and diligently search the Word, leaning on the help of the Holy Spirit, He will bear witness to the truth we have been taught. Be diligent and find time to study God’s Word, you will not regret it!