Remain True

By Steve Bains, July 05, 2020

1 John 2:15-29

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

  1. The prevalence and power of
  2. spread lies about Jesus
  3. The teachings of the is antichrist
  4. Three arguments for about Jesus
    1. John's account
    2. The story about Jesus is unchanged and trustworthy
    3. witness of the Holy Spirit
  5. in Christ

Questions For Discipleship Groups or Self Study

Read 1 John 2:18-29

-Why is John’s reason for writing this passage (v.26)?

-Do you believe that there are antichrists today? If so, what are some examples of the teaching of the antichrist?

-What should be our attitude toward the concerted efforts of the antichrist spirit or force?

  1. avoid
  2. lovingly engage
  3. lovingly engage and warn other believers
  4. none of the above
  5. other ideas

-What are some of the best way to counter the teaching of the antichrists in our midst?

-Read 1 John 2:15-17. How do we avoid passively giving into the spirit of the antichrist that is active in the world?

-Are you happy with your current state of intimacy with God?

-What are you doing well to grow spiritually in Christ (i.e. your spiritual growth rhythms or practices)?

-Read v. 28. Is there anything you can do to growth closer to God or remain in Christ?

Contact steve@gracepoint.ca or 604.970.5302 for a personal spiritual growth plan.