Bible Study - Culture (7) - When False Religions Deceive - 1 John 2:18-29 - February 24, 2019

Bible Study – Culture (7) – When False Religions Deceive – February 24, 2019.

This is lesson seven (7) and our final lesson in our series entitled “Engaging Culture in an Ever-Changing World.”

Our focus scripture is 1 John 2:18-29.

Truth is grounded in the reality of who JESUS CHRIST is.

Truth binds and never let’s go. Truth is stronger than the best super glue ever. Truth dispels every false notion. Faith in JESUS is truth for eternal life for every person who will accept HIM as his or her Savior.

Where do we often get into trouble? I have found in my life I get into trouble when I build air castles about GOD, who HE is and what HE can do. Yes, GOD can do more than we can comprehend or think. The missing ingredient is thinking my wants and desires are GOD’S because I want them and HE will provide them.

I learned, after hitting my head on the wall of stubbornness and following my own desires for the resolution of issues, failure was me and not GOD. But guess what? I learned valuable lessons and fortunately used them to take a pause in my life and seek truth from GOD.

Absolute truth comes through placing one’s faith in JESUS as his or her Savior. That is ground zero. Faith in JESUS is the solid foundation upon which every Christian must build. But every Christian must build with truth. We studied scripture in last week’s lesson about building upon the solid foundation of the rock and not upon sand.

Where do we find truth? The Christian Bible reveals truth. The Holy Spirit reveals truth. GOD has anointed many Christians, Bible teachers, pastors, preachers, evangelists with the truth and the passion to reveal truth. GOD also equips Christians with many gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gift of discernment is a gift to spot truth versus error. Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 John 2:1-17: (Background)

1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ the righteous One.

The Apostle John referred to his readers as “little Children” which was likely a term of endearment to let them know that they are secure in their faith in JESUS. Christians know that they sin and can get burdened down with that knowledge. Salvation goes beyond the present but into eternity and that is good news. It does not give the Christian the opportunity to as he or she pleases but when a Christian sin’s, he or she does not have to get saved again, over and over. JESUS paid the price for sin once and for all eternity for the person who places his or her faith in JESUS. Yes, once saved, always saved!

Do you recall 1 Corinthians 3: 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.

14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

As a Christian, you are and your citizenship is in Heaven and you are GOD’S son or daughter through your faith in JESUS. You are building upon the foundation of JESUS but the materials you build with are your Heavenly rewards. Will they survive the test of fire? Or will they burn up? But the Good News is that you will be in Heaven for eternity because you have placed your faith in JESUS. Faith in JESUS means an immediate Spiritual rebirth and eternal life. If you want to store up that beyond earthly treasure, then obediently serve GOD

When Christians sin, JESUS is their advocate or lawyer Who pleads their case before GOD their Father. Satan is the accuser of all people, especially Christians, before GOD. JESUS stands before GOD and pleads our case that, as Christians, we are covered by the blood of JESUS and our sin has been washed clean, whiter than snow.

2 He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

Propitiation is the biblical doctrine embodying the concept that the   death of Christ fully satisfied the demands of a righteous God in respect to judgment upon the sinner. JESUS, the sinless Lamb, satisfied the demands of GOD but we as humans must acknowledge that JESUS did so by placing our faith in JESUS.

Christians are sinners saved by GOD’S grace and yes, Christians sin. John addressed this in 1 John 1:7-10:

7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say, "We have no sin," we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say, "We have not sinned," we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Back to 1 John 2:3-11: What is the desire of our hearts?

God's Commands

3 This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands.

4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him:

6 the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command, but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the message you have heard.

8 Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

9 The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother is in the darkness until now.

10 The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn't know where he's going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

What is our attitude toward fellow Christians? Our attitude is a reflection of our hearts,

Let’s read 1 John 2:18-20:

The Last Hour

18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, "Antichrist is coming," even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour.

19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

The Apostle John saw the increase in “antichrists” and this was a trigger that let him know, time was running out. Was he sensing that his time was drawing close or that JESUS was going to soon return to earth? We know that JESUS taught about HIS return to earth in Mark 13:32-33:

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

JESUS made it clear that HE did not know when HE would return to earth “only the Father” knew. But while we, as Christians, wait, we are to be obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit because the end can come at any second.

Let’s consider 2 Peter 3:8-18:

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives

12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

In other words, Christians Stay Ready! A message to non-Christians get ready because judgment day is coming! Christians are to redeem the time; that is make every second count in obedience to the leadership of the Holy Spirit! Christians are to grow Spiritually in truth as they obediently serve GOD.

The Apostle John was witnessing many antichrists luring Christians and non-Christians away from the truth. Truth is “CHRIST in you” as recorded in Colossian’s 1:27 - 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  

Antichrists are those “against CHRIST” or “an opponent” or “an adversary of CHRIST.” Yes, there are antichrists in the world today doing all they can to lead people astray and for them to embrace false doctrine and teaching.  Consider 1 John 2:22 in our next scripture.

John had witnessed false teachers leading those he thought were Christians astray. But those to whom he was writing knew the truth because they remained faithful. Why? It was because they had been “anointed” by the Holy Spirit. Another Bible translation uses the word “unction.”

When we have built our faith upon the solid foundation of truth, then it stands when the rains of false teachers and teaching come down upon us. Christians must know the truth and take a firm stand upon truth. Christians have the guarantee of the indwelling Holy Spirit as their security deposit. (2 Corinthians 1:22 - 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.) John continued the importance of truth as we read on --

Let’s read 1 John 2:21-25:

21 I have not written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth.

22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? He is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

23 No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Remaining with God

24 What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.

The Apostle John was called by JESUS to walk with HIM and to serve with HIM. John knew without a scintilla of doubt that JESUS was the true Son of GOD and the promised Messiah. When you know what you know because it is true, it is firmly established in your life and is unshakeable. The truth is that when you have the Son you also have the

Father. You cannot have one without the other.

To know refers to innate or natural that comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Truth is always true in any matter being considered. No lie comes from truth. Since JESUS is truth what HE says in John `4:6 is truth - 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

First John 5: 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

First John 4: 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Verse 24 uses the words “remain in you.” The truth you have been told about the birth, sinless life of JESUS, HIS death, resurrection, ascension and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in you when you place your faith in JESUS, you must abide in those facts because they are true. JESUS spoke about abiding in John 15: 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (NIV) and in the ESV - 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

There can never be more than absolute truth and when you discover absolute truth then embrace it fully. Take off your old clothes and put on your new clothes in the knowledge of truth, which is CHRIST in you, the hope of Glory. Truth neve changes and does not need to be updated.

Let’s read 1 John 2:26-29:

26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

27 The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in Him.

God's Children

28 So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

29 If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.

The Apostle John was writing to fellow Christians to remind them that they do not have to do anything beyond what he has taught them. Salvation occurs at the instant a person places his or her faith in JESUS, the CHRIST. It is believing that JESUS paid the penalty for sin once and for all by the shedding of HIS blood. At that same instant, GOD guarantees that you now belong to HIM by HIS gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Those who accept JESUS as their Savior experience the miracle of rebirth in their human spirit. All are born-again Spiritually into the family of GOD and have eternal life. GOD chooses for those born-again to remain upon earth to remain and be HIS Ambassadors for HIS Kingdom.  Bask in the sunshine of HIS Glory – Blessings!!!