Bible Study - No Doubt (3) - Sure of the Truth - 1 John 2:18-29 - September 19, 2021

 Bible Study – No Doubt (3) – Sure of the Truth – September 19, 2021

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled, “No Doubt: Six Things We Can Know for Sure.”

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

Truth is found in JESUS alone.

Often, what we believe is truth turns out to be false. The Bible reveals to us in Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.

JESUS taught HIS disciples in Matthew 17:20:

²⁰ “Because of your little faith,” he^[a] told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of ^[b] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”^[c]

Faith in what or whom? Faith in GOD. GOD is our power and strength. GOD moves the mountain; physical or spiritual. We have to have the faith to ask HIM and when we do, we show trust in HIM. This is not flippant trust but trust that comes from walking in the light of faith in JESUS The CHRIST. Such faith moves us from faith in JESUS as a religion to faith in JESUS as a relationship.

What did JESUS teach in John 14:12?

¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me (JESUS) will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father (GOD).

Those who walk in the light and build a trust relationship with JESUS will do even greater things. JESUS taught in Matthew 7:

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

The key is in the word “know.” You know with absolute certainty; based upon complete knowledge and experience. JESUS then added a wonderful statement, “How much more.” As we take steps of faith, “How much more” will our LORD lead us to do for others. Spirit-born believers are upon earth to respond to the needs upon earth as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are not to get ahead or lag behind but to walk in-step with JESUS, as led by the Holy Spirit.

Now, most of us want the power of JESUS but we will not receive it until HE can trust us with it. It is like us, as parents, trying to decide when to give a gun to one of our children. There is a process of training and building trust in the child such that we know he or she can be trusted with the gun.

It is time for all who know JESUS to pray and rebuke Satan and the Covid-virus. In the wonderful name of JESUS, Covid-virus be gone and do not come back. Thank you, JESUS!!!

Also, the Holy Spirit has led me to ask all who read this lesson to join us in prayer for the Taliban leadership and their followers to accept JESUS as their Savior and for Afghanistan to become a Christian country/nation in the middle east. Is this foolish? This is GOD’S desire and all things are possible. Join me and many others in this request.

Let’s explore the message from the Apostle John ---

Let’s read 1 John 2:18-21:

The Last Hour

¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know 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.

The Apostle John was telling the Christians time was running out. There comes a time in our lives that we either fish or cut bait. It was such a time when the Apostle wrote these words and it is such a time as I write these words.

We need to keep in our minds that the scripture reveals to us in 2 Peter 3:8 - 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.

We are not to get hung up on earth time. GOD’S timing is always perfect. HE sees and knows what is going on in the world and HIS desire is for all to accept JESUS as their Savior.

The Apostle John was revealing what GOD was showing him. There were evil forces at work. How did he know with certainty? There were those who had professed to being Christians had proven to be antichrists. These antichrists knew enough to be stumbling blocks to those seeking truth. Antichrists are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

How can Spirit-born Christians know these deceivers? John tells us --

²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.^[c] 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. 

Spirit-born believers are anointed with the Holy ONE, or the Holy Spirit and as such “Know (for certain, without a doubt) the truth.”

It is the truth that sets Christians free for being confused and from false claims. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that gives every Spirt-born person discernment. Do you have discernment? Does the hair stand up on the back of your neck when you hear someone preach or teach false doctrine? Do, you know GOD’S Word such that you can spot truth from error? Always test what you hear with what is written in GOD’S word, The Bible.

Let’s read 1 John 2:22-26:

²² Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.

The Father and the Son are One. Let’s read what JESUS taught HIS disciples in John 10:30 - ³⁰ I and the Father are one.” And in John 17:21:

²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

JESUS was preparing to ascend into Heaven and was praying for HIS disciples then and until HE comes again. Read John 17. This is JESUS prayer for all of HIS disciples until the end of life upon earth. JESUS prayed for each of us.

What does Ephesians 1:4 reveal to us? Let’s read it – Ephesians 1:4:

⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

JESUS chose us but the question is, do we choose HIM? We were made with the freedom to choose. Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins, believing that HIS sinless life paid for your sins in full? HE did. But you need to accept this priceless eternal gift. A gift has to be received.

Remaining with God

²⁴ What you have heard from the beginning is to 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.

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

When a person has asked JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sins and for JESUS to come into his or her life, HE does and the miracle of Spiritual birth takes place in an instant. That person in born Spiritually. GOD’S Spirit eternally joins with the human spirit and Spiritual conception takes place quicker than a thought. That person becomes eternally GOD’S Child and his or her citizenship is in heaven. He or she becomes an ambassador for JESUS upon earth until GOD calls the Spirit-born person home.

The Spirit-born person will leave his or her earth-suit behind, like the emerging butterfly from its cocoon. GOD has fashioned for each Spirit-born person a special body suitable for that person to use in Heaven until he or she in united with his or her Glorified body at the resurrection of those Spirit-born.

But until we depart earth, what are Christians to do? Let’s read on --

Let’s read 1 John 2:27-29:

²⁷ As for you, 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,^[d] remain in him.

Those who are Spirit-born are anointed with the Holy Spirit and need to use their anointing, as led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches those who are Spirit-born. They know truth from error and seek to do the will of GOD upon earth as it is done in Heaven. YES, are we getting closer to the return of our LORD JESUS? Closer than ever before in earth time and GOD is calling those who know the truth to walk in the light as HE is the light. Those who are Spirit-born and remain upon earth are vital to GOD’S plan. There is a synergy between GOD’S plan and the execution of HIS plan, as revealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. We who are led by the Holy Spirit are to speak and respond as prompted by GOD. It is the “still small voice of GOD.”

God’s Children

²⁸ So now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence 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.

Yes, we are Spirit-born children looking for our JESUS to return to earth but we are to be diligent about sharing the Good News to all as we are given the opportunity.

Come quickly LORD JESUS and help us who know the truth be diligent in serving YOU, as led.

Is praying for the conversion of the Taliban and for Afghanistan to become a Christian country beyond your comprehension? Good! Pray and watch GOD’S hand at work. Our part is to pray. Blessings!!!