In 1 John 2:18-19, we read, 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.
For the past three days, we have considered the three expressions of the first enemy to our fellowship with God. Today, we will consider the second. The second enemy to our daily walk with the Lord is False Teachers.
These False Teachers do three things, according to 1 John 2:18-29: 1) they departed from the group of believers in v.18-19, 2) they denied the faith in v.20-25, and 3) they attempt to deceive the faithful in v.26-29.
Today, we will briefly consider v.18-19. You will notice that John identifies these False Teachers as antichrists in v.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."
1 John 2:18-29 is a foundational study on the difference between truth and error. John begins by setting forth certain characteristics of false teaching. First, in v.19, they all begin within the Christian family. "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." Second, in v.19, they were not of the family.
Have you ever considered what makes you a Christian? What is it that makes anyone a follower of the God of the Bible. Consider Abraham, who was from Ur of the Chaldeans. If we were to look on a modern day map, we would quickly recognize that Abraham grew up in southern Iraq. And what changed Abraham? The culture that God gave him through the giving of His word. The same is true for you and me. The key is God's definition of things. In v.1-10 in this chapter, John implores is to walk in the light. The light provides the clear ability to see what is true as opposed to that which is false. We must be diligent to be in God's word daily.
Charlie Peacock said it so very well all those many years ago. You remember the lyrics. "I keep trying to find a life on my own, apart from You" ... I want to be in the Light as You are in the Light, I want to shine like the stars in the heavens. Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation, cause all I want is to be in the Light".
Stay in the LIGHT, my friend, by keeping a tight walk with Him, daily, in His word.
