1 John 2:18-24

Unmoved by antichrists.

Demonic forces are actively spreading delusions through a cooperative humanity. A necessary element of these destructive worldviews is a denial of the true identity of Jesus. He must not be the Christ. Believing this lie dooms one to a cruel end.

The prophecies for the end of this age and transition to the kingdom of the Messiah instruct us to expect an Antichrist who will hornswoggle the masses, ruling the world, and insisting that he himself be worshiped. In this way, not only will he be against Christ but he will seek to be Christ’s replacement.

John observes that even in his day there were many opposed to Christ, with the conclusion that the demonic spirits that will empower the one great antichrist are already busy at work. He likely has in mind the gnostic heresies faced by his readers which denied that Jesus is the Christ and other destructive ideas.

We who are believers can take encouragement from the knowledge that this is the last hour. The end is coming and has been for two millennia. Nonetheless there is hope that justice is coming upon evil and we will stand in glory in the presence of our Savior. Such thoughts also offer a wake up call. Be alert and ready. Do not grow sluggish in allowing sins to fester in life or unwary regarding false teaching that leads away from Jesus.

These false teachers may be fellow travelers with us, members of our churches for a time. John notes that they had left the fellowship, likely trying to take as many as they could with them. Their departure should be taken as evidence of their true identity and perdition. John’s readers should find stability by clinging to Christ and what they have been taught of Him.

Against the gnostic claim of secret and elite knowledge, John reminds his readers of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to them of enlightenment and instruction. They didn’t need human teachers to lead them because the Holy Spirit had already given them clear convictions regarding the identity of the Lord Jesus.

John knows that he is not engaging in a battle with the gnostics regarding which side is telling the truth. He doesn’t need to do that, because these believers already know the truth for themselves. They can properly reason that lies have no shared domain with the truth.

And what might the telltale lie be? A lie that would deny that Jesus is the anointed king that was predicted by the prophets of God: the Christ. Such a lie effectively denies both the Father and the Son.

As Jesus announced: "I and the Father are one." You cannot have one without the other, and if you have the Son then you have the Father also. There isn’t some alternative religion that brings you close to God without Jesus. Again as Jesus taught: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." (John 10:30, 14:6)

John closes his paragraph here with an encouragement to believers to keep a steady grasp on the truth of the gospel in their hearts. Trust the Lord Jesus for the eternal life He promised. In this way, we can abide in a permanent way in the blessing of fellowship with both the Son and the Father.

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