YOU KNOW THE TRUTH
1 John 2:18-27
In our day, it’s popular to say that everyone makes their own truth.
People tell us that if it’s true for you–if it works for you–that’s fine.
Just don’t mess with anyone else’s truth.
Everyone makes their own truth!
While we DO accept everyone’s right to believe what they want, it’s this view of TRUTH that troubles me.
Contemporary society builds on the foundation that there is no absolute truth–everyone comes up with their own “truth.”
Jesus warns us that this view of truth provides no foundation at all!
John builds his foundation on the understanding that God has spoken.
If we want to enjoy fellowship with Him, then we must know what HE has said,
and build our relationship on HIS revealed truth.
GOD is the source of ALL truth!
That thought leads to the fourth evidence John gives us to affirm that we’re in fellowship with God.
JOHN’S PURPOSE:
That we might ENJOY fellowship 1:3 —with God’s people —with God Himself
That we might really ENJOY walking with Him 1:4
JOHN’S MESSAGE:
To enjoy fellowship with God, we must be like Him.
GOD’S HOLINESS 1:5-3:10
Description of God 1:5 “God is Light” => God is HOLY.
Implications for God’s children 1:6-3:10
Demonstration of fellowship with God 2:3-27
FOUR EVIDENCES WE’RE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD:
1. OBEYING HIS COMMANDS 2:3-6
2. LOVING ONE ANOTHER 2:7-14
If you’re part of the family, you’ll love your brothers and sisters!
3. NOT LOVING THE WORLD 2:15-17
If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.
Love for the world and love for God are mutually exclusive!
Three things in the world: 16
Desire of the flesh Desire of the eyes Pride of life
None of these come from God; they all come from the world.
They lead to two different ends: 17
The world and the things it desires are temporary!
People who are characterized by doing God’s will abide forever!
You can’t love the world and God at the same time.
People who love the world aren’t in fellowship with Him.
Therefore, not loving for the world is an evidence that we’re in fellowship with Him
4th way that we can know we’re in fellowship with Him:
4. REJECTING FALSE TEACHERS 2:18-27
Those who are in fellowship with God recognize false teachers and reject them.
Assumption: We are living in the last times. 2:18a
How do we know that we’re living in “the last times?” 2:18b
We know, because many antichrists have arisen.
These are people who stand in opposition to Christ.
Everyone’s heard about the one coming in opposition to Christ–THE AntiChrist.
But, in fact, MANY have come to oppose Christ.
Their presence affirms that we’re living in the end times.
Their activity in opposition to Christ is consistent with that of THE antichrist.
They’re committed to “last times” activity–just as HE is!
Paul also affirms that in the latter times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits (1 Tim. 4:1-2)
Such deceiving voices will be common as the end of the age approaches.
John’s testimony affirms that these voices have been present in the church from the beginning, but they demonstrate that, relative to God’s whole plan, we’re living in the end times.
We can expect such voices to increase as we near the end of this age also.
Three things characterize these antichrists–those who oppose Christ:
THOSE WHO OPPOSE CHRIST LEAVE THE BRETHREN
They turn their back on the people of God and leave.
Who has left us? Why did they leave? 2:19
These antichrists–people who oppose Christ–started out among us but then left us.
The fact that they have left us demonstrates that they were never really part of us.
He is convinced that his readers are different–“BUT YOU, . . .”–they won’t leave!
His readers demonstrate that they’re in fellowship with God because they’re abiding with the family.
John is confident that his readers will continue to abide in the truth and thus demonstrate that they are truly in fellowship with God.
They’re receiving encouragement in their walk with God by remaining with the family. Heb. 10:24-25
People who are really part of us don’t leave!
These antichrists may act like they belong to us.
But their departure shows that they’re fakes.
Genuine members of the family don’t abandon the family!
Their departure reminds us that not everyone who puts on a good show–who claims to be one of us–really belongs to the family!
Second characteristic of these antichrists, who oppose Christ:
THOSE WHO OPPOSE CHRIST DENY THE FAITH. 20-25
What does John know about the people to whom he is writing? 2:20-21
His readers demonstrate that they’re in fellowship with God because the truth abides in them.
He’s writing to them because he’s convinced they’ve been anointed by the Holy One.
He’s convinced they know the truth.
Lies and the truth can’t coexist.
You must choose between the truth and the lie.
What’s the lie that’s being circulated? Who believes the lie? 2:22-23
The specific teaching that will guide in the detection of such false teachers is the denial that Jesus is the Anointed One of God.
The liar is characterized by a denial of Christ.
The specific content of his denial: “Jesus is not the Christ.”
Anyone who spreads that message is an antichrist–an opposer of Christ.
Anyone who denies the Son, denies the Father also.
You can’t be committed to the Father and deny His Son!
Anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
The two go together.
Those who want to walk with the Father will agree with Him about His Son.
This is consistent with Jesus’ words in John’s gospel:
6:45 “Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me.”
7:17 “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
What will be true of those who are in fellowship with God? 2:24-25
They’re receiving encouragement in their walk with God by meditating on God’s Word.
Exhortation: “Let that which you heard from the beginning abide in you.”
Let it soak in and control your life.
Importance of the exhortation:
When what you heard from the beginning abides in you, that’s an affirmation that you’re abiding in the Son and in the Father.
When the Word abides in us, it’s a demonstration that we’re in fellowship with Him and that we’re recipients of the promise of eternal life.
Third characteristic of these antichrists, who oppose Christ:
THOSE WHO OPPOSE CHRIST SEEK TO LEAD THE FAITHFUL ASTRAY. 26-27
What has John observed about his readers?
His readers demonstrate that they’re in fellowship with God because they’re taught by God.
John is writing to them about those who are trying to lead them astray.
However, he’s convinced that the anointing God has given them abides in them.
It’s still producing it’s effect in them.
Therefore they don’t need anyone else to teach them.
His anointing will continue to teach them.
They’re receiving encouragement in their walk with God by God’s teaching them the truth.
Even so he issues an exhortation to them (2:27).
Why? What’s he afraid of?
He urges them to abide in that truth.
He’s concerned lest they turn away from the truth He has taught them and be led astray by the persuasive teaching of false teachers.
It isn’t that he expects it to happen, but he wants to assure that they continue to draw upon that Word and let it control their thinking.
What does that exhortation to them teach US?
Enjoyment of fellowship with the Father isn’t based on how we feel, or on convincing, logical arguments from human teachers.
Enjoyment of fellowship is based on abiding in the truth of His Word, and allowing His Spirit to teach us.
SO WHAT? How should this study affect the way we live?
We should receive encouragement in OUR walk with God in the same three ways John’s readers did:
We should be encouraged by:
Sticking together with God’s family.
As we gather together, we encourage one another to love and good works.
When we avoid getting together, Satan easily picks us off one by one, and leads us astray. WE NEED EACH OTHER!
Meditating on God’s Word.
God’s Word is the foundation on which we build our faith.
God’s Spirit teaching us the truth.
The Spirit of God is the Source of truth, He guides us in understanding it.
“You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Genuine freedom and enjoyment of fellowship with God is the result of the Spirit revealing the truth.