Abiding In Him Means Strength In Opposition
Jeremy Bell
1 John 2:18-27
February 16, 2020
Sermon Audio
Introduction
- We will not be useful for God’s purposes in the world if we are in love with the world, if we are being deeply shaped by the world.
- We’re all susceptible to being deceived by the world; so we must take care, watch our souls, that we don’t love the world.
- In our text this morning, I see three main things that John is seeking to communicate to this church that has been battered by false teaching and confusion about Christ.
I. The message of Christ is being opposed
- What do the biblical writers mean when they say the “last hour” or “last days”? The “last days” began when Jesus Christ rose again and ascended to the Father. No one but the Father knows how long the last days will last, but we do know some things about the last days
- God will pour out His Spirit on His people in the last days (Acts 2:16)
- God has spoken to us by His Son in the last days (Heb. 1:2)
- In the last days will arise many antichrists.
- What is the spirit of an antichrist? The antichrists, John tells us, are those who oppose Jesus Christ and deny His deity (verse 22). There will be an increase in wickedness and unruliness. False Christs and false prophets, along with their false teaching, would arise. Jesus told us to be on watch for this
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24 )
- These false teachers were denying the claims of Christ Himself that He was the Son of God.
- By denying that Jesus is God, they also deny the Father, who declared that Jesus is God’s Son.
- Additionally, by taking away the deity of Christ, they were also denying the ability of Christ to save anyone. For if he was a mere man, then he could have never atoned for our sins. He could not have brought justification for not even one person. If you deny the deity of Christ, you deny the penal substitution of Christ as well. Christ and His atonement is rendered ineffective.
John encourages them :
“I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth (verse 21).”
II. You have been anointed by the Holy One
- Often, in the scripture, when the word anointing is used, it typically refers to the work of the Holy Spirit. So John is telling them that they have been anointed by the Holy Spirit, regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit is given to us for a specific purpose – to teach us (see vs.27, also John 16:13).
- The work of the Holy Spirit is to help us to receive, accept, and live by the orthodox teaching of the Scriptures.
- God’s Word is all truth, there is no lie in the truth of God. God, by the Holy Spirit, teaches you and protects you from falsehood and lies
- The Holy Spirit loves to shine the spotlight on Jesus!
- Anytime we are led away from Jesus, that’s not the Holy Spirit. This is why we need to abide in the Holy Spirit.
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 John 2:27)
- This word abide, what does it mean?
- Walk with the Spirit
- Be filled with the Spirit
- Keep in step with the Spirit, as we pray and humble ourselves before Him
- The Spirit will always guide you to the truth of Jesus Christ
III. You have been granted eternal life
- To everyone who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, He has given them the promise of eternal life. God always fulfills and keeps His every promise. We can be confident of His promise!
- What does John say to help us be reminded of this gracious promise? Abide in the Word (verse 24)!
Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you (verse 24).
- What they heard from the beginning would have been the gospel.
- When we abide in the Word, the Word will have a profound effect on our lives.
- You cannot regularly be in the Word of God, cannot be abiding in the Word without it affecting change in your life.
- That’s what the Word does – it changes us!
- God wants us to enjoy the blessing of His promise.
“If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father (verse 24b).”
- If the Word abides in you, then you too will abide, have fellowship with the Son and the Father
- What better place could there be??
- Abiding with the Son and the Father is abiding in a place of peace, rest, trust, hope
- We won’t be searching for truth – we will know the truth and the truth will set us free
- What does the truth set us free from?
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Guilt
- Shame
- Hopelessness
- Grief, unforgiveness
- As you abide in the Word, you will be abiding with God.
- The Word, and the Holy Spirit, teaches us, grounds us, fortifies us.
- It will enable us to stand firm in the Lord.
- There are false teachers all around us
- Teachers who promote heresies of one type or another
- Heresies that sound a lot like wisdom, truth
- We are always under attack
- That is part of the enemy’s strategy
- That’s what was going on here
“I write these things about those who are trying to deceive you (verse 26)”
“The more I experience the life-transforming power of the gospel, the more confident I am in speaking it to others, both saved and lost. I know what the gospel can do in people’s lives if they would believe the fullness of it, because I see what it is doing in me and in others. Therefore, I have increasing boldness to speak the whole gospel to others, even amid opposition.” — Milton Vincent
Application
- The message of Christ is being opposed – (verses 18-19)
- Implication: You know the truth! (verse 21)
- Stand strong in it, even amid opposition
- You have been anointed by the Holy One – (verse 20)
- Implication: Abide in the Spirit (verse 27)
- The Holy Spirit has given you all knowledge, and will continue to guide you in to all truth
- He teaches and protects you and shines the spotlight on Christ
- He will never lead you beyond the scriptures
- You have been granted eternal life (verse 25)
- Implication: Abide in the Word (verse 24)
- The Word reminds you of your salvation
- It teaches and protects you
Questions For Discussion/Application:
- Re-read the text, 1 John 2:18-27. What initial observations and insights do you have from reading this text?
- In what ways do you see the message of Christ, the gospel, being opposed in our day?
- What does it look like to stand firm in and promote the truth of the gospel?
- What does it mean to abide in Christ and in His Word?
- What difference can it make in our lives if we abide in the Word?
- How practically do we go about doing this?
- What are some things you do to “abide” in the Word of God?
- In what ways do you want to grow in abiding in God’s Word?