1 John 2:18-29 Lesson 459

1 John 2:18-29
Lesson 459

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

The antichrist versus truth.

By American artist Danny Hahlbohm.

Study Tip:

Apply important verses to your life by asking yourself...
What lesson does this passage teach?
What difference would it make in my life?

The First Epistle of John

The King James Bible

1 John 2:18-29
Stay in fellowship

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Margin Notes:

"It is the last time." (2:18) - "It is the last days." The last days began when Jesus was born and will end when He returns. No one knows how long the final days will last.

"Antichrist." (2:18) - The opposite of Christ. In this passage, the antichrist is anyone who denies Jesus (2:22), claims to be Jesus, or teaches a false doctrine (Matthew 24:5; 24:11-12; 24:23-24). Although the concept of an antichrist can be found in other books of the Bible (Daniel 7:1-29; 8:9-11; 8:23-25; 11:31-38; Ezekiel 38:1-39:29; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 13:1; 17:1-18), John is the only one who uses the name "antichrist" (twice in this segment plus 1 John 4:3 and 2 John 7). At the end of the Messianic age (just before the Second Coming), one powerful antichrist (also called the "man of sin," "the son of perdition," "the lawless one," "the king of Babylon," "the little horn," "the prince that shall come," "the willful king," "the idol shepherd," or "the beast") will rise to power on earth and persecute Christians. But he will be defeated when Jesus returns (Revelation 19:19-21).

"That they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (2:19) - "That it might be obvious they were not one of us." Acts 20:30 and Revelation 2:2 warn that these antichrists will try to "draw away disciples" from Christ.

"Ye have an unction from the Holy One." (2:20) - "You have been anointed by the Holy One." Believers who love righteousness and hate sin are anointed (Hebrews 1:9). This anointing fills Christians with the Holy Spirit (3:24; 4:13), teaches them (John 14:26), and prevents them from being deceived by false teachers (John 16:13).

"Ye know all things." (2:20) - You know everything you need to know to guarantee your salvation. Gnostics erroneously believed there was some secret wisdom, known only to a few, that people needed to learn to be saved.

"He is antichrist, that denieth the father and the Son." (2:22) - John will repeat this in 2 John 1:7.

"He that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (2:23) - If you acknowledge one, you acknowledge both because Jesus and God are one and the same (John 8:19).

"Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning." (2:24) - "Let it remain (live) in you, the commandment that you heard from the beginning." From the beginning, the Old Testament taught love (2 John 1:6).

"Ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father." (2:24) - "You will continue in fellowship with Jesus and God the father."

"This is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." (2:25) - Jesus promised eternal life to all who believe in God and the Son He sent (John 17:3).

"Them that seduce you." (2:26) - "Those who lie to you."

"And is no lie." (2:27) - Christianity is truth.

"Abide in him." (2:28) - Enjoy fellowship with Jesus; He will give you eternity.

"When he shall appear." (2:28) - "When Jesus returns."

"Every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (2:29) - This is a promise of eternal life (4:7; 5:1).

New Living Translation

1 John 2:18-29
Warning about Antichrists

18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.

19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth.

21 So I am writing to you not because you don't know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies.

22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.

23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn't have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.

25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.

27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true-it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Living as Children of God

28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.

29 Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God's children.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What does it take to remain in Christ? (2:24)

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Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "To remain in Christ is to sustain a vital relationship with Him. John explained this more fully in his Gospel when he used the analogy of a branch that remains connected to the vine (John 15:1-8). Some think this warning means that our relationship with Christ (and thus life in Christ) can be lost. Others are confident that once they truly believe, they cannot separate themselves from God's love."

(The "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 1762)

Application thought for the day:

What one thing in this passage can you immediately apply to your life?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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