CONTINUE IN HIM

Passage: 1 John 2:18-29

Key verse: 28

NIV

Warnings Against Denying the Son

18 Dear children, this is the last hour;(A) and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming,(B) even now many antichrists have come.(C) This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us,(D) 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.(E)

20 But you have an anointing(F) from the Holy One,(G) and all of you know the truth.[a](H) 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it(I) and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.(J) 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.(K)

24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning(L) remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.(M) 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.(N)

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.(O) 27 As for you, the anointing(P) you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things(Q) and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.(R)

God’s Children and Sin

28 And now, dear children,(S) continue in him, so that when he appears(T) we may be confident(U) and unashamed before him at his coming.(V)

29 If you know that he is righteous,(W) you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.(X)

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Footnotes
  1. 1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts and you know all things
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Warning Concerning Antichrists

18 Children, (A)it is the last hour, and as you have heard that (B)antichrist is coming, so now (C)many antichrists have come. (D)Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 (E)They went out from us, but they were not of us; for (F)if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, (G)that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been (H)anointed by (I)the Holy One, and (J)you all have knowledge.[a] 21 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. 22 Who is the liar but (K)he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is (L)the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 (M)No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let (N)what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then (O)you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us[b]—(P)eternal life.

26 I write these things to you about (Q)those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But (R)the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and (S)you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and (T)is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that (U)when he appears (V)we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his (W)coming. 29 If you know that (X)he is righteous, you may be sure that (Y)everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts you know everything
  2. 1 John 2:25 Some manuscripts you
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

John warned them of antichrists who would infiltrate the church with false teachings that deny Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Though they joined the congregation, they did not belong to the fellowship of believers because they did not personally accept Christ. We should not be discouraged or influenced when someone abandons their Christian walk.

Those who don’t accept Jesus as the Son of God don’t know God though they profess to. We must be alert to false teachings of our time and not be swayed by them. We must hold onto the truth that was planted in us that Jesus is the Son of God who died for us on the cross, was resurrected on the third day, ascended into heaven, and gives us eternal life. This apostle’s creed in our hearts protects us from false teachings of the antichrists.

Lastly, we must continue in Christ, with real hope that Jesus will come again and find us doing what is right. Then, we can be confident and unashamed before Christ. We can’t do this by our own strength, but only through relying on Jesus’ righteousness and being guided by the Holy Spirit (27).

Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Jesus your Son to lead me to righteousness. Please help me to continue in Jesus.

One Word: Continue in Jesus, relying on his righteousness and Holy Spirit