Separating Darkness from Light

Posted

Prayer:  As we say in Your Prayer Lord, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).  This is our prayer each day; prepare us to follow your example today.  Amen.

Main Scripture:

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.  This is how we know it is the last hour. (1John 2:18).

Associated Scriptures:

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.  For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect, if that were possible.  So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time (Mark 13:21-23).

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. (2 John 7-11).

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NASB).

Correlative Quotes:

The closing period or dispensation; that dispensation in which the affairs of the world are ultimately to be wound up. The apostle does not, however, say that the end of the world would soon occur, nor does he intimate how long this dispensation would be. That period might continue through many ages or centuries, and still be the last dispensation, or that in which the affairs of the world would be finally closed.[1] – Albert Barnes

The last dispensation of grace, that which is to continue to the end of time, is begun.[2] – John Wesley

(We know that the Author’s note) Antichrist "Is coming." Present futuristic or prophetic retained in indirect assertion. So, Jesus taught (Mark 13:6, 22; Matthew 24:5,15,24 and so Paul taught (Acts 20:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). These false Christs (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22) are unnecessarily antichrists, for there can be only one. [3] - A. T. Robertson

Study:

John considers the period between Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:6-11) and His coming for the saints (1Thessalonians 4:13-18), “the last hour.”  His major concern is not the coming of Jesus, but with those who would deceive the believers; his “children.”  “Children,” as used here, is a term of endearment, John loves those who are saved, and a term of position since it also identifies those who are the children of God through salvation.  As Matthew Henry interprets “Children,” “a universal appellation, introductive of an alarm to all Christians”[4]

As children of God, we must be on our watch, guarding against those who would teach us false doctrines to lead us away from the truth of God.  This was true in John’s day, throughout church history, and is still a credible concern today.

Our response to this angst toward false doctrine is found in 2 Peter 3:14-15 (NKJV) where it says, “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.”

  1. Be Diligent: Look forward not backward – as we anticipate His coming live a life that is pleasing to God, become more versed in the doctrines of scripture, and learn to listen to and apply the lessons of the Spirit of God. In other words, grow spiritually with the motivation that Jesus could return at any time. In 1Timothy 4:15-16 the Apostle Paul gives his student this advice, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
  2. Be found Spotless and Blameless: Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." Follow the example of Job. He wasn’t perfect, but he was humble, continually repentant, and a man of prayer.
  3. Be at Peace: Show love to everyone and let your face and your tongue show it. Follow the teaching of Romans 12:18, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
  4. Be Growing (grace and knowledge): 2 Peter 3:18 gives us this important instruction, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The example is Jesus. The power comes from the Holy Spirit.  Use both to grow.

Summary Statement:

Preparing ourselves to resist false doctrine when we hear it or read it is critical to our spiritual health.  Jesus is coming again.  Until He comes, there will be many false teachers attempting to draw us away from God or to teach us that there are many ways to God outside of Jesus. 

He will come again, for He has promised to return. We have His own word for it. That is our first reason for expecting Him. Among the last of the words which He spoke to His servant John are these, “Surely I come quickly.” You may read it, “I am coming quickly. I am even now upon the road. I am traveling as fast as wisdom allows. I am always coming and coming quickly.” Our Lord has promised to come and to come in person.[5] – Charles Spurgeon

Lesson within the Lesson:

Who are the children of God?

What is the reason that we need to be watchful and test every doctrine we hear preached?

What are the steps we can use to prepare ourselves to oppose false doctrine?

How do we apply these truths to our lives so that we are protected?

[1] Albert Barnes, Notes Explanatory and Practical, Public Domain, Ibid, P. 4821.

[2] John Wesley, John Wesley’s Notes of the Bible, Public Domain, Ibid, P. 487

[3] A. T. Robertson, New Testament Word Pictures Volume 6,

[4] Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (Unabridged), Volume VI, (Acts to Revelation), Public Domain, 1706, bitimage.dyndns. org/.

[5] Charles Spurgeon, Watching for Christ’s Coming, spurgeongems.org/vols37-39/chs2302.pdf, P. 1