Christ vs. Antichrists
Read 1 John 2:18-23
Scripture predicts the coming of the Antichrist. The Apostle Paul warns about the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4). Yet, John refers to the coming of many antichrists—not just one. “Antichrist” means “one who takes the place of Christ.” So, anyone or anything that tries to topple Christ from His throne is antichristic.
– In verse 18, what distinction does John make between “Antichrist” and “antichrists”?
– John says, “They [the Gnostics] went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been with us, they would have continued with us.” What can we learn from this about division in the Church?
Anointed by the Holy One
“Anoint” literally means to pour oil on someone. In the Old Testament, this action showed someone as a king or a prophet. Remember, in the Old Testament, not everyone had the Holy Spirit (He located Himself in the Temple), but kings and prophets did for the tasks that God had given them to do.
In the New Testament, John told his readers that the Holy Spirit had also anointed them, since all Christians in the New Covenant have been brought into the Royal Priesthood. That’s why early baptismal liturgies included the anointing with oil immediately following baptism, to link, through ritual, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Baptism (this makes sense if one understands the New Covenant fulfilling the Old).
Even more, we would especially be careless if we didn’t recognize John’s use of the plural “you.” The Holy Spirit is given, not for independent action and separation but to be in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, which is what we confess every week in the Creed.
– What teaching was John calling out as false? (vs. 22-23)
Read 1 John 2:24-27
2 Thessalonians 2:15: So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by our spoken word or by our letter.
1 Corinthians 11:2: [Paul speaking to the congregation inCorinth,] “I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold to the traditions just as I delivered them to you.”
2 Timothy 1:13-14: [Paul counseling Pastor Timothy,] “Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you.”
– What does John mean when he says, “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you”?
– Not losing what they had “heard” in the beginning means what? (vs. 25)
Excursus on “Not having need of anyone to teach you”
John often seems to speak in contradictions. Earlier in 1st John, he spoke of everyone being sinful, and that refusing to admit one’s sinfulness made that person a liar. But then John spoke about Christians not sinning! Did John contradict himself? No. As part of the theological point he was making (and the Greek aspect, “tenses,” of the verbs), John was saying that a Christian doesn’t make himself home in his sin, not that he becomes sinless.
In this chapter of 1st John, John now says to “let what you have heard from the beginning abide in you.” In other words, John is pointing his hearers of this epistle to the apostolic doctrine they were taught! But then he says, because “the anointing you have received from Him [the Holy Spirit] abides in you, you have no need that anyone should teach you.”
Help! First, John says to keep what they had been taught, and then he says you have no need for anyone to teach you! Does someone outgrow needing to be taught?
If someone takes this verse out of context, he can arrogantly assume, that since he has the Holy Spirit, he needs no further instruction. But here, as well, John is using the plural “you.” He is speaking to the congregation, not to each person as an individual.
So, what’s the point? In its context, “anyone” refers to those who had left, the Gnostics. You, in the plural, don’t need to be instructed by them. Why? Because you (plural) have the Holy Spirit–they don’t!
————–
The Spirit of God vs. the spirit of the Antichrist
The Holy Spirit is indispensable for the life of the Church. John told his readers that they have an anointing from the Spirit that lives in them and teaches them (1 John 2:26-27). Paul, too, brought out the Spirit’s importance when he called the Word of God the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). Jesus promised entrance into the kingdom of God to those who are “born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5).
Read 1 John 4:1-6
John 14:26: [Jesus speaking to His Apostles,] “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of everything I have told you.”
John 16:13: [Jesus speaking to His Apostles,] “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority; he will speak only what he hears, and he will declare to you what is to come.”
– Whose voice do we hear in the teaching of the Apostles?
– So then, how do we “test the spirits”?
– Should it surprise us if the world does not listen to apostolic teaching? (vs. 5)
– What then is our comfort? (vs. 4, 6)
Faith in Jesus, the Christ
Read 1 John 5:1-5
– What connection does John make in verse 1 between belief and being “born of God”?
– Can someone love God without loving those who are born of him, that is, other Christians?
– How is the love of God made real toward others, especially toward other Christians in our lives?
– Why is it that “the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” has overcome the world? Who does the overcoming?
– How real, then, is our divine life in Christ?
Read 1 John 5:6-12
The Spirit Testifies to What Has Past
- “water only” = Jesus’ baptism by John, the start of His public ministry
- “water and blood” = Jesus’ crucifixion, when water and blood gushed from Jesus’ side (John 19:34)
The Spirit Testifies to What is Present
- “water” = baptism, here one is born of water and Spirit (John 3:5)
- “blood” = Lord’s Supper, “This is My blood…”
– Discussion: Put it together, how the Spirit testifies about the water and blood.
– Contrast the testimony of men with the testimony of God.
– How do we receive the Son today, when He is in heaven? (vs. 12)
To go to the final lesson on 1st John, click here.
