week9

WEEK 9

So far we have studied two lessons of learning if and when we are in fellowship with God through Christ: "The Test of Obedience" and "The Test of Love". This week we will study another.

THE TEST OF TRUTH (1 John 2:18-29)

John continues to address the people as "little children" because they are babes in Christ. In other words, newly saved and struggling to grow. Here, when John mentions time, he is not referring to a particular or definite time, but the character of that time. The "last time" means the closing period or dispensation; that dispensation in which the affairs of the world are ultimately to be wound up. That period might continue through many ages or centuries, and still be the last dispensation.

A dispensation is a period of time during which God deals in a particular way with man in respect to sin and man's responsibility. We are now in the last dispensation--that of "grace."

John makes mention of the Antichrist in this passage. He points to the fact that many antichrists have arisen in his time. These are the people who preach and teach against Christ, not ones who pretend to be Christ. However they do claim to be doing the work of Christ. What will be true of the personal Antichrist when he comes is true of these men in a lesser sense, or in a lesser degree. Then, as now, those who proclaimed Gnostic teaching deserve that title. They had been in the church, but left it doctrinally. They had a mental assent and not a heart commitment to the Lord Jesus. They were merely members of the local church, but not saved. Had they really possessed divine life they would have remained with the true believers in matters of doctrine.

We tend to think of the damage done when one professes to be saved and then falls away to error (apostasy). But a far greater damage is done if such a person remains in the church.

The true saints of the church have a special anointing (unction) with the Holy Spirit. This happens at the instant one is saved, not at some later time, and the anointing is never repeated. The Old Testament priests were anointed with oil just once, when they were inducted into their office. In like manner, a believer, a New Testament priest, is anointed with the Spirit just once, when he is inducted into his office as a priest, which is when he is saved. As a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the saints are given the ability to know God's truth. This does not mean the believer knows everything as God does. But that he has the basis of all knowledge and can see things in their right proportions. This ability to know the truth gives the saints the ability also to detect error.

If we will study the "real" and let the Holy Spirit teach us all about the "real, then when lies show up, we automatically know that is not the "real."

John refers to those who may have admitted that Jesus lived, but they denied that He was the true Messiah, as liars and antichrists. The doctrine of the Father and the Son were so connected that one could not be held without holding the other, and one could not be denied without denying the other. No man can have a right view of God the Father unless he has a right view of the Son.

Our only approach to the Father is by the Son. He is our only gateway. When we confess (agree with God) that Jesus is the Son, then Christ confesses us to His Father. He claims us and intercedes for us to the Father. Confession of Christ before men is a prerequisite for confession by Christ before the Father. After all, Jesus was not ashamed to die for us publicly on the cross, so why should we be ashamed to confess Him publicly?

The gospel should abide in us. That is, one should have an attitude towards that teaching concerning the Person of our Lord that causes it to feel at home in him, and have ready access to every part of his life. In other words, it is the responsibility of the believer to nurture the stability and growth of those doctrines by a holy life and determination to cling to them and reamin true to them.

Due to the fact of the indwelling Spirit, the saints do not have "need that any man teach" them. This does not set aside the usefulness and necessity of God-appointed teachers in the church, but merely that the saints are not at the mercy of the Gnostic teeachers that were trying to lead them astray. Every saint has the Holy Spirit who is the originator of the WORD and He will teach the saints all things. The Holy Spirit is true and faithful and is not a falsehood.

We are commanded to remain in Him (Christ) in the sense of:

A) Having no known sin not judged and not confessed.
B) Having no interest into which He is not brought.
C) Having no part of one's life which He cannot share.
D) Taking all burdens to Him.
E) Drawing all wisdom, life, and strength from Him.
F) Letting nothing be allowed in one's life which separates us from Him.
The believer must live in close fellowship with the Lord that he may be ready for that coming for His saints. The word "confidence" speaks of the heart attitudes of a saint who lives so close to the Lord Jesus that there is nothing between him and His Lord when He comes. The saint at the time of the rapture should be living in such close fellowship with the Lord that the sudden appearance of the Savior merely continues the fellowship that was in progress on earth. If we abide in Him, we will not shrink from Him at His coming. If one practices habitually doing the will of God, this is proof of the new birth.

The relationship between God and the believer as Father and child is a permanent one. It is a completed work. It is manifested in our daily lives. True doctrine produces righteous living just as false doctrine produces unholy living. If we believe the truth with our hearts, and commit ourselves to it, then we will live holy lives before men and not be ashamed before the Lord when He comes to catch us away in the rapture.

1. Which dispensation are we now in?
2. What people did John call antichrist?
3. Are these the same as the antichrist as mentioned in Revelation?
4. Were any of the antichrists of John's day saved? Why or Why not?
5. What is the anointing of the Holy Spirit?
6. How many times is a believer anointed by the Holy Spirit?
7. What is the result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
8. What is our responsibility in being able to discern the truth?
9. How is it possible for us to approach the Father?
10. What does it mean for The Lord to abide in us?
11. Will the Holy Spirit ever lead us astray?
12. How are we to abide in the Lord?
13. In what way are we to be prepared for the Lord's coming?