Remain

Introduction

A. As we continue our study of 1 John, we come to a text that serves as the basis for theological debate. Our purpose is to leave that debate to others. We acknowledge that there may be some things that are difficult to understand there isn’t anything difficult in understanding John’s point in this section — remain in Christ. Do not turn away. Eternal life is promised to those who remain in Christ. This word “remain” carries the idea to “abide in.” There is a sense of consistency. This is to endure and to be steadfast. To those who remain, abide, patiently endure and remain steadfast in Christ, the promise is eternal life. That point is not lost in the theological debate. Neither should we lose that point. Let’s pray.

Antichrists

A. John offers two important elements in the first words of verse 18. “Dear children” carries the idea of his deep affection for his reader. “This is the last hour” carries the sense of urgency. The early church understood from the time of Jesus’ ascension, the last hour began. The debate about this passage begins here. There are some who want to take John to task over the use of this phrase. Some suggested that John along with the other apostles are to be ignored since the “last hour” has not come. Peter’s second letter in 3:4 speaks of those who scoffed at the idea that Christ was going to return soon. Such scoffers some 30 years after Jesus’ ascension have multiplied since the 1st century.

B. The debate may continue but the sense of urgency must not be lost. This is John’s point — Christ’s return is nearer now than it was then. We must not lose our sense of urgency. John continues the thought that the antichrist is coming and in fact numerous antichrists have already come. The debate continues by focusing on the term antichrist.

Some suggest that John and others like Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2 have the idea of a particular person who is “The Antichrist” who will usher in a time of great persecution against the believers.
Others suggest that John is writing about an attitude.
Still others suggest that John is aligning himself with Jesus in Matthew 24 in which Jesus spoke of the abomination that causes desolation.

C. John’s description that the last hour and the antichrist coincide seems to suggest that John is speaking more of an attitude than a specific event or person. However, in verse 19, John defines the antichrist as numerous and further defines them as those who have pulled away from the body of believers. These who pulled away do not belong to fellowship of believers and thus do not enjoy fellowship with God. As John said in 1:3, fellowship with the believers verifies fellowship with God.

D. In verse 20, John mentions the anointing. The debate continues.

Some suggest that the anointing has to do with the Holy Spirit.
Some suggest that it has to do with the Word of God.
Some suggest a combination of both.
The word “anointing” uses the same word as the word “Christ.” Christ means the anointed one or Messiah. We have an anointing from the Holy One. This phrase “holy one” is used to speak about God or Jesus depending on the text. Verse 27 tells us that the anointing is within us.
Then in verse 24 John says to hold on the preached word and allow it to remain inside of you. Thus, it seems that the anointing is both the Spirit of God and the word. The word is that which we heard; the Spirit verifies the word; supports the word. John will later in chapters 4 & 5 discuss the Spirit of truth.

E. The word and the Spirit together remind us of the truth. Together the Spirit and the word help us to know what is false. John says in verse 22 that those who deny that Jesus is the anointed one of God is the antichrist. One cannot deny Jesus and be in relationship with God. Those who pulled away from God’s people denied that Jesus came in the flesh. They denied that Jesus was who he claimed to be. John previously wrote that they deceived themselves; now he calls them liars and encourages his readers not to be swayed by their arguments. According to verse 26, these are trying to lead them astray. They are offering arguments why Jesus could not be who he claimed to be. Thus, John says they are liars and do not have fellowship with God because of their denial of Jesus as the Christ.

A. Two points that we need to get from this text. First, to remain in Christ means to remain in him in terms of faith. But it means also to remain without being swayed by other possibilities. There are any number of existing possibilities. Sometimes those possibilities are more easily seen than others.

There are those groups who acknowledge the Jesus existed but do not believe in him as the Son of God or see him as a lesser god or believe that he was born of God. To hold to such will not allow us to remain in Jesus.
There are those who with their learning begin to denigrate the person of Jesus. Like in the days of John the learning leads to professing greater insight into the realities of God. Such does not allow remaining in Christ.
There are those who claim to hold on to the reality of Jesus while combining it with inner strength and a view that Christ plus something is necessary to be a Christian. Such does not allow us to remain in Christ.
John is clear. Allowing the word of truth to remain in us allows us to remain in Christ. The leading of the Spirit helps us to avoid the appealing lies of those who deny the Christ.

B. Second, promise. In verse 25, John uses a word that is not found often in John’s writings. In fact, it is not found at all except here in verse 25. It is the word “promise.” For those who remain in Christ; for those who allow what was heard from the beginning to remain in them; for those who remain in the Father because they remain in the Son — this is what God has promised — eternal life.

This must be important for John because he uses this word only this one time in all of his writings. The implication is present in other places. John could have used the word “know.” He is fond of that word. It is the idea of assurance.
But John isn’t wanting us merely to “know.” That word calls on us to acknowledge what is internal. But the word “promise” is external. In fact, when a person makes a promise to us we expect for the words to be carried through.
Booker T. Washington describes meeting an ex-slave from Virginia in his book Up From Slavery: “I found that this man had made a contract with his master, two or three years previous to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for himself, he was to be permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased. Finding that he could secure better wages in Ohio, he went there. When freedom came, he was still in debt to his master some three hundred dollars. Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to his master, this black man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master lived in Virginia, and placed the last dollar, with interest, in his hands. In talking to me about this, the man told me that he knew that he did not have to pay his debt, but that he had given his word to his master, and his word he had never broken. He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise.”
If we expect a sinful frail human being to carry through with a promise, how much more can we expect the God of heaven and earth who is light; who has not darkness in him to carry through with his promise. Are you in Christ? Does God’s promise belong to you? Invitation.

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