I John

Joyce Webb 2018

Chapter 2     Verses 18-29

Verse 18

John tells the believers that it is the “last days” of time.

John really believe that Jesus would return very soon. John had no idea that it would be more than 2000 years—-and Jesus has not returned to earth yet.

John is telling them that there are people who are “anti-christs” among them. “Anti” means “against”. People who are against Christ.

The Bible also gives prophecy about a world leader who will be “The Anti-Christ”—-he will have the spirit of Satan in him.

He will be a world ruler in the future. He will be against the true Christ.

He will set himself up as god, and make a law for people to worship him.

In this chapter—John is talking about people they know—- who are against Christ.

Verse 19

Some of these people had been part of the group of believes. They did not stay with the group but left. John is saying to the group, they were not true believers or they would have stayed.

Verse 20

John reminds them that as believers they have the Holy Spirit living in them. The Holy Spirit will lead them in truth, and warn them if they start getting into false teaching.

Verse 21

John tells them—-that he is writing these things unto them because he knows that they know and understand what is true.

Verse 22

The person is a liar if he says that Jesus is not the Christ.

Christ was a name used for Messiah. The Messiah meant the “anointed one”. The person who was chosen to come to save the people.

The Jews had been looking for this Messiah to come for hundreds of years. They were looking for a person who would save them from their enemies and become their king.

Jesus did not come to be a king the first time. He came to die for men’s sins to “save” them spiritually.

Jesus will come the second time to be a king.

The Jewish people—-most of them—-never believed that Jesus was sent from God as the Messiah, and they did not believe he was God’s Son.

They still do not believe that Jesus is God’s Son.

So, John says—-people who say that Jesus is not Christ, the Messiah, are not speaking the truth.

Verse 23

A person who will not believe that Jesus is God’s Son, does not believe God the Father.

When Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan by John the Baptist—-a voice spoke out of heaven saying—”This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” God said Jesus was his Son. Matthew 3:17

Verse 24, 25

Let us continue believing. Let us stay with the truth. These are the things you learned from the beginning. Stay with what you were taught.

Continue to stay with the Father and the Son. If we stay faithful to him, we will receive his promise of eternal life.

Verse 26, 27

Be careful of those who would try to get you to believe something different. They are trying to pull you away from the truth.

But you have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will teach you what is right and truth.

Stay true—so that when Christ does return again—-you will be ready to go with him.

Verse 29

You believe Jesus is the Righteous One, and those who believe in him are righteous, too.