Taking a Look at 1 John

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One [you have been set apart, specially gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit], and all of you know [the truth because He teaches us, illuminates our minds, and guards us from error]. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie [nothing false, no deception] is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? This is the antichrist [the enemy and antagonist of Christ], the one who denies and consistently refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son. Whoever denies and repudiates the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses and acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”- 1 John 2:20-23 Amplified Bible

            In these several verses John is differentiating between the true believer and one who is anti-Christ.  The Holy Spirit had anointed those who were truly followers of God’s word. That same holds true for us today. We, just like they, allowed ourselves to be taught, that our minds might be illuminated as to the things of God. The anti-Christ’s of the world were and are anyone who denies that Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God. An anti-Christ (not THE Anti-Christ), is anyone who is an enemy of Christ and his church. They deny the truth, refusing to acknowledge the true identity of Almighty God or his Son.

            I’m afraid too many people who call themselves Christians are of little use to the Father. While they aren’t anti-Christ, they really aren’t very pro-Christ either. ‘Christian’ is a label they place on themselves. They do believe there is a God and aren’t working against him. They are simply living their life without involving the Lord in it. God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives, not just when you hit a wall. This is difficult for casual Christians to wrap their minds around. 

            What John is doing thru this letter is reassuring those he has led to Christ to stay the course. He hasn’t left them on their own, just as Christ has not left us alone. When faced with false teaching or other hardships we all need to be reminded what is true and what is false. It’s too easy to get swept away in a sea of emotion, but although we are emotional creatures, it is from the heart and soul that the weighty spiritual decisions must be made.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

Resource: www.biblegateway.com