Rumors

February 19 - the lesson this morning is Matthew 24.15-28. The précis for this sermon reads: "Imposters abound. Don't believe everything you hear. Only a reliance on the true will help you to avoid the false. We listen to Jesus." The same topic is covered in 1 John 2.18-27. This study guide is based on the passage from 1 John.

Open It

1. Who are the enemies of the Church today?

2. What do you think is the best defense against false spiritual teaching?

3. What effect do you think warning labels on cigarettes and alcohol have?

Explore It

4. What time did John say it is? (1 John 2:18)

5. Who was coming and who had come at the time John wrote this? (1 John 2:18)

6. What did John say about those who had left? (1 John 2:19)

7. What did the readers of 1 John have? (1 John 2:20)

8. What did the readers of 1 John know? (1 John 2:21)

9. How is the antichrist identified? (1 John 2:22)

10. In what way is denying (1 John or acknowledging) the Son related to having the Father? (1 John 2:23)

11. What did John encourage his readers to do? (1 John 2:24)

12. What did the Father promise? (1 John 2:25)

13. Why did the author write these things? (1 John 2:26)

14. What was the relationship between the anointing these believers received and their need to be taught? (1 John 2:27)

Get It

15. What antichrists are among us today?

16. What truths do we know about Christ?

17. What have we been taught by the anointing of the Holy Spirit?

18. How can we remain in or have fellowship with Jesus Christ?

19. What groups of people are trying to lead believers astray today?

20. How can we protect ourselves against false teachers and antichrists?

Apply It

21. What will you do this week to deepen your fellowship with Jesus Christ?

22. What steps do you need to take to better prepare yourself against antichrists and their false doctrines?

23. Who is someone you can encourage in their relationship with Christ this week?

Notes

1 John 2:18-23: John is talking about the last days, the time between Christ's first and second comings. The first-century readers of 1 John lived in the last days, and so do we. During this time, antichrists (1 John false teachers who pretend to be Christians and who lure weak members away from Christ) will appear. Finally, just before the world ends, one great antichrist will arise (1 John Rev. 13; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10). We do not need to fear these evil people, however. The Holy Spirit shows us their errors, so we will not be deceived. However, we must teach God's Word clearly and carefully to the peripheral, weak members among us so that they won't fall prey to these teachers who "come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (1 John Matthew 7:15).

1 John 2:19: The antichrists were not total strangers to the church; they once had been in the church, but they did not really belong to it. John does not say why they left; it is clear that their reasons for joining in the first place were wrong. Some people may call themselves Christians for less than the best reasons. Perhaps going to church is a family tradition. Maybe they like the social and business contacts they make there. Or possibly going to church is a long-standing habit, and they have never stopped to ask themselves why they do it.

1 John 2:20: Anointing usually refers to the pouring out of special olive oil. Oil was used to consecrate kings and special servants for service (1 John 1 Samuel 16:1, 13), and also was used by the church when someone was sick (1 John James 5:14). "You have an anointing from the Holy One" could read, "The Holy Spirit has been given to you by the Father and the Son." When a person becomes a Christian, he or she receives the Holy Spirit. One way the Holy Spirit helps the believer and the church is by communicating truth. Jesus is the truth (1 John 14:6), and the Holy Spirit guides believers to him (1 John 16:13).

1 John 2:22-23: Apparently the antichrists in John's day were claiming faith in God while denying and opposing Christ. To do so, John firmly states, is impossible. Because Jesus is God's Son and the Messiah, to deny Christ is to reject God's way of revealing himself to the world. A person who accepts Christ as God's Son, however, accepts God the Father at the same time. The two are one and cannot be separated.