1 John 2:18-23
The presence of antichrists who depart from the apostolic fellowship and deny Jesus as the Christ reveals that it is the last hour and exposes the decisive importance of confessing the Son.
18 Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour.
19 They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.
20 You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
21 I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
The presence of antichrists who depart from the apostolic fellowship and deny Jesus as the Christ reveals that it is the last hour and exposes the decisive importance of confessing the Son.
To warn believers about false teachers who reject the true identity of Jesus and to strengthen assurance by clarifying the marks of authentic faith.
Christ Our Advocate, Walking as He Walked, and Abiding in the Truth
Because Jesus Christ is the righteous advocate and atoning sacrifice, believers must abide in him through obedience, love, truth, and discernment until his appearing.