12. 1 John 2:18-27 The Doctrinal Test

1st John chapter 2. We'll read just two verses this morning verses 18 and 19. Here now the inspired Word of God. Children it is the last hour and just as you heard that Antichrist is coming. Even now many Antichrist have appeared from this.

We know that it is the last hour. They went out from us but they were not really of us for if they had been of us they would have remained with us. But they went out so that it would be shown that they are all not of us.

Let's pray father once again as we look into your word we ask that just as you've promised that your word as it goes forth would not return void but would accomplish for every purpose for which you send it.

And we pray father that that purpose this morning would be the edification of the Saints that it would be the building up of your church that sinners would be saved that you would be glorified and that the name of Christ would be exalted.

And in his name we pray amen please be seated. In 1956 a new primetime television show was introduced. It was called to tell the truth. Now the show gets its name from the courtroom oaths that witnesses must swear before giving testimony they they're admonished do you swear to tell the truth.

The whole truth. And nothing but the truth used to be so help me God. But they've eliminated that the show had a panel consisting of four celebrities and a host. Three guests would file out and asked for their name and each one gave the same name.

For example my name is John Doe and each one would say that. Then a sworn affidavit was read detailing the accomplishments of this particular person and they usually something like they were a test pilot or something unusual.

Then the panelists were allowed to question the three guests. Now the real John Doe was sworn to tell the truth while the other two were allowed to lie as they assumed the other person's identity. After a time of questions the panelists voted for whom they believed was the real John Doe and prize money was awarded based upon how many panelists were deceived.

The more deception the larger the amount of the prize. The show is very popular and ran for 11 seasons and then it was brought back three times in 1968 2000 and again in 2016. What was it that made this show so popular.

Now I'm sure the psychological community would have a field day analyzing that question. But I think as I think about it the whole idea of the show was the better the deception the greater the prize. That was the point of the show.

In fact let me suggest an alternative name if the show ever returns again may the best liar win. But if you think about it lying is nothing new. It has been with mankind since the fall of Adam. In fact speaking to hypocrites or liars Jesus is recorded as saying in John chapter 8 verse 44.

You are you are of your father the devil and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. And then he says whenever he speaks a lie he speaks from his own nature for he is a liar and the father of lies.

On that same note one of the psalmists looked around his society and made this rather striking rebuke of his culture. In Psalm 116 verse 11 the psalmist says. I said in my alarm all men are liars. But lying is simply the result of the fallen nature of man.

Now with that thought in mind remember the context of the epistle that were that we've been studying the Gnostic heresy had infiltrated the church and remember they denied the reality that Jesus was God incarnate and they taught a strange doctrine that separated the spiritual from the material.

And they taught that this special gnosis or special knowledge that only they had enabled one to be sinless spiritually but committing all kinds of abominations physically. And that caused John to write the following in this epistle.

In chapter 2 verse 4 John says. The one who says I have come to know him and does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. You could say that the Gnostics were playing an early form of to tell the truth they would stand and say I am a Christian but they were lying according to John.

And that brings us to our text. Once again in verse 18 John reminds the church that we are in spiritual warfare and in warfare there are casualties. People were leaving the faith having been seduced by various heresies.

I want you to consider something for a moment. During this time in church history the gospel was expanding rapidly it was unprecedented. In fact it caused Paul to write in Romans chapter 1 verse 8 he says.

I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. In the first century the whole world the whole known world was aware of the gospel of Jesus Christ so much so that the men in Thessalonica describing Christians said these men have upset the world and have come here also.

Yet while the gospel was spreading and many were being converted it was accompanied by a time of great persecution great tribulation. You know sometimes living in 21st century America here on Long Island we tend to forget the situation of Christians around the world.

Oh sure we experience opposition when we evangelize we'll have the police called on us and park rangers and such. And it's not a pleasant experience. But in other parts of the world today Christians are being persecuted and it's widespread and deadly.

And believe it or not that has been the history of the church throughout the ages. And that opposition comes not only from outside the church but from within the church. Remember the words of Paul to the elders of the church in Philippi he met them at Miletus as he was leaving them.

And he says I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock. And that's what John is warning his flock about in this letter. Let me read verses 18 and 19. Again he says children it is the last hour and just as you heard that Antichrist is coming.

Even now many Antichrist have appeared from this. We know that it is the last hour they went out from us. But they were not really of us. For if they had been of us they would have remained with us. But they went out so that it would be shown that they are all not of us now.

This is a reminder of several important points. First the battle will continue and yes there will be those who leave the faith. Jesus foretold this truth in the parable of the sower which we read this morning in Matthew 8 13.

When the gospel is preached there will be some who just reject it outright. That's the seed that's being on the road or the byways. There's no soil for it to grip so they just reject it right away. Some receive the word with joy and they appear to be Christians.

And they're. They're even happy to tell other people about their quote newfound faith. But when trouble comes they quickly desert the faith. They didn't understand the nature of the kingdom of God. They wanted the blessings but they didn't understand what it meant to be a disciple of Christ.

So they went out from us says John because they were not of us. Then others when the gospel is preached they too make a profession of faith. Those are the ones who the seed falls upon thorns. But their profession is soon to be demonstrated as being false because when the cares of the world become too great they desert.

But there will be seed that falls on good ground the heart that has been generated by the Holy Spirit. And that seed will produce fruit. And and Jesus says some will produce 30 some even 60 but some will produce a hundredfold but there will be fruit.

And so with those thoughts in mind even though there are troubles the church will be victorious in the end. But here's the thing the victory of the Church of Jesus Christ will not look like the victory of the armies on earth because the weapons of our warfare and the circumstances of the spiritual realm are quite different than those of the physical armies.

In the hymn the church is one foundation. We only sang it last week written by Samuel Wesley. He captures the thought of what spiritual warfare looks like in verses three and five of his great hymn. He says though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed by schisms rent asunder by heresies distress.

Yet Saints their watch are keeping their cry goes up. How long and soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song. And again in verse 5 mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war she waits the consummation of peace forevermore till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blessed.

And the church the great church victorious shall be the church at rest. Christian warfare spiritual warfare is different than anything else that be that mankind is not used to seeing. So the first point John is making for us today is don't be surprised when you look around this world and see all of this happening.

Peter put it in very succinct terms. He says. Don't be surprised by the fiery ordeal that has come upon you as though it were something strange. What was true in the Apostles Day is no less true today.

The Gnostic heresy for example is still with us in one form or another today and is still infecting the church. But that's only one Antichrist philosophy the whole world system is set against the Church of Jesus Christ.

Two weeks ago we examine these verses. Verses 15 and 16 do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him for all all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world.

And we saw that when the biblical writers spoke of the world they meant the whole world system that is set in opposition to God and his kingdom. So John rightly calls it. There are many Antichrists. And if we look around us as John did in his day what do we find in our society.

We find the world systems philosophies infiltrating the church. If you look around this world today it's hard to imagine that things were once that were once hidden in dark rooms are now practiced publicly.

In fact they're celebrated by national proclamations parades and celebrity endorsements. And these philosophies have embraced by our educational systems. And they're being taught in the lowest of the primary grades.

There should be no surprise to us. It should make us angry. But it should come as no surprise because it's inevitable in a society that rejects the Lord God. Jehovah. Paul says it so well in Romans 1.

And we have to keep this in mind. Paul says. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer God gave them over to a depraved mind to do things which are not proper being filled with all unrighteousness wickedness greed evil full of envy murder strife deceit malice their gossips slanderers haters of God insolent arrogant boastful inventors of evil disobedient to parents without understanding untrustworthy unloving unmerciful.

And although they know the ordinance of God that those who practice such things are worthy of death they not only do the same but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. What does that sound like.

Is that not the society that we live in. So this should be no surprise. What is a surprise is that so many churches have embraced supported and welcome these ungodly for philosophies into their midst.

And John addresses this in verses 18 and 19. Look at verse 19 once again they went out from us but they were not really of us. But if they had been of us they would have remained with us. But they went out so that it would be shown that they are all not of us.

Let me start by saying that John is not lamenting the decline of church membership in these verses. For in the face of people leaving the faith he doesn't offer a three-point plan to build up the membership of the church.

Rather he says these people left good don't let the door hit you on the way out. That's if he was a New Yorker. He says it's a good thing. Why is this a good thing. Because it demonstrated that they weren't really true Christians in the first place.

One of the priorities we find in this epistle is that truth matters. Remember this is the third test for the assurance of faith. We've had the the love test. We've had the obedience test. And now we see that truth matters.

Doctrinal purity is more important than having a large church in our day. We see many churches compromising on doctrine to keep members happy or or to bring in new members to even take polls. What would it take to get you back to church.

And there are all kinds of rationale for doing so. You'll hear the call periodically for ecumenism. We must put our doctrinal differences aside and work together because we have a common enemy in the world system.

After all we're all Christians. You will hear the call go forth put doctrine aside for the sake of unity. But the reality is that apart from doctrinal purity there can be no unity. Jesus said that in his high priestly prayer sanctify them in truth.

Thy word is truth. As we have seen just because a person says they're a Christian doesn't make it so. They went out from us because they were not of us and according to John they were in fact Antichrist.

Many who calls themselves Christians today are not in fact true believers. You know there were some. You might ask yourself then why would some claim to be Christians if they're not really Christians.

There's a number of reasons. Business reasons culture. There are men who use the pulpit to get rich. Get rich quick people like the power or a political clout of being part of a bit large Christian Church.

In some corners of society. It's good business to belong to the first Baptist Church of wherever. So the admonition is to beware. Remember they are all not of us and we must be willing to let them go out from us.

Doctrinal purity is more important than numbers in the pews. There's a theme throughout scripture that you don't hear preached much anymore. We see it in first in the prophecy of Isaiah as quoted by the Apostle Paul.

It's the theology of the remnant and Romans 927. Paul says Isaiah cries out concerning Israel though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea it is the remnant that will be saved. God doesn't need large numbers of people to accomplish his plans.

He uses faithful people. Remember the story of Gideon. I love the story of Gideon. I'm gonna skip over him testing God. That's a that's another sermon. But the point for this morning I want to use Gideon to show how how God used Gideon and a small ragtag army to defeat the Midianites.

So the Lord tells Gideon call up an army. Gideon shows up with 32 ,000 people. That's a pretty good draft. But God looks at Gideon. He says that's too many. He says because he says the people who are with you are too many for me to give Midian into their hands.

For Israel had become boastful saying my own power has delivered me. This is now. Therefore come proclaim in the hearing of the people saying who's ever afraid and trembling let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.

22 ,000 people returned that left Gideon with 10 ,000 men. Still not a bad army. But God told him that's still too many. And he gives Gideon instructions to test them and according to how they drink the water that pared it down to 300.

And the Lord said to Gideon I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hand. So let all the other people go each man to his own home. And of course you know the rest of the story.

God used 300 men and a good battle strategy which came from the Lord by the way and he used those to defeat the entire Midian army. There's a couple of poignant points to this story. First you need to understand this is an actual historical event these this was a real battle with real people with real weapons and real casualties.

This is not an allegory. God was fulfilling his promise to the Israelites that if they followed his instructions they would occupy the land of Canaan. And so he wanted to show them that the bad the victory in battle was his and not their own.

This was a true. This was true in each battle to occupy the land. If you go through the history of the Israelites whenever they obeyed the instructions from God they prevailed. When they disobeyed they suffered loss.

That being said the events of Gideon do have relevance in the spiritual realm. The history of the church is rife with examples of one individual or a small number of Christians accomplishing great things for the Lord think of Joseph willing to stand before the powers of Egypt and and holding true to his principles.

How about Daniel who wouldn't compromise. We told he shouldn't pray. He goes from front of the open window and prays three times. Daniel wouldn't compromise one iota of truth and he influenced two great empires while preserving the people of God.

We can look at that history from a perspective now that it is history and we can see exactly how Daniel was used by God to preserve two of the major of the Middle East. What was important Zachariah the Prophet said in chapter four verse six of his book.

Then he said to me this is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying not by might nor by power but by my spirits as the Lord of hosts truth that is doctrinal purity and the work of the Holy Spirit go hand in hand because he is the spirit of truth.

But that's the subject of next week's sermon. The Apostle Paul knew this fact very well. I love what he says in first Corinthians 1 starting in verse 26. By the way whenever you think that you're getting there you're arriving at being a Christian and you've done something.

Go back and read these verses first Corinthians 1 to verse 26. For consider your calling brethren that there were not many wise according to the flesh not many mighty not many noble. But God has shown the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.

And God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong and the base things of the world. And the despised. God has chosen the things that are not so that he may nullify the things that are so that no man may boast before God.

So you think you're something I had somebody said I'm a proud Christian. I said well then you're not really a Christian. That's an oxymoron. This teaching is all throughout scripture. In his second letter to Timothy Paul cautions him regarding a similar matter to what John is addressing in the present text.

People were leaving pastor Timothy's church believing the error that the final resurrection had already taken place. And Paul tells Timothy avoid these men. Why. Because their talk will spread like gangrene.

He says in second Timothy 2 17. Among them I'm in a sinful filetus. How would you like your name put down in scripture which will endure forever shows the error of their ways. Men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place and they upset the faith of son.

Some notice the similarities to John case. These men were propagating a serious error. And what does Paul tell Timothy is the importance of doctrinal purity. The foundation of God stands firm. Notice that the early church was played with the same problems as the contemporary church.

And Paul's remedy. Second Timothy 2 15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God. As a workman who does not need to be ashamed accurately handling the word of truth the word of truth and handling it accurately when it comes to the truth of God's Word there can be no compromise for the sake of unity.

We see John's attitude quite clearly. They went out from us. Why. Because they were not of us. And they're leaving is the very proof that they were not of us. So it was necessary in the plan of God that they left.

Which brings us to a third point of the morning. What should the church do in times like these. The answer from scripture is clear. And that's very simply. Develop a biblical worldview. What does that mean.

First it means understanding that God does not do things that always make sense to us. Nor is he obligated to explain it to us. One of the greatest examples in scripture is the is is job. Job goes to all of that suffering.

And if you read the whole book through God never explains job why he did it. Just shut them up says where were you when I created the world. Where were you when I did this. Where were you when I did that.

And what is Job's response. I shut my mouth. I think we need to shut our mouths more often than we really do. So that's a biblical worldview is that God doesn't always do things that we understand in God's plan.

He often uses times of trouble to purge error from the church. That's what we're seeing in the present text. In first John as we've seen it already it was necessary for the heretics to leave for the spiritual health of the church.

The words of John are meant to both comfort and encourage that early church. So we need to develop a biblical worldview. What else does that mean. It means times of testing are used by God to build spiritual character in the Saints.

Paul goes through this in Romans chapter 5 starting in verse 3 says. Not only this but we exult in our tribulations. Wow. Knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance. Perseverance proven character proven character.

Hope and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has given to us. In other words the very circumstances that we most likely are complaining about have been intentionally given to you by God to bring you to spiritual maturity which leads to a stronger assurance of faith.

And those very same troubles that come into your path from the evil one God uses for his ultimate good. You all know Romans 828. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to his purpose.

And we see that at work in practical ways. In the life of Joseph remember he had become a second in command in Egypt and his brothers the ones who plotted to kill him and ended up by selling him into slavery are brought before him.

And they're in fear. They they are really afraid of what's going to happen when they when Joseph sees them. And rightly so because they were guilty they deserved the death penalty. But Joseph had a biblical worldview and he forgives them.

And he says to them in Genesis 50 verse 20 as for you you meant evil against me but God meant it for good. In order to bring about this present result to preserve many people alive ever try to figure out what God's doing.

For those of you try to figure out what's God what God is doing in your life. Sometimes we can but more often than not we can't. And the reason for that is very simple. And Isaiah gives us the answer when he quotes God he says this is God speaking for my thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways.

My ways declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. How can we possibly understand the mind of God. We may see certain things that are beneficial as a result but we can't figure out what God is doing.

He continues. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bare and sprout and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater.

So will my word which goes forth from my mouth. It will not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. That being said while we can't figure out the mind of God we can understand those things he has revealed to us.

The secret things belong to the Lord Deuteronomy 29 29. But the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever. That we may observe all the words of this law. Now we already mentioned earlier that we are in spiritual warfare.

And we must understand that as Christians we are in a spiritual battle of cosmic proportions. We are part of the Lord's army. When you become a Christian you are in the battle. You don't have a choice.

You don't just say well I want all the benefits of Christianity. But I'm not going to get involved in that spiritual warfare that's too heavy. You are part of the army of the Lord. When you become a Christian you're in the battle.

You have no choice. The only choice is how well you're going to serve your Lord. There will be times when it appears that you're on the losing side. But that only means that you're looking through carnal eyes and not spiritual ones.

Like Elisha's servant sitting up on the hills and lamenting that the Aramaeans were surrounding Jerusalem. He says oh we're gonna be destroyed. And Elisha prays that his eyes are open. And what does he see the Lord of hosts army encamped way overpowering the Aramaeans.

We need to look at life with spiritual eyes. Things are not always as they appear. This is where having a biblical worldview is important. Remember God's Word will never return void. Now what we have seen in the text is John's concern for the church manifested in intangible ways.

Keeping the church pure was of utmost importance to all of the Apostles. When someone became an offense either in doctrine or in behavior steps were taken to remedy the situation. Today we find it hard.

You're hard-pressed today to find a church that would practice discipline let alone excommunicate someone. And that is one of the reasons the church today is ineffective in affecting any moral change in our society.

One of the marks of a true church is that it practices church discipline. And the goal of any discipline in the church is threefold. The first is reconciliation or restoration. You church discipline is an act of love and we need to understand that.

So the first goal of any discipline is reconciliation or restoration of the wayward Christian to convince the way would remember to return to the faith through repentance. Second goal is it keeps the church free from sinful behavior.

In other words to keep the church pure. And third to serve as a warning to others to demonstrate that there are consequences for sinful behavior both temporal and spiritual. You cannot have one foot in each world.

To love the world is to hate God. So love not the world neither the things of the world to tell the truth. No I'm just naming the games. I'm not. I have been telling the truth. I pray I've been telling the truth.

It was a very popular game show actually aired during prime time one of those few game shows and it was a challenge. I have to be honest to with you and say that I enjoyed watching it and trying to figure out who was the liar.

It was fun. It was good entertainment. But in reality lying is very hurtful. It causes damage and heartache. And that is doubly true in the spiritual realm. What have we learned from the Apostle today.

Lying is not compatible with being a Christian the Christian. The church must never compromise on the truth of God's Word. And the third test to know that you are saved is the doctrinal test. Truth matters but that is tempered with the social test.

That love matters and the moral test that obedience matters. If you're here today and you're not a believer you've never come to that place in your life don't believe the lies of the evil one which permeate this world.

Repent of your sin. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.