19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
21 I write to you, not because you do not 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 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
The anti-Christ, and knowing and ACK!!!
Silly huh? :)
God's word is open to the understanding of those who seek after it, God grants us that understanding if we but ask him to. :)
You know the type when you are told something bad is happening, but then you are given a reason why you can persevere through it?
John tells us.. there are anti-Christs among us BUT take heart....because we know the truth.
The anti-Christ lies and a lie can't stand up to the truth. It just can't.
We know that Christ is real and the anti-Christ would to deny that fact. So, since we know it to be true we won't be fooled by such tactics.
This is course makes me think.. how do we know the truth?
And the answer comes.
1. prayer
2. study.
You can't know the truth if you don't take the time to KNOW the truth. Makes sense no? And since God is into having a personal relationship with us, we can't have that if we don't take the time to do so. And we deepen our relationships if we actually study the person/being that we are in a relationship with. :) And God gave us a handy "get to know me" book (the bible).
So John calls the people to know the truth. They already know the truth and just need to keep knowing him better. :)
The end result.. eternal life. Pretty cool eh?
So let us not to be taught wrong.
Let us hold to the truth that we know and not be deceived.
Let us cling to the one that is righteous shall we not?
Let us indeed TAKE HEART the anti-Christ shall not destroy us (or mislead us either). :)