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(1 John 2:18-19 ESV)
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 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.
Verse 18 first mention of the anti-Christ would be the one predicted in the scriptures who we see arise in the book of Revelation along with the false prophet and wreak havoc on earth
READ HERE FOR MORE INFO -------->(http://www.raptureready.com/abc/antichrist.html)
We could of course spend days on eschatology and the differing views, however I will allow you to go to the article I posted and you can spend time studying the different views out. I do want to tackle the second half of this verse.
Remember that John is writing to refute the Gnostics who believe matter is evil and only the spiritual is good. So they are denying that Jesus came in the flesh and also the Resurrection which was physical. The last hour is referring to the time before Christ's first coming and the time between then and His second coming. It can be rightly said that we are living in the last days and have been since Jesus ascended.
As of late I have run into numerous Christians who think we should never call another supposed Christian out publicly. For example on this blog you will notice there are times when I will call a person out. For example I have used Joel Osteen more than once for claiming Mormons are Christians. I call him out and bring attention to this because Joel has a massive following and will mislead millions into thinking Mormons are Christians when they are not.
Is it unloving to warn people against wolves in sheep's clothing?
It is our job as Christians to warn other believers and warn Mormons themselves that they are in a false system. To not warn them is to not really love these people but to stand back and watch them be led to Hell.
John is warning that there are those who are anti-Christ. We read in John 14:6 that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Those who do not submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and do not repent of their sins and put their trust in Christ alone are ant-Christ. Whether it is a Muslim, Mormon, JW, or Hindu and any other belief system that does not adhere to the teaching of sacred scripture.
Verse 19 says "Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 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."
One question that is often asked is about eternal security. I was brought up in a Assemblies of God church which taught and still does that one can lose their salvation. I had a good friend who struggled badly with this doctrine. The common question was how can one be a Christian, pray a prayer and go live any way they want to. They can be alcoholics, drug addicts, watch porn all day and still be a Christian?
The question of course is framed in such a way it is like asking if God is all powerful can He make a married bachelor? The answer of course is not because married bachelors do not exist. They are logical impossibilities. In a sense the same thing is going on when people ask this question.
If you are a true Christian you may sin but you certainly wont make a practice of sinning. We have dealt with this in previous Bible studies in this book that we may sin but as chapter one tells us if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us.
This gets to the heart of Justification and the doctrine of election. All denominations have to deal with the doctrine of election because the Bible teaches it. The Assemblies of God is a Arminian denomination and thus they see election as God choosing people based on His knowledge that they would choose Him and also believed that one could lose their salvation.
Times have changed and I am now a full fledged five point Calvinist and believe the Bible is clear that God elects us before the foundation of the world and it is NOT based on His foreseen knowledge but rather His good pleasure and Sovereign purposes
(Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."
We could of course spend days on eschatology and the differing views, however I will allow you to go to the article I posted and you can spend time studying the different views out. I do want to tackle the second half of this verse.
Remember that John is writing to refute the Gnostics who believe matter is evil and only the spiritual is good. So they are denying that Jesus came in the flesh and also the Resurrection which was physical. The last hour is referring to the time before Christ's first coming and the time between then and His second coming. It can be rightly said that we are living in the last days and have been since Jesus ascended.
As of late I have run into numerous Christians who think we should never call another supposed Christian out publicly. For example on this blog you will notice there are times when I will call a person out. For example I have used Joel Osteen more than once for claiming Mormons are Christians. I call him out and bring attention to this because Joel has a massive following and will mislead millions into thinking Mormons are Christians when they are not.
Is it unloving to warn people against wolves in sheep's clothing?
It is our job as Christians to warn other believers and warn Mormons themselves that they are in a false system. To not warn them is to not really love these people but to stand back and watch them be led to Hell.
John is warning that there are those who are anti-Christ. We read in John 14:6 that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Those who do not submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and do not repent of their sins and put their trust in Christ alone are ant-Christ. Whether it is a Muslim, Mormon, JW, or Hindu and any other belief system that does not adhere to the teaching of sacred scripture.
Verse 19 says "Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 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."
One question that is often asked is about eternal security. I was brought up in a Assemblies of God church which taught and still does that one can lose their salvation. I had a good friend who struggled badly with this doctrine. The common question was how can one be a Christian, pray a prayer and go live any way they want to. They can be alcoholics, drug addicts, watch porn all day and still be a Christian?
The question of course is framed in such a way it is like asking if God is all powerful can He make a married bachelor? The answer of course is not because married bachelors do not exist. They are logical impossibilities. In a sense the same thing is going on when people ask this question.
If you are a true Christian you may sin but you certainly wont make a practice of sinning. We have dealt with this in previous Bible studies in this book that we may sin but as chapter one tells us if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us.
This gets to the heart of Justification and the doctrine of election. All denominations have to deal with the doctrine of election because the Bible teaches it. The Assemblies of God is a Arminian denomination and thus they see election as God choosing people based on His knowledge that they would choose Him and also believed that one could lose their salvation.
Times have changed and I am now a full fledged five point Calvinist and believe the Bible is clear that God elects us before the foundation of the world and it is NOT based on His foreseen knowledge but rather His good pleasure and Sovereign purposes
(Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."
With the reformed view of election one could not lose their salvation because the fact you are saved is not your doing. God drew you (John 6:44,65) He saved you (Ephesians 2:8-9) and God will keep you (John 6:37-40).
Lets look at a few verses that talk about our eternal security in Christ.
Eternal Life is eternal. John 10:28
It is never the will of God for a saved person to be lost. John 6:39
You have reservations in heaven. I Peter 1:4, Matthew 19:29
This salvation that you have inherited is incorruptible. I Peter 1:4
This salvation that you have cannot be defiled. I Peter 1:4
At salvation you were sealed by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13
This seal is set in place for a specific period of time. Ephesians 4:30
The Holy Spirit is promised to abide with you forever. John 14:16,17
You are preserved forever. Psalm 37:28, Jude 1
You have been born of God and cannot be unborn. John 1:12-13
You have been created by God and cannot be uncreated. II Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10
You are twice as safe as the government of the universe. Isaiah 9:6, Luke 15:5
You are preserved unto the heavenly kingdom. II Timothy 4:18
You are kept by the power of God. I Peter 1:5
You are secure because the Lord Jesus has prayed that you would be. John 17:11
Salvation is by grace and works cannot affect it. Romans 11:16, Romans 3:28
You have ceased from your own works. Hebrews 4:10
Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. Romans 8:35-39
Salvation is of the Lord. Jonah 2:9, Ecclesiastes 3:14
We should meditate on these precious truths on our glorious God and the fact that your salvation is not dependent on how"good" you are but rather the eternal, immutable promise of God!
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