John is giving us many warnings with one point in this passage of scripture. Abide in Christ, stay there, live your life there and as you do so do not wander after the follies of this world.
The first warning that John gives us is that we are in the last hour. The reason that we know this is because of the many antichrists walking the earth right now and because of this we know that the antichrist is coming. The antichrist is coming refers to the antichrist mentioned in the books of Daniel and Revelation, and here in 2 Thessalonians. “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 This antichrist eventually creates a one world government and wages war against Christianity, but this is not what John spends more time with even though it is a warning for us to study the scriptures so that we are not carried away in the end. Even though this is a fascinating and horrifying topic the bulk of the first warning is given to the many antichrists
The bulk of John’s warning is not applied to the eventual antichrist, but to the many antichrists that are walking preparing for this present danger. Why do I think that it is so important to teach you the Bible? Why do I think you need a good solid understanding of the scriptures? Why do I think that anyone that teaches in the church must teach strong Biblical Doctrine? “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists , and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what eve y joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”Ephesians 4:11-16 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servant also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness whose end will be according to their deeds” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 There are many false teachers in the church today, who “masquerade as angels of light”. Or more accurately masquerade as God’s teachers and preachers, yet they lead people away with their faulty doctrines. People are carried away by these things. Pastors today are teaching things like, Christ’s death wasn’t necessary and that Hell doesn’t exist, and these are things that the Bible doesn’t teach. This is how we know it is the last hour. There are more and more of these people running around, so it is more and more important for you to be prepared when someone like this runs into you. You must be strong in your beliefs when this happens to you.
The second warning coming from John is that those who have left the church were never really part of the church to begin with. This is not changing churches this is talking about someone who claims to be a believer leaving the faith, whether they are staying at home and not doing anything or following a different religion, or are now not believers, they are proving that God had not saved them and that they were not Christians to begin with. Only hypocrites masquerading as Christians. “But they went out that it would be shown that they all are not of us” In churches anywhere in the country at any time there will be people at that place that are not believers, but the statement here shows us that those that fall away from the faith are only proving that they were hypocrites to begin with and that they had never really attained anointing from the Holy One. They left so that it might be know that they were not and never were a part of the fellowship of believers. They were just people who hung out at church for a while Jesus said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. It is impossible for a truly born again believer to re-enter his former way of life. Everything is different therefore it is impossible. In contrast to that John says “But you have an anointing from the Holy One”. In Contrast with those who have left we have an anointing from the Holy One. And our endurance will be proof that we truly have anointing from the Holy One, “And you all know” We who have this anointing from the Holy Spirit have a special anointing from the Holy Spirit “and you all know” This anointing guards us from error and falling away. John 14:26 This is not to belittle the teacher or say there is no need for teachers because the Bible calls for teachers repeatedly, but that the Holy Spirit teaches us. Example-Carnal people cannot understand the things of God “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” I Corinthians 1:18 (The difference is God is working in one person and not in another). With the Holy Spirit we now have the ability to understand scriptures (we grow in understanding) and understand the teachings of the Bible as we grow in holiness and in our walk with Christ. So John can say, “I am not writing to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie is of the truth.” I am warning you, you have an anointing from the Holy Spirit, you have understanding that a non-Christian does not have. You have the ability to understand scriptures. Do not fall into error. Fight error, study your Bible. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 “And no lie is of the truth” We do not put up with error, and no lie is part of the Bible. “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; The one who confesses the Son has the Father also.”
“As for you let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.” John is telling us now how to avoid the errors of the world. It is to abide in the teachings that “you heard from the beginning”. Abide means to stay in it. It also implies a living in the message that they have heard from the beginning. The Gospel Message cannot and does not change. There is no changing truth written in the pages of your Bible. The word abide here has the meaning stay. So, let the truth stay in you. “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father”. If we endure, not following faulty silly myths and chase after God and what His word says then we inherit the promise He has given us. The promise given to those who endure until the end, eternal life.
In summary John says something interesting. “These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from the Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” I have written all of this to you so that you will not be deceived by all of these people. You have been anointed with the Holy Spirit. Stay in Him. Stay in Christ and His teachings do not wander after the follies of this world. Abide in Christ. Study the word. Pray, be with Him all the time. Abide in Christ.
Dwain Minor