Don’t allow yourself to be deceived!
The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st John chapter 2:
24 So you must be sure to keep the message burning in your hearts; that is, the message of Life you heard from the beginning. If you do, you will always be living in close fellowship with the Son and with the Father.
25 And He Himself has promised us the never-ending Life of the ages to come!
26 I’ve written these things about those who are attempting to lead you astray.
27 But the wonderful anointing you have received from God is so much greater than their deception and now lives in you. There’s no need for anyone to keep teaching you. His anointing teaches you all that you need to know, for it will lead you into Truth, not a counterfeit. So just as the anointing has taught you, remain in Him.
28 And now, dear children, remain in Him, so that when He is revealed we may have joyful confidence and not be ashamed when we stand before Him at His appearing.
This passage is one of John’s strongest exhortations to remain steadfast in Christ amid deception. The central word is “abide” (μένω, menō), which appears repeatedly throughout John’s writings and means to remain, continue, dwell, or stay connected.
Verse 24 refers to the original Gospel that the apostles preached:
- Jesus is the Son of God.
- He came in the flesh.
- He died for our sins.
- He rose again.
- Salvation comes through Him alone.
John is warning against accepting “new” teachings that alter the Gospel.
Notice that John does not tell them to seek a new revelation. Instead, he tells them to hold firmly to the revelation they already received.
The relationship
John presents a sequence of Truth:
- The Gospel remains in you.
- Therefore you remain in Christ.
- Therefore you remain in fellowship with the Father.
Truth and relationship cannot be separated.
Everything John has discussed points toward one promise: Eternal life. Eternal Life is not merely living forever.
It is:
- knowing God,
- sharing His Life,
- enjoying fellowship with Him now,
- and ultimately dwelling with Him forever.
Jesus defined Eternal Life as He prayed in John chapter 17:
1 Jesus spoke these Words, lifted up His Eyes to Heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give Eternal Life to as many as You have given Him.
3 And this is Eternal Life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.
Have you considered the opposite of Eternal Life? Eternal death!
In verse 26, John explains exactly why he is writing.
False teachers were:
- denying Jesus as the Christ,
- denying His humanity,
- claiming special spiritual knowledge,
- leading believers away from the True Gospel.
John does not encourage curiosity about every new teaching. Instead, he says: “Remain in what you already know is True.”
Verse 27 is vital to our understanding and pursuits.
“But the anointing which you received from Him abides in you…”
The anointing refers to the Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament anointed:
- priests,
- prophets,
- kings
for God’s service.
Now every believer has been spiritually anointed by receiving the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit teaches believers!
John says:
“His anointing teaches you concerning all things.”
This does not mean:
- Christians automatically know everything.
- Christians never need pastors.
- Christians never study Scripture.
After all, John himself is teaching them through this letter.
Instead, the Spirit:
- confirms the Truth,
- exposes falsehood,
- illuminates Scripture,
- continually points believers to Christ.
Jesus promised exactly this in John 16:13:
“When He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth.”
The Holy Spirit never teaches something that contradicts the Scriptures He inspired.
Verse 28 provides us with John’s conclusion:
“And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”
This is John’s practical conclusion:
Christ will return.
The issue is not whether believers belong to Christ.
The issue is:
Will they be living faithfully when He comes?
John describes two possible responses:
Confidence
Those walking closely with Christ will welcome His appearing with joy.
Like Paul, they can say:
“I have fought the good fight…”
Their lives will reflect ongoing fellowship with Him.
Shame
John is not describing Eternal condemnation.
Rather, he speaks of the shame a believer would feel whose life has drifted from faithful obedience when standing before the Lord.
In summary:
1. Hold fast to the original Gospel. Don’t chase every new doctrine. Truth doesn’t change.
2. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer
The Spirit:
- teaches,
- convicts,
- guides,
- protects,
- reminds believers of Christ’s Words.
3. Abiding is continuous
Abiding is not a one-time event.
It is a daily life of:
- trusting Christ,
- obeying Him,
- remaining in His Word,
- walking with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus illustrated this in John 15 using the image of the vine and branches. A branch bears fruit only as it remains connected to the vine.
4. Christ is coming again
John wants believers to live today in a way that produces joy—not regret—when Christ appears.
This passage provides a simple pattern for the Christian life:
- Let God’s Word abide in you. Fill your mind and heart with Scripture so the Gospel remains your foundation.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to illuminate Scripture, expose error, and shape your character into Christ’s likeness.
- Test every teaching. Compare every sermon, book, prophecy, or spiritual experience against the written Word of God. The Spirit and the Scriptures never disagree.
- Abide daily in Christ. Through prayer, worship, obedience, repentance, and fellowship, cultivate an ongoing relationship with Him.
- Live with Christ’s return in view. Every decision can be made with the question, “Would I be glad for Jesus to find me doing this if He returned today?”
Don’t allow yourself to be deceived, especially by social media!