1 John 2:18 - Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.

Read 1 John 2:18-27.

When a healthy new baby is born into the world, there is much joy and excitement within the family. "Isn't that baby just darling?" or "Look at those cute little hands!" are typical exclamations heard during visiting hours on the maternity floor. But it isn't long after the baby arrives home that the hard work and important responsibility of teaching begins. Once the baby begins to crawl and then walk around the house, it is of utmost importance for the young child to receive a course in "beware of dangers". At this stage of growth it is very important to teach babies not to touch hot stoves or electrical outlets and not to go near basement stairs.

It is not difficult to see the parallel between the above illustration and the new Christian.
When a person is born into the family of God, there is much joy and excitement among the older brothers and sisters--as well as in heaven. (See Luke 15:7.) But the very important task of teaching begins immediately. And one of the first areas of learning for the new baby in Christ must involve the "bewares". Frequently, new Christians "get burned" or hurt because they were not taught to avoid certain hazardous areas.

In 1 John 2:18-27 new Christians are directly addressed and are told to be particularly aware of false teachers and their false teaching. The fact that the word "children" is used in verse 18 indicates that recent additions to the family of God are primarily in view. This word for "children" is not the same word that is translated "children" throughout most of 1 John. In fact, this word for "children" is used only twice in the epistle of 1 John; once in 2:13 and here in 2:18. The word signifies young child or baby, and refers to new believers in the fellowship in contrast to the "young men" or "fathers" (2:13-14)--those who are more mature or longer in the faith.

The more common word which is translated "children" in 1 John signifies the whole family of believers, regardless of growth or number of years in the faith. It refers to all persons who have been born into God's family. This more general term is used in 2:1, 2:12, 2:28, 3:7, 3:18, 4:4 and 5:21. Unfortunately, in our English translations the distinction between these words is lost and it can be very confusing, especially since the more general term is sometimes translated "little children". But this phrase "little children" is not used in the sense of lack of growth, but rather in the sense of John's parental affection for the whole family.



And if you are not a brand new Christian, then you are in the "young men" category and are here warned to watch out for the world. "Young men" level Christians are particularly vulnerable to capitulation to the values of this evil world system. Let us remember the three principles of operation of Satan's world system (2:16): appeals to the strong desires of the flesh (pleasure), appeals to the strong desires of the eyes (possessions), and appeals to the pride of life or vanity (power and prestige). Let us not think that our few years as a Christian will make us immune to the attacks of the enemy of our souls. He knows that the "young men" category of believer is very susceptible to the contagious disease of worldliness.

Now let's return to the subject of baby Christians. This category of believers is addressed in verse 18-27, as mentioned above. Because new believers are especially vulnerable to false teaching, this section of Scripture is a loud and clear "beware" along these lines. You see, new Christians are generally caught up in the joy and excitement of their new life in Christ and are not that hung up with worldliness--but they are wide open to the possibility of swallowing false doctrine. This does not mean that a new Christian is not spiritual. A baby Christian can be just as spiritual as a long-in-the-faith believer.It is growth and spirituality, that is in view in the categorizing of believers in this portion of God's Word.

Warning and protection from false teachers are of utmost importance to the proper growth of new Christians. Just as young children must be protected from all the things that they try to put into their mouths, so baby Christians must be protected from imbibing false teaching. There are a lot of "wolves in sheep's clothing" around today just waiting to feed poison to newly-awakened spiritual appetites. (See Matthew 7:15.) What a responsibility older brothers and sisters have towards the new members of the family! Are you yourself a new Christian? Beware of false teachers and their false doctrine! Every so-called "spiritual leader" is not one of God's gifts to the Church!

How can false doctrine be detected? Is there any clue or give-away signal that new Christians should watch for when they come into contact with religious teachers? Yes! Some true servants of God may exhibit all these "signs". The sure give-away sign of false teachers is their false doctrine of Christ.

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20).

Verse 22 of our Scripture tells us that the core of false doctrine is the denial of Jesus Christ as fully God. False teachers may say that Jesus is "divine" or "of God" or "a son of God". But they fall short of admitting that Jesus is God.Verse 23 indicates that all who deny the deity of Christ are not of God! In fact, they are anti-christs As in John's day (v 19), there were many anti-christ's; what does this means for us today?.
We know for a fact according to the word of God that Jesus christ destroyed the temple made with hands (Mark 14:58); Our God does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24). We are the temple of God, and his spirit dwell in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus Christ is the "church", and everyone of us are buildt up as spiritual lively stones into his body (1 Peter 2:5) to fitly framed together unto a holy temple in the Lord; In whom also we are buildt together for a habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22). We must therefore worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), and that means we are to worship the Lord God through Christ Jesus (he is the word of God [john 1:1,14]). If we join ourselves to another body called a church, or a temple for worship; Then whatever is bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19). Thus we will be bound to that seperate body, and loosed from the body of Christ as "the church/the temple". Our enemy is not flesh and blood, but prinicipalities, powers, and the rulers of darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, we are not to be looking out for any person in particular to say they are the anti-christ. These buildings that serves as a church or a temple are called the "anti-christ's", because Jesus Christ is the only one that should bear the name as "the church" or "the temple" for our spritual way of worship. We do not have to ascend up to heaven to bring him downs, or descend into the deep tp bring him up again from the dead (Romans 10:6-7), but he is the living word and is close to us, even in our mouth, and in our hearts; that is the word of faith, which we preach (Romans 10:8).
Has God given His children any safeguards against the dangers of false doctrine? Yes, of course. Our text informs us that the Scripture and the Spirit are given to protect us from the dangers of false teaching. Verse 24 refers to the safeguard of Scripture. John's readers were not to let themselves be taken in by the new teachings of the deceivers (v26). They were to abide in the Word that they had been taught from the beginning--that is, their conversion. The Word of God had been brought to them by the apostles, and they were to let that Word abide in them.
This is what the new believer needs today for protection from the almost overwhelming waves of false philosophies and insidious teachings which abound in the secular classroom as well as the religious sanctuary. How important it is to take time to teach baby Christians the Word of God!

The Holy Spirit is also a safeguard against false doctrine and is referred to as "the anointing" in verses 20 and 27. It is important to note that this Scripture teaches that all believers have the Holy Spirit--regardless of growth level ! Remember that these verses are particularly addressed to baby Christians, and yet verse 27 clearly indicates that they all had the Holy Spirit abiding in them. The statement, "You have no need for anyone to teach you," does not mean that Bible teachers are a waste of time! The point is that new believers can learn on their own by the guidance of the holy spirit himself (vs.27) who will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit sounds a warning in the believer when the truth is attacked or distorted. The Word of God illumined by the Spirit of God is the method by which believers are preserved and protected from false teaching.