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It’s often said that the best way to detect a lie is to know the truth. This is the case whether we’re dealing with counterfeit money or counterfeit truth. Recall from yesterday’s study that John warned his audience to be aware of false teachers, or antichrists. He reminded them that they did not need some kind of additional special knowledge for their salvation. Instead he redirected their focus back to this essential truth: Jesus is the Christ (v. 22).
In today’s passage, John again reminds His listeners to hang on to what they heard from the beginning–from the first time they heard the gospel message. They did not need something new, they needed to cling to the knowledge that they already had.
There’s always the temptation to think that the gospel message is too simple. Maybe John’s audience was tempted to make the gospel sound more sophisticated or philosophical, just as those against Christ were attempting to do. We may be tempted to do the same thing at times, by trying to make the gospel message sound “more relevant” for today. But the absolute core of the gospel is, of course, that Jesus is the Christ. Only by steadfastly remaining in this truth can one remain in the Father, and thereby receive the promise of eternal life (v. 25).
In addition to special or secret knowledge, these antichrists may have been teaching people that some type of spiritual anointing was also necessary to gain eternal life. Once again, John reminds these believers that they have already received all that they need to understand the gospel and to remain in Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When John says that believers “do not need anyone to teach you” (v. 27), he is referring to the false teachers, the antichrists, who are outside the church. One of the best ways to “see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you” (v. 24) is to receive solid, Bible-based teaching. Moody Bible Institute is a great resource for this. You may want to enroll in an Independent Studies course by calling 1-800-955-1123 or visit www.moody.edu for more options. The best way to guard against falsehood is to know the truth.
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