ABIDE - "Abide for a Confident Faith" - 1 John 2:18-29 - Tim Nay

Abide for a Confident Faith
1 John 2:18-29
Tim Nay

Part of ABIDE1, 2, 3 John

January 26, 2025

Abiding in the correct Jesus gives us confidence in our faith. 

18 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. 19 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. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. —1 John 2:18-20 (ESV) 

We have an anointing by the Holy Spirit. 

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. —1 John 2:19 (ESV) 

Dangers from Gnosticism 
1. Ascetic Lifestyle - denial of anything of the flesh - nothing pleasurable. 
2. Permissive Lifestyle - deny nothing since flesh doesn’t effect the spirit 

21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. —1 John 2:21-25 (ESV) 

We already know the Truth. 

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. —Colossian 2:8-10 (ESV) 

Abide = to stay, to continue in, to remain, to tarry (stay longer than intended) 

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. —1 John 2:26-27 (ESV) 

We are being taught and led by the Holy Spirit. 

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. —Ephesians 5:18 (ESV) 

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. —1 John 2:28-29 

Abiding in the correct Jesus gives us confidence in our faith. 

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. —1 John 2:6