Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:04.360
If you're able to remain standing,
please do and will give our attention now
2
00:00:04.519 --> 00:00:09.990
to first John, Chapter Two,
Verse Eighteen Through Twenty Seven, verses eighteen
3
00:00:10.070 --> 00:00:21.899
through twenty seven. So First John, Chapter two, verse eighteen. This
4
00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:28.059
is the word of the Lord.
Let's give our attention to it. Children,
5
00:00:28.820 --> 00:00:32.899
it is the last hour and,
as you have heard, that antichrist
6
00:00:32.979 --> 00:00:38.130
is coming. So now many antichrists
have come. Therefore we know that it
7
00:00:38.289 --> 00:00:42.009
is the last hour. They went
out from us, but they were not
8
00:00:42.210 --> 00:00:45.609
of us, for if they had
been of us, they would have continued
9
00:00:45.729 --> 00:00:49.969
with us, but they went out
that it might be complain that they are
10
00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:53.920
not they aught. I am sorry, but they went out that it might
11
00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:59.200
become plain that they all are not
of us. But you have been anointed
12
00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:03.520
by the Holy One and you have
all knowledge. I write to you not
13
00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:06.510
because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and
14
00:01:06.670 --> 00:01:10.750
because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar? But he
15
00:01:10.909 --> 00:01:15.989
who denies that Jesus is the Christ. This is the Anti Christ, he
16
00:01:15.150 --> 00:01:21.299
who denies the Father and the son. No one denies the son. No
17
00:01:21.459 --> 00:01:26.180
one who denies the Son has the
father. Whoever confesses the son as the
18
00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:30.540
father. Also let what you heard
from the beginning abide in you. If
19
00:01:30.620 --> 00:01:34.609
what you heard from the beginning abides
in you, then you two will abide
20
00:01:34.650 --> 00:01:38.010
in the son and in the father, and this is the promise that he
21
00:01:38.129 --> 00:01:45.209
made to us, eternal life.
I write these things to you about those
22
00:01:45.290 --> 00:01:49.760
who are trying to deceive you,
but the anointing that you received from him
23
00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:53.680
abides in you, and you have
no need that anyone should teach you,
24
00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:59.239
but as his anointing teaches you about
everything and is true and is no lie,
25
00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:06.670
just as it has taught you,
abide in him. He may be
26
00:02:06.790 --> 00:02:16.819
seated the God. Bless his word
to us was. We continue moving through
27
00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:24.340
this letter of the Apostle John,
we come to an important section in which
28
00:02:24.379 --> 00:02:32.090
John addresses a very particular situation that
is going on in these churches. We've
29
00:02:32.169 --> 00:02:38.009
hinted at this from the beginning that
there was a problem underlying or a problem
30
00:02:38.169 --> 00:02:45.280
that was a sparking reason for this
letter. There are various in the beginning,
31
00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:52.319
various tests who belongs and who doesn't, and these kinds of things insurance,
32
00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:57.159
a section of assurance to the Christians
that he's writing to to saying you
33
00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:01.509
are truly born of God, God
has worked in you and and here are
34
00:03:01.590 --> 00:03:07.349
some ways to know that. But
now he comes in some ways to the
35
00:03:07.669 --> 00:03:14.620
main reason for writing this letter.
A people called they are addressed for the
36
00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:22.419
first time a group of people that
John's readers obviously understood and knew about,
37
00:03:23.099 --> 00:03:28.129
but which we do not entirely know
about. Over the last thirty or forty
38
00:03:28.169 --> 00:03:34.169
years, scholars have tried lots and
lots of different options and figuring out exactly
39
00:03:34.289 --> 00:03:42.039
what the situation was here with John
and these ephesian churches. Various suggestions have
40
00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:46.199
been made. This has been happened
throughout the history of the church. Various
41
00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:53.520
nastic groups, various sex perhaps a
Jewish groups or Jewish Christians returning back to
42
00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:59.789
the synagogue. Lots of different ideas. But after about thirty or forty years
43
00:03:59.830 --> 00:04:03.270
of working on this project, at
trying to figure out who these groups were,
44
00:04:03.310 --> 00:04:08.830
we don't seem to be any further
along in the in the in the
45
00:04:08.949 --> 00:04:13.180
goal. I'm part of the reason
is is that we just don't have a
46
00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:17.740
lot of information. John doesn't tell
us a lot about of the specifics.
47
00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:23.660
He does give some, though.
He tells us that those who went out
48
00:04:23.660 --> 00:04:28.170
are those who are lying, those
who went out are those that are denying
49
00:04:28.410 --> 00:04:32.050
the father and the son. We
know that they belonged to the churches in
50
00:04:32.250 --> 00:04:38.009
some way. They weren't an outside
attacker, but they were like a tumor
51
00:04:38.170 --> 00:04:44.319
that was a built up inside the
body and then had been removed, and
52
00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:47.040
once it was removed, it was
obvious that it was not of the body.
53
00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:50.040
This is not a body part,
this is not of us. It
54
00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:55.829
was something that was infecting from inside. And so there are some things we
55
00:04:55.990 --> 00:05:01.629
know, but the exact people or
the exact teachers or the exact circumstances we
56
00:05:02.149 --> 00:05:09.220
do not know. It's not a
huge problem, however, though I suspect
57
00:05:09.339 --> 00:05:14.660
will all remain historically curious. But
God has given us everything that we need
58
00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:18.899
to know here. He's given us
an important warning that applies not only to
59
00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:25.529
their time and the specifics of their
circumstances, but applies to us as well.
60
00:05:27.410 --> 00:05:30.050
I want to think about that with
you this morning, think about the
61
00:05:30.170 --> 00:05:34.209
importance of what John is saying,
by the inspiration of the spirit, to
62
00:05:34.329 --> 00:05:43.000
them and how it applies to us
today. Let's begin with John's the way
63
00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:49.550
John himself enters into this discussion.
He speaks about something that they already know
64
00:05:50.430 --> 00:05:56.550
something that they are expecting, and
that is the antichrist, he says in
65
00:05:56.589 --> 00:05:59.670
verse eighteen. Children, it is
the last hour and, as you have
66
00:05:59.829 --> 00:06:04.259
heard, the antichrist is coming.
He says that antichrist is coming. So
67
00:06:04.579 --> 00:06:12.980
now many antichrists have come. One
of the important teachings of scripture is that
68
00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:16.819
in the last hour, as John
puts it here, there is a person
69
00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:24.329
who will come, a person who
will appear that is described in various ways
70
00:06:24.370 --> 00:06:30.889
by the Bible, one who will
appear prior to Christ's return, one who
71
00:06:30.889 --> 00:06:36.160
will exalt himself above God as an
object of worship, a one who in
72
00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:42.240
some ways will be tied to the
to this world, and promise the things
73
00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:47.829
and joys of this world as things
that are ultimate. I'm with this antichrist
74
00:06:47.990 --> 00:06:54.110
will be accompanied by false signs,
false wonders. He will in some ways
75
00:06:54.430 --> 00:06:59.990
pretend to be Christ, pretend to
be the great a hope of the world,
76
00:07:00.709 --> 00:07:03.579
but of course is not. He
is not of the world, he
77
00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:10.420
is or he is not of God. He is a liar and he will
78
00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:16.170
deceive even those he he would deceive
many the elect if, even if it
79
00:07:16.250 --> 00:07:20.410
were possible. I want to read
one of the most important sections on this
80
00:07:21.089 --> 00:07:25.930
to you from second Thessalonians. You
can turn there if you like, or
81
00:07:26.009 --> 00:07:31.399
you can simply listen along. I'm
second Thessalonians chapter two. Here described as
82
00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:35.639
the man of lawlessness. There are
other places that you might look at,
83
00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:41.800
the section on the beast and revelation
seventeen, for example, or some places
84
00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:46.389
in Daniel as well, Daniel Chapter
Eleven and twelve. The here let me
85
00:07:46.470 --> 00:07:51.149
read to you from Second Thessalonians chapter
two. This is the kind of thing
86
00:07:51.589 --> 00:07:57.149
that John Means when he says you
have heard this and you're expecting this.
87
00:07:57.550 --> 00:08:01.379
Why? Because this was part of
Apostolic Doctrine. This is something that had
88
00:08:01.420 --> 00:08:05.540
been taught since the Old Testament and
was something that was still true. Paul
89
00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:11.740
speaks of this, and second thessalonians
too. He says, beginning verse one,
90
00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:16.449
now concerning the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and are being gathered
91
00:08:16.610 --> 00:08:20.889
together to him. We ask you, brothers, we ask we ask you,
92
00:08:20.009 --> 00:08:24.889
brothers, not to be quickly shaken
in mind or alarmed either by a
93
00:08:26.050 --> 00:08:30.920
spirit or a spoken word or a
letter seeming to be of us, to
94
00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.759
the effect that the day of the
Lord has come. You see, there
95
00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:39.080
is error that is being spoken about
a temptation to think that the return of
96
00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:43.070
Christ had already happened, and Paul
says don't be deceived by this. Here
97
00:08:43.190 --> 00:08:48.190
is why. Verse Three, let
no one deceive you in any way,
98
00:08:48.830 --> 00:08:52.950
for that day will not come unless
the rebellion comes first and the man of
99
00:08:54.029 --> 00:08:58.820
lawlessness is revealed, the son of
destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against
100
00:08:58.820 --> 00:09:03.539
every so called God or object of
worship, so that he takes his seat
101
00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:09.940
in the temple of God, proclaiming
himself to be God. Do you not
102
00:09:09.090 --> 00:09:13.330
remember that when I was with you, I told you these things? And
103
00:09:13.529 --> 00:09:16.090
you know what is restraining him now, so that he may be revealed in
104
00:09:16.210 --> 00:09:22.809
his time? For the mystery of
lawlessness is already at work, remember that
105
00:09:22.970 --> 00:09:26.960
phrase, already at work. Only
he who now restrains it will do so
106
00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.080
until he is out of the way, and then the law is the one
107
00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:35.440
will be revealed, whom the Lord
Jesus Christ, will kill with the breath
108
00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:41.750
of his mouth and bring to nothing
by the appearance of his coming. The
109
00:09:41.830 --> 00:09:45.149
coming of the lawless one is by
the activity of Satan, with all power
110
00:09:45.350 --> 00:09:48.470
and false signs and wonders and with
all wicked deception, for those who are
111
00:09:48.590 --> 00:09:54.539
perishing because they refuse to love the
truth and so be saved. Therefore,
112
00:09:54.659 --> 00:10:00.100
God sends them a strong delusion so
that they may believe what is false in
113
00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:01.700
order that all may be condemned them, and who did not believe in the
114
00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:13.450
truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Do you see how much this passage lines
115
00:10:13.570 --> 00:10:18.169
up and is sympathetic, in the
way that maybe two strings on an instrument
116
00:10:18.289 --> 00:10:24.879
vibrate at the same time, with
what we have here in First John John
117
00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:31.200
says there is, as you know, antichrist is coming, this man of
118
00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:37.269
lawlessness who will do these things that
Paul describes as one who will exalt himself,
119
00:10:37.909 --> 00:10:41.110
perhaps in the church itself, the
Temple of God, a person who
120
00:10:41.110 --> 00:10:46.549
will appear prior to Christ's return.
And there are these dangers that are warned
121
00:10:46.590 --> 00:10:52.500
about and a response, right,
a response to this one who is to
122
00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:58.179
come. What is that response that
the Christians, then and now are to
123
00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:03.179
be prepared for? Well, I
think we can sum it up in three
124
00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:09.730
things vigilance, hope and discernment.
They are to be discerning, they are
125
00:11:09.850 --> 00:11:13.370
to be wised about these things.
They're not to ignore them pretend that they
126
00:11:13.370 --> 00:11:18.399
aren't true. There's also a lot
about truth and lying. There in Second
127
00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:24.480
Thessalonians, and also here in First
John. In First John to he talks
128
00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:28.759
about those that are come, are
proceed or come out of the church.
129
00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:31.990
In this way, these antichrists are
liars. I write to you, he
130
00:11:33.070 --> 00:11:35.470
says in Verse Twenty One, not
because you do not know the truth,
131
00:11:35.590 --> 00:11:39.509
because you know it, and because
no lie is of the truth. Who
132
00:11:39.669 --> 00:11:46.629
is the liar, but he who
denies that Jesus is the Christ. Discerning
133
00:11:46.789 --> 00:11:52.179
between truth and lie, between the
Truth and a lie, is so important.
134
00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:56.779
There are, of course, lots
of different ways in which we can
135
00:11:56.860 --> 00:12:01.100
express the truth. There are various
degrees in which we can get close to
136
00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:05.129
the truth, and on some things
we ought to be flexible with each other,
137
00:12:05.730 --> 00:12:09.889
knowing that we all can't see everything
perfectly at the same time, that
138
00:12:09.009 --> 00:12:13.769
we all have error. But there
are some things that are so essential,
139
00:12:15.049 --> 00:12:18.320
so basic to who we are as
Christians, that we must be able to
140
00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.120
say what they are. We must
be founded upon the truth as we have
141
00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:28.759
received it. Remember, at the
beginning of this letter, John says what
142
00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:33.509
we heard, what we saw,
we've told you about these truths are for
143
00:12:33.629 --> 00:12:39.429
you as well. Paul is saying
similar things, remains steadfast and what you
144
00:12:39.549 --> 00:12:43.419
have heard. Remember how he says, I've told you about these things.
145
00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:48.940
Don't you remember the words that we
have given to us through the spirit,
146
00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:56.100
in the Apostolic Doctrine we must lust
hold fast to and when people come along,
147
00:12:56.220 --> 00:13:01.409
no matter who they are, when
they declare things that are false,
148
00:13:01.210 --> 00:13:07.370
that are not true to what we
have heard, then we must call it
149
00:13:07.490 --> 00:13:11.690
for what it is. This,
of course, requires discernment. It requires
150
00:13:11.809 --> 00:13:16.399
knowing what the truth is, knowing
who Jesus is, knowing who the father
151
00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:20.559
is, who the spirit is.
How can we abide in the truth,
152
00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:24.240
as we have been called to,
if we don't know the truth? How
153
00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:28.950
can we be discerning about truth and
error if we don't know what truth is?
154
00:13:31.309 --> 00:13:35.230
Abiding in the truth is not having
a passing interest in the truth,
155
00:13:35.870 --> 00:13:39.190
it's living in it, dwelling in
it. Abiding is a dwelling word.
156
00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:45.460
Another thing that Paul Calls for and
John Does, as well, as a
157
00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:50.899
vigilance in it. We are to
be strong and persevere, even when they're
158
00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:56.409
suffering, even when there's persecution.
In many ways, this is the message,
159
00:13:56.450 --> 00:14:01.889
the entire message of the book of
revelation. Remains strong, remain steadfast,
160
00:14:03.049 --> 00:14:07.129
for the Lord is sovereign in all
things. He will keep his saints
161
00:14:07.250 --> 00:14:11.679
close to him. Though you will
experience persecution, though there will be division
162
00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:20.000
and error and strife, remain strong, not by trusting in yourselves or even
163
00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:28.230
trusting in a people, but trusting
in the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ,
164
00:14:28.350 --> 00:14:33.870
who will put the man of lawlessness, the Anti Christ, to death,
165
00:14:33.990 --> 00:14:41.419
will kill him with the breath of
his mouth. So strong is our
166
00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:50.139
Lord Jesus that I only needs to
breathe and the great evil one who threatens
167
00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:54.690
to destroy us all will be put
away. The strength of the Lord,
168
00:14:54.769 --> 00:14:58.450
of course, is not only manifested
at the end, it's manifested here as
169
00:14:58.850 --> 00:15:03.730
well. Throughout the passage. There
I read in Second Theusalonians. We reminded
170
00:15:03.850 --> 00:15:09.159
that the Lord Jesus Christ is restraining
this one, that the revelation of him
171
00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:13.639
is on the Lord's time table and
in the Lord's way. These are not
172
00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:20.399
too giant and equal cosmic forces,
a ying and Yang, black and white
173
00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:28.750
battling each other. No, the
Lord is strong, the Lord restrains,
174
00:15:28.549 --> 00:15:33.350
the Lord holds back, and at
the time that he chooses, he will
175
00:15:33.389 --> 00:15:41.740
be revealed so that he might be
put to death, vigilance, which,
176
00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:46.539
of course, is connected with hope. We remain strong and we remain steadfast
177
00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:54.850
in in in even in the midst
and the danger of the antichrist, because
178
00:15:54.889 --> 00:15:58.690
we know who the Lord Jesus is, we know his strength, we know
179
00:15:58.850 --> 00:16:02.450
his victory on the cross, we
know that when he rose from the dead,
180
00:16:02.490 --> 00:16:07.240
he rose Victoria's over death itself,
so that anything that could be threatened
181
00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:14.360
or offered from this world would be
of such little value that we would have
182
00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:18.350
our sights set on something greater,
what John Calls in Verse Twenty Five,
183
00:16:19.309 --> 00:16:27.230
Eternal Life, and this is the
promise that was made to us. Eternal
184
00:16:27.350 --> 00:16:33.700
Life. God sends his only son
into the world that who would ever believe
185
00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:41.460
on him would not perish but have
eternal life, life that would last forever,
186
00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:45.460
life that would be glorious, life
that would live in light of the
187
00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:52.610
resurrection of Christ. Vigilance, hope, restore a discernment. These are the
188
00:16:52.730 --> 00:17:00.409
responses that are necessary for when we
think about this one who is to come,
189
00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:08.599
the antichrist, it's not fear,
it's not cowering, it's not being
190
00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:17.430
terrified. Instead, it's being prepared, being ready, knowing who the great
191
00:17:17.509 --> 00:17:27.589
conqueror really is. But John's message
is not primarily about the Anti Christ who
192
00:17:27.670 --> 00:17:33.099
is to come. He says,
children, it is the last hour and,
193
00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:37.380
as you've heard, that antichrist is
coming. So now, many anti
194
00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:45.490
Christs have come. Therefore we know
that it is the last hour. You
195
00:17:45.569 --> 00:17:51.250
see what he's doing. He's reframing
the thinking. He's saying that the last
196
00:17:51.410 --> 00:17:56.450
hour. If we are defining it
purely in terms of that moment or that
197
00:17:56.009 --> 00:18:03.559
little period of time in which Jesus
returns, with a prelude of the antichrist
198
00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:10.480
coming before that, then we're being
too narrow in our definition of the last
199
00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:18.750
hour. That's what Paul says as
well. He says the mystery of lawlessness,
200
00:18:18.869 --> 00:18:21.390
this thing that will be revealed at
the end, he said, as
201
00:18:21.390 --> 00:18:26.180
I mentioned in verse seven, is
already at work. There is a power
202
00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:32.940
and an influence that is happening even
now. The End to times are now,
203
00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:37.140
the last hour is now. It's
not something that's purely in the future.
204
00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:42.410
Again, as John says, it's
so now. Many anti Christs have
205
00:18:42.650 --> 00:18:48.049
already come. This is happening and
this is how we are to understand these
206
00:18:48.210 --> 00:18:53.849
people who claim to be Christians but
are now setting themselves up and over over
207
00:18:55.009 --> 00:19:03.079
and against Christ. They are anti
Christ's. He says the antichrist is someone
208
00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:07.279
in particular to come in the future, but it applies to everyone who comes
209
00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:11.829
even before him, who cut speaks
with that same word, with that same
210
00:19:12.029 --> 00:19:21.630
power. He says that this struggle
that we have, the temptation, that
211
00:19:22.069 --> 00:19:25.299
is something that we need to be
vigilant about, not only at the end
212
00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:33.140
when that happens, but even now, because it's happening right now. I
213
00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:37.339
just realized I forgot to print off
a quote that I wanted to read to
214
00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:44.849
you, but it was a quote
that which was really stress, stressing the
215
00:19:45.329 --> 00:19:52.170
difficulties of these times in which we
live, how evil they are and how
216
00:19:52.369 --> 00:19:56.799
worse they could not get. The
surprising thing about the quote is it's written
217
00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:03.359
from a church father in the sixth
century, saying that surely these are the
218
00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:10.269
last times, because every evil is
manifest, everything is being poured out in
219
00:20:10.309 --> 00:20:15.750
the sixth century and of course we
know from our own experience and knowing even
220
00:20:15.789 --> 00:20:19.269
just a little bit of history,
these things can be met are manifested again
221
00:20:19.309 --> 00:20:22.940
and again and again. The these
feelings that we are in the last times,
222
00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:30.140
the end times, is so prominent
in our hearts. We see the
223
00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:34.539
signs right, we see the signs. The thing is is, it's not
224
00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:40.490
as though this man was wrong,
it's that we're in the same time as
225
00:20:40.569 --> 00:20:44.930
him. It's not as though he
was wrong at that. The last days
226
00:20:45.009 --> 00:20:48.730
weren't then, and it's that we
are still in the last days now.
227
00:20:48.849 --> 00:20:53.920
From our perspective, that's hard to
understand, but it's because, partly because
228
00:20:53.920 --> 00:21:00.200
we have a very myodic view of
history, we think of our own time,
229
00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:04.950
in our own space is always sort
of the most important thing. But
230
00:21:06.029 --> 00:21:08.869
it's also myopic in another way,
a narrow minded in another way, and
231
00:21:08.950 --> 00:21:15.710
that God himself describes and characterizes these
things as a little time. He says
232
00:21:15.750 --> 00:21:21.859
it's a little time between the time
when the Lord came in his incarnation and
233
00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:26.819
the time when he will come again
and reveal himself on the last day.
234
00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:36.650
As we read earlier from James,
we're so impatient, as the word reminds
235
00:21:36.730 --> 00:21:41.930
us. To God, a thousand
years are but a day. These things
236
00:21:41.009 --> 00:21:48.799
are are so little. You perhaps
have experienced this even in your own life,
237
00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:53.960
moments and trials where it felt like
everything was falling apart and everything was
238
00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:59.839
defined by this moment right here,
right now, but that was thirty five
239
00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:03.470
years ago and you go, well, you know, we got through it.
240
00:22:04.470 --> 00:22:07.589
It was a small thing really in
the grand scheme of things. And
241
00:22:07.750 --> 00:22:15.180
that's just in your tiny little life, not to mention a generation or an
242
00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:23.059
age or thousand years or even he
all of human history itself. From the
243
00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:32.130
perspective of the eternal Lord, who
is from everlasting to everlasting, the things
244
00:22:32.170 --> 00:22:40.289
that we face are small. That
is hard for us to understand, but
245
00:22:40.410 --> 00:22:45.119
that is why we have to have
this heavenly perspective. As Paul puts it
246
00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:49.640
in another place, the things that
we struggle against here and now aren't even
247
00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:57.240
worth comparing to the eternal weight of
lory that is to come, he says.
248
00:22:57.279 --> 00:23:00.910
Don't even bother comparing them now.
That's really hard when you're dying of
249
00:23:02.150 --> 00:23:07.549
cancer, when your marriage is falling
apart, when a church is breaking apart,
250
00:23:07.430 --> 00:23:15.460
these things are very hard to to
hold to. But what ultimately matters?
251
00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:22.180
Our perspective on things, which is
so limited, so small, so
252
00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:30.369
full of sin, or God's perspective, who sees everything, who is ordained
253
00:23:30.490 --> 00:23:36.930
everything from beginning to end, who
holds all things in his hands and who
254
00:23:37.089 --> 00:23:41.759
is told us that the gates of
hell will not prevail against his church.
255
00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:49.119
Who are you going to trust?
I'm not going to trust me. I'm
256
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:56.589
going to trust the Lord God Almighty, and you should too. He is
257
00:23:56.670 --> 00:23:59.789
where our hope is. He is
why we are vigilant, he is why
258
00:23:59.869 --> 00:24:04.190
we remain strong and that's why,
when it comes to discerning the truth,
259
00:24:04.390 --> 00:24:11.380
we have to return to him and
to his word above all things. That's
260
00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:18.059
why he tells them and he reminds
them of the truths. The antichrist is
261
00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:23.930
anyone who denies the father and the
son. No one who denies the Sun
262
00:24:25.089 --> 00:24:30.809
has the father. This is essential. You must hold fast to these things,
263
00:24:33.049 --> 00:24:37.130
because where is our hope come from? Where is our life come from?
264
00:24:37.369 --> 00:24:42.400
Only and always through the sun.
That is how we know God,
265
00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:48.240
our father. That is how we
can come to have the holy spirits as
266
00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:56.349
he works in us through the word
and the breath of the sun. This
267
00:24:56.589 --> 00:25:03.710
is important for John's readers and hearers
then, and it's important for us now.
268
00:25:03.869 --> 00:25:11.539
We also live in these last times, even the last hour he describes.
269
00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:15.339
What a striking phrase. You know, we talked about this even today.
270
00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:18.220
We talked about you know, they
were saved at the eleventh hour,
271
00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:23.130
right the last minute, so speak. That's how we are to think about
272
00:25:23.130 --> 00:25:29.730
our times. This has all kinds
of implications. If you might for a
273
00:25:29.849 --> 00:25:33.730
moment just let your minds go back
to last week when we thought about John's
274
00:25:33.769 --> 00:25:37.440
words. Do not love the world
or the things in the world? Why?
275
00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:42.480
Because they're not from the father.
Why? Because the world is passing
276
00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:48.160
away along with its desires. You
know, if you remember that it's the
277
00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:52.509
last hour, or all of a
sudden, things like amassing great amounts of
278
00:25:52.710 --> 00:25:56.470
wealth don't seem to matter that much
if it's the last hour, all of
279
00:25:56.509 --> 00:26:02.630
a sudden, giving license to your
sin when the judge is coming doesn't seem
280
00:26:02.670 --> 00:26:08.099
to be so important anymore. This
is how we are to frame our minds,
281
00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:14.859
this is how we are to understand
things and, of course, applies
282
00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:19.210
in these other ways in which we've
spoken already. There are dangers, he
283
00:26:19.369 --> 00:26:25.410
says, here and now. There
are antichrists who are here, here and
284
00:26:25.529 --> 00:26:27.250
now, and that doesn't mean we
have to all of a sudden get really
285
00:26:27.289 --> 00:26:34.359
scared and frightened. It means we
are aware and not foolish. But instead,
286
00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:41.920
what do we do? Well,
we remain vigilant. What is John
287
00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:47.710
Say in Verse Twenty Six? I
write these things to you about those who
288
00:26:47.710 --> 00:26:53.150
are trying to deceive you. There
are people who are trying to deceive you.
289
00:26:56.589 --> 00:26:59.710
If you don't know that, it's
pretty easy to be fooled. This
290
00:26:59.869 --> 00:27:04.779
is one of the things that we
teach you little children, as you're growing
291
00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:08.380
up. We tell you that not
all things are as they are. A
292
00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:14.299
peer, there are people who want
to hurt you and you and of course,
293
00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:18.569
can be a scary thing, but
it's important to know. We are
294
00:27:18.650 --> 00:27:22.609
to be vigilant about these things.
I write these things to you about those
295
00:27:22.650 --> 00:27:26.970
who are trying to deceive you,
but he's brings comfort as well. The
296
00:27:27.089 --> 00:27:36.240
anointing that you have received from him
abides in you, abides in you,
297
00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:44.470
and we should remain abiding in him. We are not ships drifting on the
298
00:27:44.589 --> 00:27:48.950
sea without any wind and just tossed
by each wave that comes along, hoping
299
00:27:49.190 --> 00:27:55.950
that something might happen. No,
we have the winds of the spirit blowing
300
00:27:56.069 --> 00:28:00.059
in our sails, taking US toward
heaven. This is what he says.
301
00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:07.380
Don't row against that, don't try
to push against that or head back to
302
00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:14.769
where you came from. No,
abide in these things. Learn the truth,
303
00:28:15.210 --> 00:28:19.769
learn the doctrine, learn who Christ
is. This, of course,
304
00:28:19.849 --> 00:28:26.359
applies not only in terms of knowing
things, but in knowing things here in
305
00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:33.720
our hearts as well. As John
marked earlier, it's not just those who
306
00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:38.519
are teaching these things, but the
evidence of their falsities in the ways in
307
00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:44.630
which they are acting. They are
not loving, they are not seeking after
308
00:28:44.670 --> 00:28:48.390
the things of the Lord, they
are going after the things of this world.
309
00:28:48.589 --> 00:28:53.349
We are to be discerning, we
are to be vigilant, but we
310
00:28:53.430 --> 00:29:02.579
are also to be hopeful. The
Lord Jesus is coming again. He tells
311
00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:07.140
us here that there is a promise
that has been made to us, a
312
00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:12.009
promise of EA, of eternal life. So when you face dangers, when
313
00:29:12.089 --> 00:29:18.329
we face dangers and struggles and trials
in this world, when, as a
314
00:29:18.529 --> 00:29:23.480
church in particular, we are trying
to re examine our hearts and think about
315
00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:30.200
who we are, about what's going
on, let's put our minds and our
316
00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:36.599
hearts on what God is doing,
on who he has made us and the
317
00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:41.990
promises that he has given to us. Put Your faith and your trust in
318
00:29:42.269 --> 00:29:49.789
God, Father, son and spirit, and you will never fail. He
319
00:29:49.910 --> 00:29:56.339
will keep you to the very end
and will give you eternal, glorious,
320
00:29:56.819 --> 00:30:00.619
blessed life. To him be the
praise and the glory and the honor,
321
00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:03.019
forever Amen.
