John’s First Epistle

1 Jno. 2:22-29

Jesus Is The Christ

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.  No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 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.  And this is the promise that he made to us —eternal life.

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 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.

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. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. – 1 Jno. 2:22-29

Like many other New Testament writers, John is concerned that his readers might be deceived, buying into the lie that Jesus is not who He claims to be.

This goes to the very heart of who Christians are. Our allegiance is that Jesus “is the Christ!” No hesitation or compromise. John wanted his readers to be firm in this conviction, because there was the influence of unbelief (antichrist).

John doesn’t leave his readers along to sort this out according to situation, emotion or pressure. “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.”

John uses this word “abide,” which is far more than just intellectual belief with verbal confession. The truth about who Jesus is must live in us, motivate us, keep us safe and be resistant to any alternative view. The anointing of truth they had was graciously given to “abide” in them and they were to abide in Christ and “not shrink from Him.” This abiding would show up in the “practice of righteousness.”