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.” (1 John 2:18–19 (ESV)
The Apostle John identified individuals who presently oppose biblical Christianity, although they previously professed faith in Christ, as antichrists. This may seem to be a harsh diagnosis. Truth often is difficult to bear, but it is absolutely necessary to bring clarity and hopeful healing to the individual in question. This is true when the diagnosis is cancer of the body, or the spiritual condition of the soul.
They went out from us, but they were not of us. It is because the individuals John has in mind are opposed to the Gospel, the resulting effect is that they have left biblical Christianity. Leaving the faith, along with fellowship of the church, indicates their true, spiritual condition. They did not truly belong to Christ.
For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. Likewise, had these I question remained in the faith, and the church, they would have revealed their true conversion in Christ. They would have persevered, in spite of difficulties, struggles and offenses.
All true believers in Christ encounter struggles in the walk with Christ (John 16:33; I Peter 1:1-9). The evidence distinguishing a true believer in Christ, from a pretender, is that a true believer will persevere in the Christian faith. Difficulties, struggles and persecution are not unusual or to be unexpected for believers in Christ. However, the true believer will not defect from the faith by difficulties, but rather grow stronger because of difficulties.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1–5 ESV)
But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. The departure of people from the truth and the church unmasks their true identity. No amount of sentimentality can disguise the nature of apostates and their apostasy.
“The first characteristic mentioned of antichrists, i.e., false teachers and deceivers (vv. 22–26), is that they depart from the They arise from within the church and depart from true fellowship and lead people out with them. The verse also places emphasis on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Those genuinely born again endure in faith and fellowship and the truth (1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Tim. 2:12). The ultimate test of true Christianity is endurance (Mark 13:13; Heb. 3:14),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
What struggles have you encountered and endured as a Christian? Your endurance is an evidence of your true conversion to Christ. Therefore, we can rejoice in our tribulations. Take time to do so today.
Soli deo Gloria!
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