Smoodock's Blog

John pointed to the promise the Lord made to the believer in 1John 2:25. He tells us that we have been promised eternal life, but what does this mean? For example, John tells us in his Gospel narrative that whoever believes in Jesus would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:13, 15). Yet, this doesn’t mean a believer wouldn’t die physically, because Jesus said later that everyone who believes the Son and has eternal life will be raised on the last day (John 6:40). If a person were living, he wouldn’t need to be raised from the dead. The point is that anyone who has the life of God dwelling in them cannot remain dead, just as Jesus couldn’t remain dead (Acts 2:22-24).

Moreover, John tells us that we’ve been promised eternal life. Any promise is only as good as the one who give it. Jesus promised us eternal life when he said:

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26).

The Scriptures tells us that when the Lord swears by himself in righteousness his word would not return to him except to cause every man’s knee to bow to him and every man’s tongue to confess to him that he (man) is ashamed (Isaiah 45:23-24). For once the Lord speaks, his words go out into the world accomplishing all that he said he would do. Not even one word that he has ever spoken has ever failed or was void of fruit, but, rather, the word of God is able to do all he is pleased to do. Nothing, no opposition, is able to keep his word from prospering (Isaiah 55:11). Therefore, Jesus was able to say that whomsoever he gives eternal life, that one has life, and it is impossible for anyone or anything to remove them from his possession (John 10:28-29).

So, why was John making a point about reminding his readers about the promise of eternal life? He tells us that he was writing “these things” (i.e. 1John 2:18-25), because of those who were seducing them. Many commentaries want to soften John’s words by saying the antichrists were “trying” to seduce the believers, as though they weren’t successful, but John actually claims they were, indeed, seducing the believers, or causing them to go astray. The antichrists were then presently seducing the believers, perhaps not each one individually, but the believers were one body, and the body was being seduced (cp. Jude 1:3-4).

The argument of the antichrists was that the people of God needed to have right understanding and obedience to both the Oral and the Mosaic Law in order to inherit the promises. However, John’s argument was that believers weren’t dependent upon human wisdom, or upon perfect obedience. The anointing took the place of not only perfect obedience, but also of the human teacher who taught the disciple about God and acquainted him with his inheritance. This was the difference between the two covenants. The Old Covenant was completely dependent upon doctrine the faithful obedience of the child of God, but the New Covenant placed that burden upon Christ. Christ was faithful in our stead, and he indwells us in order to cause us to walk in faithfulness. We are taught all things pertaining to our salvation by the indwelling anointing. The **lie** is that which denies Jesus is come in the flesh (2John 1:7), that is, that Jesus is come in **our** flesh. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), and not the lie, and he abides in us (1John 2:27).

Obviously, John wasn’t telling his readers that there was no need at all for human teachers in the Body of Christ. If that were true, why did he write his epistle? Wasn’t he teaching his readers? The point of the antichrists was that the people of God must be dependent upon the inspired teacher sent by God. This is the lie that isn’t true. The antichrists were seeking to remove Christ from his place in the believer’s life. The false teacher rejected the idea that Christ was come in the flesh of the believer (2John 1:7) in order to guide the believer’s behavior. Their doctrine or teaching caused the listener to focus entirely upon the human teacher and what he said. John’s doctrine or teaching pointed the believer to Christ and the anointing within. In other words, believe the anointing as you see it guide you in what you know the Gospel says. If the anointing and the word of God line up, then it is truth and no lie. The **lie** is that which denies Jesus as the Christ / Savior who dwells in man empowering him both to understand and obey the Lord.

John concludes by pointing to the parousia, the coming of Christ. If we know and believe he is the Righteous Judge, then abide in him, and we won’t be ashamed when we face him (1John 2:28). In the same light, if Jesus is righteous, and he is the anointing abiding in men’s flesh, which guides our behavior, then we can safely say that all men who practice righteousness are practicing the family characteristic of godly behavior. To deny this is to deny Jesus is come in the flesh (of men), and saves us from our sins.