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Aug 25, 2024

Reclaiming Desire and Resisting Deception

Reclaiming Desire and Resisting Deception

Passage: 1 John 2:15-17

Speaker: Andrew Kerhoulas

Series: 2024 Practicing the Way of Jesus

Keywords: antichrist, anointing, deception, confidence, sinful desires, abide in him, do not love the world, practices righteousness, born of him

As we make our way deeper into 1 John, we hear an exhortation and a warning. The exhortation is to not love the world or the things of the world--that which goes against our Messiah's way. Then we hear a warning to not be deceived by antimessiahs--those who live and spread lies about the nature of Jesus and his apprentices. John exhorted and then warned us but not without reminding us of a certain spiritual anointing we have been given to recognize and resist Jesus' enemies within and without.

Readings & Scripture

PRE SERVICE TEXT: 1 John 2:21-22

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.
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

 

PRAYER/SCRIPTURE READING/CONFESSION OF FAITH: Psalm 34:1-3

LEADER: I will bless the Lord at all times; 
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; 
let the humble hear and be glad. 
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, 
and let us exalt his name together!

ALL: Thanks be to God.

 

CENTRAL TEXT: 1 John 2:15-27 
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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. 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.

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.

 

BENEDICTION: Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:23

LEADER: People of God, hear now these words of blessing. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ALL: Amen.


POST SERVICE: 1 John 2:21-22 
 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.



RELATED SCRIPTURES:

  • Exodus 28:41
  • 1 Samuel 16:13
  • 1 Timothy 4:5-6
  • James 4:4
  • Hebrews 1:1-3

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 

  1. 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” Is the material world evil (see 1 Timothy 4:5-6)?  What do you think John means by “world” in light of verse 16? What part of the world should we renounce? 
  2. How can we celebrate that which is good, true, and beautiful in the world while not falling into idolatry?
  3. Verse 17, “And the world is passing away along with its desires…”, is in the present tense. Why is that significant, especially in light of the second half of the verse about our future state in Jesus?
  4. From an exhortation to not love the world, John moves to warning Christ’s followers. What was his warning? Discuss the warning’s relevance for the church today.
  5. How does John tell us how to recognize an “antimessiah” (which is typically translated “antichrist”) (see vss. 18-23)? How can we protect ourselves from their deception?
  6. In verse 20 and 27, the word “anointing” is used. New Testament Scholar N.T. Wright shows how in the original Greek, anointing and messiah are the same word. How does our anointing by the Holy Spirit help us fend off heresy about Christ’s nature? How does this help us interpret not needing anyone to teach you (v. 27)? Clearly John was being pedagogical by writing a letter full of teaching, so what might he mean? 

 

 

QUOTES:  

 

  • Hold fast to Christ. For you he became temporal so you might partake of eternity.
    - Augustine of Hippo
  • Successful companies no longer sell products; they sell emotions, experiences, and solutions.
    - Bernadette Jiwa, Author of "Marketing: A Love Story.
  • Know your enemy.
    - Sun Tzu, Author of Art of War
  • It is not so much that we tell lies as that we live them.
    - David Benner
  • Reality is what you run into when you’re wrong.
    - Dallas Willard
  • I want you to know in your bones that your only path to success is through a continuum of mundane, unsexy, unexciting, and sometimes difficult daily disciplines compounded over time.
    - Darren Hardy

 

BOOKS / DOCS: