15/10/2024
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TODAY'S TEACHING...........................
1 John 2:19 [AMP]
19 They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine] so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us.............................................
False teachers who profess to be Christians, and unbiblical doctrine that is not founded on Scripture, is not only evident today, but was starting to seep into church life during the times of the apostle. Together with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, false teaching was one of the main problems in the early Church and was vigorously addressed by all the apostles.
False doctrine and deceptive teachings proliferate today, and in this passage, John gives us some strategies in identifying those professing the truth, yet believing an erroneous gospel. Such people have: "A form of godliness, yet deny the truth of the gospel of grace."
Indeed, John labels these men as 'antichrists' - not THE Antichrist who will take his place on the world stage during the Great Tribulation, but those that oppose Christ, resist the Spirit, and contradict the gospel of God. He explains in this verse that these false apostles and teachers: "Went out from us, but were not really part of us."
These charlatans had come into the Church giving the impression they were true believers. However, they eventually withdrew from the Body of Christ because their heart was not true to the truth and because they expounded lies and deceit. These deceivers were not united in spirit and truth with the apostles or the rest of the Body of Christ, but propounded a different gospel.
These people have serious doctrinal differences from Christ's true apostles, and when attempting to fellowship with true believers who walk in spirit and truth, they become uncomfortable in their company and expose themselves for who they are. As John explained: "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 they might be made manifest that none of them were of us because they were either exposed or foresaw their being exposed and they left the company of Apostles.
Welcome to our Tuesday at Bethsaida Global Ministry Network
Time: 6PM -7PM.
Shalom & Shalom.