Continually Abiding in Christ

Taking your seat. Grab your Bible. So let's go to first John chapter 2 we be going through first John on Sunday nights and I decided I would use this text to speak with you this morning. First John chapter 2 and will begin in verse 24 and go down through verse 28 John the elder apostle is writing to the churches has such a fatherly in gracious tone yet like so much of the epistles I've never tried to estimate how much but like so much of the New Testament epistles he finds himself writing about guarding the churches from false doctrine over and over and over in Paul's writing and now in John's writings to this comes to their heart and mind very often because it seems that the enemy never ceases to try to find an inroad into God's church and diminish discourage them undermine the Lord undermine the true gospel all you can do is go out to the world today and what's called Christian churches in realize the amount of error that has crept into the churches so no wonder God and his word gives us so many cautions in that context, he says beginning in verse 24. As for you know the words. In contrast to what the liars and the antichrist of the day would be telling you. As for you, let that abide in you, which you heard from the beginning.

If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the sun and in the father. This is the promise which he himself made to us eternal life.

These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from him abides in you and you have no need for anyone to teach you, but as his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not and just edges as it has taught you. This is a commanding view, abide in him. The little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame at his coming.

When we going to do in the strange and uncertain times that we live in Lenny backup for a moment and remind all of us but since Adam and Eve send in the garden of Eden, and sin has corrupted human beings made in the image of God and sin has corrupted all of creation. Since that time.

These have always been strange and uncertain times. It's strange and war that the God who made man in his own image, and the creation that he made for his own glory would be alienated from him.

It's always been strange. It's always been out of joy if you will sometimes or maybe, though more strange than others. Here we live in a day when we have such rapid and rapid moral of people. All the sudden numbing just in a few years. I remember back, I Joe Biden and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and others adamantly supporting traditional marriage adamantly standing against any other definition of marriage, what years ago 12 years ago. Now that's completely reversed and not even that not no longer can we even think in terms of 10 men married men and women marry women but were not sure what a man is in a woman is anymore total moral of the people in the culture. It is happening so quickly. You now live in a day were literally healthy could be exaggerating to save us over a few months. The definition of racism has been redefined has been changed the definition of what it means to be oppressed or to be an oppressor has been recent rewritten, reestablished, I mean if you are in the flow of the world and you want to keep up with all of this you just have to I guess I don't know who are these people who decide this by the way, where does this come from.

Can I say this whole a lot of it's coming from women and universities who write this stuff. This, like all the world falls at their fake whole.

The great new Gnostic thinkers of the day anyway saying all that to say it's an error its atomic today of moral upheaval.

I mean it literally in my heart in a few weeks.

I've gone from saying you know our universities are good and thank God for the good teachers and the good professors are out there if you guys were not out there at all be some great work where where the place for the next few decades, and I will be ground for all of those to rethink education agency.

Those of us who have any Christian moorings in Christian values and then on top of this moral upheaval and reversal in redefining everything we have this global pandemic and then on top of that we have all these people politicizing the pandemic. You know what we need we need a firm place to stand. When he does a rock to rest our lives and our convictions upon and by the way, as Christians, we have one. His name is Jesus Christ. And this is his word. Listen, this is the true doctrine of God once for all delivered to the saints. The world may get enough people the world may change the world may go crazy. The world may begin the car ride wrong and wrong right but we do not change God's word is saddle and that's where we stand it good to have a rock. I feel sorry for the Christians who love the Lord who been going to churches in these last few days and have no idea what their pastors will come out with because he's he's listing to the.

The tuned of the present movements in society. We don't need that we got this big move wherever it wants to out there.

I'm staying right here we have a rock. So what are we going to do in these kind of times were going to do what we've always done world going to continually abide in Christ and that's what John is talking about in these verses of Scripture. Six things I want to point out to you about continually abiding in Christ.

Just pulling it straight out of the text of so much you could say but let me bring up these things as we unpack it beginning in verse 24 John writes to these Christians and says don't be pulled away by the fashion of the day the new enticing teaching that's going around use stay with the stuff. First of all you continue to bow to him because it brings communion with God. The truth of Christ is the only thing that truly brought you into intimacy with God the father, God Almighty. Verse 24 knows how John writes in pieces.

As for you, that's in contrast to the ones he's been talking about verse 22 the liar. Those who deny Jesus is the Christ, the Antichrist, spirited once there going one direction, he says, but okay church but as for you, let that abide in you, which you heard from the beginning word that refers to the truth you've heard the truth you for the truth about God you've heard the truth about man's sinful fallenness before this God in the just abiding wrath of God that is upon you and leave you Herbie for the truth about God's unfathomable love to send his son to be your vicarious atoning sacrifice and your faith in him is all you need to be in communion with the father you church stay right there will be pulled off one side or the other. He says hold to that truth. That truth you've had for the beginning.

Then he says abide uses that word abide in verse 24 as for you, let that abide in you, that the word abide.

Just as thou diff continue are to remain. I like to worded this way, let your faith thing in Christ.

Continue on as I've told you so many times over these decades. You didn't just put faith in Jesus your faith in Christ is not something you did is not something that has happened at a time.

It began at the time, but what happened is, there was a time when you changed and you became a faith in Jesus Christ.

You became one who as a lifestyle pattern finds your heart, calling out to him single Lord, if you don't save me.

I'm so if your atoning death is not sufficient for me. I'll never make it. I stumbled, I failed. I am weak, wrote prone rather to error and indifference and coldhearted missile got. I cried again that Christ you're my hope is that that's what he does want to buy. Continue on in your lifestyle being anchored to Jesus Christ, and one who calls upon him. That's what the Bible means when he says he who calls upon the name of the Lord and mean. You just called at one time you became a caller on the night just give me the name of the Lord Jesus Christ keep abiding in that. Then he says in verse 24.

If that's true, you will also abide in the sun and in the father. The idea is that you have deposited your faith in God and his provision of his son Jesus Christ, and God has deposited his divine nature in you. There's a communion now a oneness contrast element is this the Antichrist.

A person is teaching this new doctrine. This new fad will sweeps across the Greek culture and says you gotta do it this way and you got embraced this. You've got embrace that John's is the only thing that gets you in touch with the true God of the universe is your faith in Jesus Christ. Stay with that stay with that it brings you in communion with the father will secondly continue to abide in him because it is truth that cannot change.

It is truth that cannot change but are there. Verse 24 he says this phrase twice in which you have heard from the beginning.

If what you have heard from the beginning.

Notice John's emphasis that this is what I've always talked it's almost like John says every time I write to you every time you've heard me preach or teach you how I give you some new flavor some new spin on it some new niche that kinda fits where you are today pieces. No know what I've given you is what I'm still giving you because just the truth that does not and cannot change.

We don't need youevents we don't need any new insights from these new self-appointed elitist thinkers were staying with the old stuff Jesus Christ died for our sins according to Scriptures was buried was raised on the third day. That's my hope. That's my confidence. That's my trust. Truth does not devolve to say that again and this time we turn on the TV in the come up with a whole new thing were supposed to do whole new way were supposed to believe it were really caring, loving people. It never needs adjustment in this by the way, is the characteristic of false teaching false teachers are always changing and adjusting and reformatting and altering the narratives because they want to get the following about the white when you get behind all false teaching. Let's get back on this chair when you get back behind all false teaching you know if the modus operandi is you know what the motive is power and control its whatever gives us power and control.

The spirit of the day goes this way, we gotta kinda bring that end, our teaching and our doctrine which so we could have more of a hearing you have more power and control with the theological realm the church around the political rim. It's always about power control.

As I've said many as I've heard of the many times through the ages. Someone said if it's true, I rather fix knew it ain't true. The truth has been established and settled second Timothy 43. Paul again writes to Timothy there. We refer to it a lot in excess Timothy to preach the word and preach the word in season and out of season when people like you and resave it and keep preaching and when I don't, and when they're not interested what's the point because the truth didn't change Timothy people change in their appetites.

The flavor of the month, but Timothy you don't change what you preach the truth and and he basically says they're in second Timothy 43. People want to be furnished with the latest fad same thing happening here the John's writing about is people keep hearing these new notions floating around about Jesus plus this or Jesus plus that the system rejected. It's the truth.

That doesn't change. John says were simply you've heard this from the beginning. Stay there. Number three continue to abide in Christ are in him because it holds the promise of it of eternal life.

It holds the promise of eternal life. Look at verse 25 and this is the promise he himself made to us. That is eternal life. False teachers will promise you anything.

False teachers will promise you everything but listen to me. No teacher gives eternal life. Christ is eternal life.

I'm getting ahead of myself.

But here's the important aspect of Christianity that is. This is an experiential religion is not Jeff not Mitch teaching that saves you is Christ that saves you.

It is not a formula or plan are four steps are five steps are three roles or whatever it is Christ that saves you so John goes back and says he himself promises eternal life through abiding in your faith. The remaining one who places his faith in Jesus Christ you know God the father and now you know the one who beat himself, is promising you eternal life. The word learning is a duration our enduring lot that is life that never EN's.

This is the promise he himself made us not a prophet, not just a preacher, not another scholar or another wise man, not some meditating guru up on a mountainside.

But God he himself has promised. Remember in John 14 six Jesus said, in effect, I did not come to show the way he says I healed the way you know as I meditate on this, I thought, you know, I know it's true. I know it's so true but yet to articulate it is beyond me. I don't want you to learn a lesson. I want you to know him. Jesus, as I am the way, I am the truth I am the life. So don't come into this church building and say pastor. Let me check out some boxes give me some hoops to jump through.

That's not a word about worry about you knowing you, then you have the promise of eternal life just so happens he is ordaining his primary means by which he is revealed is the faithful preaching of his word and the power of the spirit.

I didn't design it that way. God did it with the Bible.

Author says through the foolishness of preaching.

You say Jesus doesn't just teach us about the beginning and the end he says I'm the Alpha and Omega, the first in the last, the beginning and the and I'm not here to teach about how it all begins.

How late they said I am the beginning and the end goal is encompassed in me. Lazarus was dead. His sister Martha entreats Jesus she says Jesus if you had been here, my brother would not of God.

Jesus response to Martha. Your brother will rise again. Martha responds by I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day. I just wish I'd been there when Jesus gave this last reply. John 1125 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life you don't listen Martha is not about the last days about me when I sought out the resurrection showed up. You have him for believing the truth. John's talking about here. The truth he gave you these people is the same for the gift of today. This precious word of the truth that is your center, Christ died for your sins and your faith is inhaled through that truth you know God and he is the one who gives you the promise of eternal life insurance that is so the one who promises us eternal life, he himself is eternal life.

You understand church. I know it's mystical in the sense, we can't wrap our analytical minds around it, but the Spirit testifies and get to that, by the way, it's him. You see, I don't want you to believe the gospel of Christ. Only I want you to believe in the Christ of the gospel, he makes himself real well. We want to continually abide in him the before because it shuts out the false teacher. There's a sense in which when we are abiding in him. We sense and know when the false teaching is coming.

We sense and know that is not right. I think I told you this, when you been preaching for 40 years that you've usually told him everything you know and every experience you've ever had. There was a young man who was converted and he was very gifted musically and he would Hedman save log at all. Anything from as non-Christian of a background as you can come from in the southeast and he was invited to a church that believes in the signs, wonders and miracles. Gifts of the spirit and he did his singing in case something of his testimony. He said all the sudden and I'm not saying this just put those listen, dear, sweet and godly people who are in those movements, though I disagree with the moment, though some of those points and he said all the sudden people started falling in the floor and and and he said what is that and they said there slain in the spirit. He said that we know for a few minutes and the pastor got up and just make is an okay were done 17 minutes later we were eaten hot dogs in the fellowship hall. Brenda Christian said would you think about that he said I don't know what I think about it, but I thought if God hit you that hard. And God really came upon you like that that you had to fall out in the floor.

You just couldn't get update hotdog two minutes later, I thought that was pretty discerning.

Here's my point. As you abide in him and by the way, this always includes the local church. Your Bible study your time in the word your time in the prayer closet your time sitting under the preaching of the word.

All of that is a part of enriching your abiding in him is your abiding in him. You become resistant to the infiltrations of false teaching you you but I can explain why it's wrong.

You just know it's wrong. Like the man who was converted out of a Indian background and he was hearing some false teacher one day and a pastor came up to later sue would you think about that teacher gets it. I don't know but something inside of me just kept saying liar liar liar. He could never explain why he can show Inverse, but he just knew this wasn't right. All deviations from the old truth given to the church whereby you must be saved is of the antichrist spirit. That's what John calls it in this text that look back up at verse 18 is his children.

It is the last hour just to be heard that antichrist is coming, even now all many antichrists have appeared.

From this we know that this the last hour they went out from us, they were not really love this.

If I didn't love us, they would remain with this, but they went out so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. And I believe this includes church discipline were some are disciplined and removed because they were teaching false doctrine would not repent. Verse 20 but you have an anointing from the holy one, and you all know I have not written to you because you do not know the truth but because you do know it because no lies of the truth and who's the liar, the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ.

This is the antichrist when he denies the father and the son. Whoever denies the son does not have the father, the one who confesses the son has the father also actually talking about those of the antichrist spirit who to bring these extra teachings in instead of simple faith in Jesus Christ. When we turn to Jesus, the Jesus revealed in the word and when we embrace him and were learning to love him to meditate on him to learn of him to continue to abide in him. Then we develop spiritual Teflon false teaching just didn't seem to stick it just controls off.

That's what you say all false teaching comes from the world, its worldly teaching James 315.

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly and natural and demonic J John rather hear calls and antichrist. Philippians 319, who's in the end is destruction, who's in this disruption there. God is there appetite to glory in their shame and who set their minds on earthly things. This is were teaching that undermines simple faith in Christ comes from snow from heaven is earthly in its natural limits.

Demonic false teaching usually comes out of two earthly ditches, liberalism or legalism. Just about all of them you can just lump them in one of those two ditches and there's one stream of false teaching that keeps coming around every two or three decades, and that is the false teaching. Notice my wording that Christianity should be primarily concerned with curing the evils of the society jeer that is false teaching that Christianity must be primarily concerned with curing the Eagles of society. By the way, when you come to go along with false teaching. It's very alluring because it makes your flesh feel good.

It makes you popular with the world.

We go back a ways. Decades back in the thing called liberation theology, which basically said Christianity existed to rid the world of oppression missed treatment then there was the social gospel same basic thing Christianity exist primarily to help those who are disadvantaged, then the social work movement and today they call it the social justice movement don't you listen to what I'm telling you certainly because of Christian love are concerned about all of these things that's very different from making it a core doctrine of the church when somebody tells us you have to be involved in this calls because it's a gospel issue. Notice those words.

It's a gospel issue on Tema my ears. Perk up when I hear that my resistance goes up brother. There's nothing that's come along this been added to the gospel. That's essential are foundational to the gospel. It's the old gospel from the beginning. It's the same gospel now we don't add anything to it now know some good brothers and sisters have used that phrase and I don't think they're bad people, but I would caution them. Don't call it a gospel issue. The gospel is all men are sinners, Christ died for our sins. He was bad. He was raised in the gospel when you been changed by the gospel, the loving you would cause you to want to do good for all men, as best you can the Bible says but your your own dangerous ground when you say this is a gospel issue. In effect, this is part of the gospel is not.

God has not commissioned the church primarily picture that he also society God's commission his children to build his church in the world not to fix the world by the way you give me a world full of true biblically spiritually healthy churches and that will do more to fix the world anything else because where the salt and the light that's not our primary aim were not about behavior modification for the culture were about building God's church in a godless world that's the gospel sometimes and I think some very well-meaning people use the phrase. What this reflects the gospel we mean it reflects the gospel is an endless amount of things you could say they are admit we don't need. That's dangerous. Don't add to when you use the gospel. I want you to be very laser focused on biblical exegesis, not on cultural influences.

The gospel is the gospel. Again, I would advise better wording that is Christian love would lead Christians to support all true just causes.

But isn't it interesting Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul lived in an era of extreme injustice extreme racism and they scarcely ever mention it. Not that they were not against the course they were nothing to perhaps address it from time to time, but they had a commission. What was that to preach the gospel and build the church basement how subtle Satan is with this false teaching to creep in with good sounding thing's things that seem right. The Bible says, but the end thereof those of the ways of death.

So were not about primarily fixing the world.

Satan is God of this world.

I don't a suitable site have been world were not about property fixing the world were about primarily building his church in the world and in the world will truly be a better place and by the way, we do not have any obligation to appease this fall in wicked world are to accommodate this fall in wicked world, or to please them if they don't like more about they don't like what were about. We must be about standing on the truth is with apostle Paul said about how he was received in the world. Second Corinthians 215 and 16 for we are fragrance of God rather Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing to the one on aroma from death to death to the other and aroma from life to life impulsive. It is hard who's who's adequate for these thing pulses as I faithfully preach the gospel and build the church. Some people say that's words of life to make another say we hate you. That's death to me. I don't go out there and try to be death.

The people going out there try to be a problem this be true. Be faithful it will all settle were supposed to settle John's point is if you're continuing to abide in him then you will see through the false teaching you become aware that this is going in the wrong direction.

If you have him and your fellow shipping with him. Here's what you say the world can you give me your new philosophy in your new twist on things in your new span. What were supposed to be doing in our churches, etc. can you give me anything better than him because the doctor not toehold has given me him we think about if you have him what can you add to him the answer is honestly nothing, that's what John sings is a Christian should I just following some tenants of a new teacher you found the truth which came from God, which brought you to God, so don't be seduced by these false teachers you have him Jesus Christ will number five continue to abide in him. The Holy Spirit affirms your abiding faith wicked in verse 27. As for you, the anointing which you received from him abides in you have no need for anyone to teach you while you listen all these outside voices when you have him but as his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lot. And just as it has taught you, you abide in him. This is what I often call the amen of the spirit. It's that spiritual part of us that can't quite get her hands on. But when the Bible is read. When the Bible is taught when the Bible is preached something in us rises up and says I yes true right that's where I believe that's where I am. That's where I stay. John calls it the anointing it just the idea of the Spirit's indwelling presence. The spirit of God in you must teach you and that's where we pastors and as we do the pastoral training Institute. We it's not about sharp slick notes now guaranteed viewed prestige don't help teach some of Tim sales but a lot of teaching. I wanted to teaching and and we've learned some things that the decades we've got some good notes and we have some things we want to teach these guys but the end of the if the Holy Spirit of God is not only their understanding.

It's worthless. They understand that church is not just about being a good communicator are effective or loud like me. It's about the spirit of God, making it real to you. This is far more important to me that you leave the service and say I know him better than for you to say he preached a good sermon okay I preached a good sermon, but do you know God better. Do you love God more.

Is he more precious and wonderful to you than he was before and only the Holy Spirit can bring that about.

He said you have this anointing and it teaches you the spiritual work of illuminating the understanding as true doctrine is heard. It's a powerful assurance that you're on the right track.

John 1526. Our Lord said when the helper comes in. I will send to you from the father and that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the father. He will testify about me. John's is on top of everything else I told you don't veer from abiding in your faith in Christ because even the Holy Spirit affirms to you.

You're on the right track. The spirit reveals the loneliness of Jesus. He says you've heard it from the beginning the very beginning. You've heard that only the spirit of God can make these things Realty only spirit of God could regenerate your heart and give you the heart and mind to repent and believe in my view this way that the word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit are two inseparable coworkers the word of God and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. The word of God. The elimination of the Holy Spirit choices in verse 27. You have no need of anyone to teach you. He's not saying that you should be taught obviously are all still learn that he means in the context of finding God, finding forgiveness, finding eternal life. He said that's all settled because your faith in Jesus Christ. God is in your eternal life is in you, you don't have to go find it because it's found you, you know him. You're not trying to find him.

You have him.

That's the point. The Holy Spirit keeps bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, the Bible said so, the next wise teacher that comes along is if you have these tenant you decide to wait a minute, what's that going. I had to heal him because I have him spirit keeps affirming that in me concerning knowing God and eternal life.

You have nothing to learn from anyone, you already possess the spirit and he affirms these things and that's where your hope is 90 in verse 27 with the command you abide in him over to get back on track and stay there are number six continue to abide continually abide in him and you will stand for time and eternity. Look at verse 28 hello children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame at his coming. Now he said in the earlier verses.

There are already those who went astray there already. Those who came up became a part of them and then went away from them and they exist because they were never really of us. Here's what I'm saying listen to me.

We believe in the old Bible Baptist doctrine of the perseverance of the saints if it's true saving faith.

It continues on to the end and by the way, only those who continue on to the end are saved in the end I don't get mixed up on. I got a continue on is some sort of level of perfection I got a score at least a 70 to get in. That's not what is talking about. It means there's been a change in you whereby you can't all away from the faith. It keeps drawing you back. You keep drawing back to looking to Christ and abiding in him, and only those who have that track record of those who will stand both for time and in eternity. In verse 28 he talks about Tom feel about him so that he appears we may have confidence. Here's the contrast and not shrink away you live to have boldness on the day of Christ appearing are you will have shame reminds us of Revelation 616 those who do not know Christ when he returns will save the mountains into the rocks, fall on us and hide us from the presence of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. There are two types of people and only two types of pre-people who will be present on the last day. Those who shrink away in shame and those who stand with bold confidence that's on to the to be there in a very real sense there's only one who stands just in a very real sense there's only one who stands righteous and very real sense there's only one who stands acceptable before the father in this Jesus Christ, you have to stand in him remember is not what I prayed that prayer. I did this and did that's not the point that maybe find that you did that. The point is, are you and him are you a faith in him as the days in the Monsen. The years have rolled on in your Christianity you continually drawn back to him and his teaching in his word simple doctrine of Christ and Christ alone is our Savior over in first John 520 John Wrightson. We know that the son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true, notes that emphasis again is knowing him the notices we are in him who is true in his son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. So like the last day.

If you've been one who through this life. Your trust and faith was in the simple old gospel. You confess that your sinner before God benefit you've never stopped confessing your sinner before God, and you never stopped confessing that my hope is only in Jesus and his shed blood for me that carries you all the way through death's door than you will be one who can stand before God on that day.

Righteous in heal you. You don't need to try to stand before him in his in your righteousness. You stand before God in Christ righteousness.

I hear my Savior say that strength indeed a small child in weakness, watch and pray find it in me, thine all in all Lord now. Indeed, I find thy power in God alone, I can fix me thy power.

That alone can change the leper spots and melt the heart of stone for nothing good have I whereby thy grace to claim all wash my garments widen the blood of Calvary slam and win before the throne. That's where John's gun right now. I stand in him complete. I could run through a wall. What an assurance. What a joy where I stand complete God when father throne class and most complete not to listen to this guys teaching and give me complete now know the father loves him the father except him. He's pleasing to the father.

This is my beloved son.

The father said, and whom I am well please win before the threshold site finish without some pastor I will admit I stand in him complete.

Jesus died my soul to save my lip shifts to repeat Jesus paid it all, all to him. Oh sin had left a crimson stain he's washed it wanted to snow the brothers and sisters, nothing in the world. Nothing in religion. Nothing in teachings can give you that it's all in. So Paul writes to the deer church insist to you continually abide in him taste could everything