Ian, Jake, and Sam discuss the sermon on 1 John 2:18-27 where the alarm bell is ringing: deception isn’t accidental—it’s intentional. John says plainly, “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you,” and that reality should wake us up. In the “last hour,” false teachers and spiritual opposition work with strategy to pull believers away from Christ, distort the truth about Jesus, and normalize compromise. But John doesn’t leave the church afraid—he points them to their comfort and protection: believers have been anointed by the Holy One (the Spirit of truth), and God preserves his own. The call is not just to feel comforted by the gospel, but to take refuge in it—by letting the apostolic word abide in us so we abide in the Son and the Father. In a world of lies, safety is found in closeness to God through his Word.

Main Point: The Word of God is the way the people of God take refuge in God.

Message Highlights:

The punch-in-the-face verse (v.26): there are people (and spiritual opposition) trying—with effort and strategy—to deceive you.

“Last hour” urgency: the coming of Christ inaugurated the last days; we’re living in the final chapter of God’s redemptive story.

Antichrist (singular) and antichrists (plural): a climactic deceiver is coming, but many deceivers already operate—deception is their game.

False teachers came from within (v.19): “They went out from us… but they were not of us.” Their departure clarified truth and exposed error.

A needed warning: don’t idolize unity if it requires compromising truth; real unity gathers around truth.

Comfort for believers (v.20): “You have been anointed by the Holy One” — the Spirit’s presence gives real knowledge.

What the “knowledge” is: not mere facts about Jesus, but truth about who Jesus really is—and the Spirit opens eyes to Jesus as precious, worthy, and central.

The core lie exposed (v.22–23): distort or deny the Son, and you lose the Father; true confession of the Son means true fellowship with the Father.

Key directive (v.24–27): abide—let what you heard “from the beginning” (apostolic truth) abide in you.

A major principle: don’t pit Spirit against Word—the Spirit works through the Word, not around it.

A strong pastoral turn: don’t only take comfort in the gospel; take refuge in the gospel—daily dependence, not complacency.

Practical application:

Adopt “game time” urgency: stop assuming you’re neutral; you’re being targeted by lies. Live with alertness, not drift.

Test the Jesus being preached: not “do you believe in Jesus?” but “which Jesus?”—distortions are often subtle, not outright denials.

Measure your dependence: do you think you needed God (past tense) or you need God (present tense)? That posture reveals spiritual health.

Make Word-abiding normal: build daily patterns where Scripture is not a backup plan but the main refuge—because protection against lies comes by knowing truth.

Stay in the church with truth: separation can clarify, but isolation makes deception easier. Pursue truth and fellowship together.

Refuse “comfort-only Christianity”: if “I’m forgiven” produces disengagement, you’ve turned comfort into complacency. Let comfort fuel refuge—run to Christ.

Can I lose my salvation? The Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints

Rescuing the Gospel - Erwin Lutzer

What it Means to be Protestant - Gavin Ortlund

Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore:

1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible

1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study

1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You

Don’t Follow You Heart

1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal

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