1 John 2:18-27

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 103
• Hymn — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (#216)
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Westminster Larger Catechism, Q&A 50
• Hymn — The Apostles' Creed (#560)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:18–27
• Prayer for Illumination
• Sermon
• Hymn — Children of the Heavenly Father (#257)
• Benediction — Numbers 6:24–26

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Sermon Title: Take Care of Your Confession of Christ

Scripture: 1 John 2:18–27

I. Your Confession of Christ Is Assailed by Enemies

A. We live in "the last hour" — the Redemptive age between Christ's first and second coming, a time of ongoing war over the church's confession (1 John 2:18)

B. John distinguishes between the Antichrist who is coming and many antichrists who have already come

1. The term antichrist means "against Christ" — one who opposes Christ and seeks to oppress the church
2. The defining mark of antichrists is their denial that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22)
3. To deny Jesus is the Christ is to deny his Messiahship, his Incarnation, his priestly atonement, his Davidic kingship — the whole of his person and work collapses

C. The enemies come from both outside and inside the visible church

1. Some were once members of the congregation who have gone out, making plain they were never truly of the body (1 John 2:19)
2. John Stott: "He who stands firm to the end will be saved — not because salvation is the reward of endurance, but because endurance is the hallmark of the saved"
3. Danger is subtle: attractive sinful lives, persuasive human wisdom, Christ-less preaching from pulpits

II. Your Confession of Christ Is Scripturally Guarded

A. Two safeguards are set before believers in 1 John 2:20–24, 27: the Word heard from the beginning, and the anointing of the Holy One

B. First safeguard — the apostolic and prophetic Word (1 John 2:24)

1. "Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you" — the gospel first preached and believed
2. As the body needs regular food and water, the confession of Christ requires the regular ministry of the Word — preached, read, and made manifest in the sacraments
3. The call of Hebrews: hold fast your confession

C. Second safeguard — the anointing of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20, 27)

1. The Holy One who anoints is Christ himself; the anointing is the Holy Spirit — cf. 2 Corinthians 1 (the Spirit as seal and guarantee)
2. The Spirit works regeneration, enlivens what is dead, and drives the believer to a true confession of Christ
3. John speaks in the indicative: the anointing abides in you — Christ is a keeping Christ; the Spirit is a keeping Spirit

D. John also speaks in the imperative: "abide in him" (1 John 2:27)

1. Feed regularly on the nutritious food of the Gospel, knowing the Spirit will make use of it to your benefit without your power
2. Ongoing true confession and growth in grace are the evidence; endurance is the hallmark of the saved

III. Your Confession of Christ Is Securing the Promise

A. The True Confession of Christ comes with a promise — eternal life (1 John 2:25)

1. "This is the promise that he promised to us: eternal life" — the Greek doubles the word promise for emphasis
2. Eternal life is central to John's letter — referenced in every chapter but the fourth; six times across the letter

B. The source of eternal life is Jesus Christ himself, who was with the Father and was made manifest (1 John 1:2; 1 John 5:20)

1. There is no life apart from a true confession of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God
2. John 10 — he has come that we might have life, and have it abundantly

C. Eternal life is both present and future

1. Present: the believer is already a new creation, already enjoying union and communion with Christ, already experiencing the principle of new life through sanctification
2. Future: life without end, the hope of resurrection and glory beyond what any mind can grasp
3. 1 John 5:13 — "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life" — assurance is the pastoral goal

D. Guard what has eternal value; rest in the Christ who keeps — "Who do you say that I am?" Guard that confession