1 John 2:18-29
Warning about Antichrists
18 ”Dear
children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming,
and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the
last hour has come.
19 These
people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us;
otherwise they would have
stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
20 But you
are not like that, for THE
HOLY ONE has given you HIS SPIRIT,
and all of you know THE TRUTH.
21 So I am
writing to you not because you don’t know THE TRUTH but because you know the difference
between truth and lies.
22 And who
is a liar? Anyone who says that JESUS is not THE CHRIST. Anyone
who denies THE FATHER and THE SON is an antichrist.
23 Anyone who denies THE SON doesn’t have THE FATHER,
either. But anyone who acknowledges THE SON has THE FATHER also.
24 So you
must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you
do, you will remain in fellowship with THE SON and with THE FATHER.
25 And in
this fellowship we enjoy THE
ETERNAL LIFE HE promised us.
26 I am
writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.
27 But you
have received THE HOLY SPIRIT, and HE lives within you, so you don’t need
anyone to teach you what is true. For THE SPIRIT teaches you everything
you need to know, and what HE teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as HE
has taught you, remain in fellowship with CHRIST.
Living as Children of God
28 And now,
dear children, remain in fellowship with CHRIST so that when HE returns, you will be
full of courage and not shrink back from HIM in shame.
29 Since we
know that CHRIST IS
RIGHTEOUS, we also know that all who do what is right are GOD’s
children.
