“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.”
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you
John continues to write about the antichrists of verse eighteen. All believers need cautions of false teachers and false teaching. They love to seduce susceptible believers away from sound doctrine.
In the next verse, John shows an antidote against apostasy — we have the Holy Spirit’s anointing to protect us from error.
PRINCIPLE:
Believers should be on their toes against religious deception launched by Satan himself.
APPLICATION:
There is no doubt that some Christians are vulnerable to deception. Immature believers are susceptible to pseudo-spirituality. Usually, these are people who know very little of the Word of God. Satan leads believers astray by counterfeit. His primary system for deception is religion. He gets as close to the genuine thing as possible without being the genuine thing.
2 Co 11:13-15, 13 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
1 Ti 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…”
Without spiritual safeguards, Satan will sweep Christians in false doctrine. Many Christians are open to religious tangents. Satan follows the principle – divide and conquer.
