Today, Saturday July 24
Don’t Be Deceived 1 John 2:26-27 “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
Even in the early days of the first century church false teachers apparently were already in the church. In this passage John is warning the true believers how to identify them and avoid them and their lies. Remember the three marks of an “antichrist”, a false teacher: He departs from the faith (v. 19), he denies the faith (v. 22). And he tries to deceive the faithful (v. 26).
False teacher in John's day used two special words to describe their experience: "knowledge" and "unction." They claimed to have a special unction (anointing) from God which gave them a unique knowledge. They were "illuminated" and therefore living on a much higher level than anybody else. All the “Christian” cults have one thing in common. They deny the deity of Jesus Christ.
It is interesting to observe that antichristian groups rarely try to lead lost sinners to their false faith. Instead, they spend much of their time trying to convert professing Christians (and church members, at that) to their own doctrines. They are out to "seduce" the faithful. The word "seduce" carries the idea of "being led astray." We have been warned that this would happen: "Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1).
Jesus calls Satan the "father of lies" (John 8:44), The devil's purpose is to lead Christians astray by teaching them false doctrines (2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13-15). We should not accept everything a person tells us simply because he claims to believe the Bible, for it is possible to "twist" the Bible to make it mean almost anything (2 Cor. 4:1-2).
Satan is not an originator; he is a counterfeiter. He imitates the work of God. For example, Satan has counterfeit "ministers" (2 Cor. 11:13-15) who preach a counterfeit gospel (Galatians 1:6-12) that produces counterfeit Christians (John 8:43-44) who depend on a counterfeit righteousness (Romans 10:1-10).
Satan's chief stratagem during this age is to plant the counterfeit wherever Christ plants the true. And it is important that you be able to detect the counterfeit and separate the teachings of Christ from the false teachings of antichrist.
In this passage, John points out that all true Christians know God and have received the Spirit of God! And because they have believed the truth, they recognize a lie when they meet it.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)! Believe and trust Him today!
God bless!