They Were Not Really Ours at All (1 John 2:18-19)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 07-15-04

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  They were not really ours at all

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1John 2:18-19

 

            Message of the verse:  “18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.  19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.”  (NASB) 

            This section starts a new chapter in Dr. Wiersbe’s book, and in his book he explains the three meanings of the word “antichrist.  1.  A spirit in the world that opposes or denies Christ.  2.  The false teachers who embody this spirit.  3.  A person who will head up the finial revolt against Christ. 

            Another term that needs to be explained here is “last hour.”  It seems when you read that we are in the last hour that believers will wonder why Christ has not returned yet.  The term means that because we are in the Church age that we are in the last hour of history.  Jesus Christ has completed the plan for salvation on the cross and all that remains is for those who have been called to be saved. Christians have always lived in the last hour, and this is a crisis hour so believers must know what they believe.

            In verse 19 John is saying that these antichrists or false teachers have come out of the local church, yet they were not part of the worldwide Church.  They were in the church but not of the church, for they were never true believers, and thus were doing what actually came natural for them because they were never saved in the first place. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today: Two things come to my mind as I read these verses and they are that I need to be sure of my salvation as Paul urged believers to do, and that it is possible that people whom I think are believers are really not believers at all.  Only God knows for sure. 

 

The Word of God was challenging to me as I read it today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord with the events that are going on in Canada and also in Washington D. C.  Trust the Lord with the wittiness that was given to Irene and her roommate yesterday, that the Lord would use it for His glory. Trust the Lord with my attitude.

Memory verses for the week:  1Cor 13:8

 

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away, if there are tongues, they will cease, if there is knowledge, it will be done away.