“They went out from us, but they were not of us.” (v. 19). 1 John presents the God-given evidence of salvation to the readers. But this is not simply a theological or academic exercise. John is writing to hurting, worried Christians who had watched people they knew and loved walk away from the church (and the gospel) while still claiming to follow Jesus – the “real” Jesus. Understandably, the Christians were asking: Am I missing something? Is there a higher level of spirituality I haven’t reached? Have these friends who I have looked up to found a key that will finally give me the strength and peace I’m looking for? John’s answer is that believers already have everything they need in the simple gospel of Jesus Christ, and 1 John 2:18-27 explains this in depth. In this passage, John moves back and forth between describing those he calls antichrists and describing true believers. But keep v. 19 in mind as you read about these antichrists. They were not opponents of Christ who had risen outside the church. They had come from inside the church. John will remind us that opposition to Christ from within the visible church was foretold and shouldn’t surprise us (v. 18), and he will explain how we can recognize these “anti-christs.” Finally, he calls us to rest secure in the gospel and the Holy Spirit’s anointing rather than chasing something new. In Christ, you are not missing anything. The restlessness we feel isn’t evidence God is withholding something further from us—it’s often evidence we’ve grown weary and cold toward the gospel we already possess. John’s charge to us is to abide in what we’ve already received rather than searching for what we think is missing.

I. Recognize That Opposition Is Expected (v. 18)
II. Recognize Those Who Are Anti-Christ (v. 19; 22-23)
a. They Separate From the Body (v. 19)
b. They Deny the Truth About Jesus (vv. 22-23)
III. Rest In What You Have Received (vv. 20-27)
a. The Holy Spirit’s Anointing (vv. 20-21)
b. The Word of the Gospel (vv. 24-25)
c. Abide in Him (vv. 26-27)