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Please read 1 John 2:15-29, and then consider the following:

1. In 1 John 2:15, John uses the phrase "in the world." Is he referring to the creation (e.g., nature, the stars and planets, etc.), or could he be referring to something else—perhaps to the inner motivations and challenges of mankind and the social/political/worldly environment surrounding us?
   1. ANSWER: The world that John is writing about is that which is in complete opposition to God, both physically and spiritually. James wrote, "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4)
2. Read the Gospel of John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, and 1 John 5:19. Who does God’s Word say is the ruler of this "world?"
   1. John 12:31
      1. ANSWER: "The prince of this world"
   2. John 14:30
      1. ANSWER: "The prince of this world"
   3. John 16:11
      1. ANSWER: "The prince of this world"
   4. 1 John 5:19
      1. ANSWER: "The evil one." From this verse and the above verses, clearly the ruler of this world is Satan. In John 17:9, Jesus said to God, "I am not praying for the world," but rather "for those you have given me, for they are yours."
3. Read 1 John 2:16. What three things does John identify as being "in the world?" List the three items and beside each list what human characteristic they refer to.
   1. ANSWER 1: "The lust of the flesh": greed and sexual desire would be at the top of the list, but essentially any strong desire to consume or possess something, or to take pleasure in it.
   2. ANSWER 2: "The lust of the eyes": things we see that provoke us to lust, e.g., a person, an object, perhaps a new car or boat, and so on.
   3. ANSWER 3: "The pride of life": anything focused on ourselves as the center, i.e., the "I" problem—everything is focused on me and how great I am, or how powerful, or resourceful I am, etc.
4. Write a definition for the word "Antichrist."
   1. ANSWER: One who denies, or opposes Christ, thus "Anti-" Christ.
5. Write a definition for the word "apostasy."
   1. ANSWER: In short, it is teaching a lie for the truth, and that lie then being accepted as truth by others. In effect, the person or movement falls away from what they originally believed; they abandon sound doctrine and follow something false.
6. How can we tell if someone is an antichrist? (1 John 2:22-23)
   1. ANSWER: If they deny that Jesus, as the one and only son of God, is the Messiah, the Christ, the appointed one who will save us from our sins. Anyone who denies the existence of God and Jesus falls under this definition. There are many antichrists in the world today. The Bible would also refer to them as false prophets and false teachers.
7. Can you describe the coming Antichrist who is prophesied to be active during the Tribulation period?
   1. ANSWER: During the Tribulation period, the Antichrist will set himself up as God and will deceive the world. We can see him in Mark 13:14 as the "the abomination of desolation," and "the man of lawlessness" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, and "the beast" in Revelation 13:1-9, 11-7 and 11-18. Jesus also spoke of him in Matthew 6:13, John 17:15 and John 8:44.
8. In 1 John 2:25, what does God promise to all those who accept Jesus as the Christ (as the Savior)? (See also John’s Gospel, verses 3:14-16, 6:40, and 17:23)
   1. ANSWER: God promises us—all of us who have accepted Jesus as the Christ—the promise of eternal life.

Bonus Question:

9. By considering the first fourteen verses of John Chapter 2, and all of Chapter 1, can you describe the type of false teaching in the church at Ephesus that John is trying to address? Can you give some examples of similar false teaching occurring today within the organized church?
   1. ANSWER: John is attacking the influences of this world that were, and are today, attempting to deceive, dilute, and lead astray all who are seeking Christ. Compromise within the church based on following false doctrine, false teachers, and false prophets threatens to lead many into apostasy—which is exactly what the Bible warns us about in the last days. As Paul conveys in 1 Timothy 4:1-4 (NIV): "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth."

Have a great week everyone.

In Christ,

Wes

[2021]

[PDF Version]