PROVISION FOR PROTECTION " . . . but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:19) -- Tomorrow:
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things . . . But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:20,27-29)
Devotion 8 of
Notice the reasoning of the Apostle, as he was moved along by the Spirit of God. He does not say these "antichrists" left the faithful because they could no longer tolerate the truth. Nor, indeed, does he say they left because they were asked to do so. Either or both of these conditions may very well have existed, but a higher view of the matter is necessary. This was God's way of making known to His children that these were really misfits in the body of Christ. They may have been in the company of approved people, but they themselves were not "approved unto God" (2 Tim 2:15), or "approved in Christ" (Rom 16:10).
A similar statement is made by Paul concerning heresies, or departures from the truth, that arise within the church. "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you" (1 Cor 11:19). The New Revised Standard Version read, "Indeed, there HAVE TO BE factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine." The New International Version reads, "No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval." Admittedly, this is a high view, but it is a valid –yea, essential – one.
Qualities like receiving "the love of the truth" (2 Thess 2:10), forsaking all (Luke 14:33), pressing toward the mark (Phil 3:14), and placing our affection on things above (Col 3:1-2), are made known in the arena of competing influences. When the truth is held high, and loved above all else, it drives pretenders to the surface. Fleshly pretension cannot be sustained. Eventually it can tolerate the truth no longer, and moves the individual to take sides with those who themselves oppose the truth. That is why the pretenders left John and company – because they were being suffocated by the truth, and could not longer openly and heartily embrace the lies they preferred.
As long as we are in this world, a way must be provided for us to distinguish opponents of the Gospel from those who embrace and declare it. Heresies, or factions, are one way of accomplishing that objective. Those with corrupt hearts gravitate to corrupt teaching, while those with pure hearts are drawn to the truth of the Gospel alone. This is not easy to bear, but is necessary.
How glorious the announcement. "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim 2:19). In this case, those engulfed in iniquity departed from the saints, thereby unveiling their true spiritual status. The unrighteous and righteous cannot perpetually dwell together. They are locked in conflict.
John makes no apology for these opponents of Jesus. " . . . for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us." A great deal, therefore, can be seen by who remains faithful to the Lord, taking hold on the truth and refusing to let it go. That would not sound loving enough to some people. Indeed, others would have launched an investigation to determine if the departure could have been averted by tender loving care. But all such speculations are a waste of time. They left because they did not belong. Their departure was a Divine confirmation of that fact. They left like Demas, who "loved this present world" (2 Tim 4:10). Further, there appeared to be no effort to resolve the situation, or retrieve these pretenders.
For some, this is too difficult to receive. However, God has consistently dealt harshly with those who misrepresented Him, or claimed to be sent by Him when they were not. Moses, the Prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostles were consistent in their denunciation of such men. Their pretensions were never treated lightly, and they also provoked Divine judgment. As a matter of general observation, to my knowledge there is no example in Scripture of a recovery program for false prophets who come in the name of Christ Jesus. We are not to draw unwarranted conclusions from this. It should, however, provoke in us an utter hatred for corrupt doctrine. Departures from, and misrepresentations of, the Gospel are never taken lightly by the Lord.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to be thoroughly dissatisfied with anything that conflicts or competes with the Gospel of Your Son.