It’s interesting to read John’s words and see how they still hold true today. He warned his readers not to be led astray and to remember that denying Christ also means denying the Father. John emphasized the importance of acknowledging the deity of Christ and not rejecting the evidence that God has given. It’s important to take John’s warning seriously and not be swayed by scholars who seek to undermine our faith.

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 

21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 

23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

~ 1 John 2:18-23

Holy God in heaven, You are worthy of all praise and adoration. Thank you for sending men like John to proclaim Your word. I am grateful for his examples of both love and stern warnings. Because of his warning, I am now keenly aware that there are those in this world who oppose Jesus. Not only that, but there are many who believe that there is no such thing as objective truth. However, You have revealed to me that I can know the truth by first acknowledging Jesus as Deity. Thank You for providing me with all the evidence in Scripture and through Your providential care. I love You, Father, and ask that You continue to protect me from evil men. Please grant me the blessing of growth in and through Your Son. Moreover, help me to be an effective communicator so that I can guide others to a full knowledge of Your truth. Please, let these things be, O’ God.