1 John 2:18-27

A Warning About the Enemies of Christ

18 Dear children, we are living in the last days. You have heard that the great enemy of Christ is coming. But even now many enemies of Christ have already come. That's how we know that these are the last days.

19 The enemies left our group. They didn't really belong to us. If they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by leaving they showed that none of them belonged to us.

20 You have received the Spirit from the Holy One. And all of you know the truth.

21 I'm not writing to you because you don't know the truth but because you do know it. I'm writing to you because no lie comes from the truth.

22 Who is the liar? The person who says that Jesus is not the Christ. People who say that are the enemies of Christ. They say no to the Father and the Son.

23 Those who say no to the Son don't belong to the Father. But anyone who says yes to the Son belongs to the Father also.

24 Make sure that you don't forget what you have heard from the beginning. Then you will remain joined to the Son and to the Father.

25 That's what God has promised us. We have eternal life.

26 I'm writing these things to warn you about those who are trying to lead you down the wrong path.

27 But you have received the Holy Spirit from God. He continues to live in you. So you don't need anyone to teach you. God's Spirit teaches you about everything. What he says is true. He doesn't lie. Remain joined to Christ, just as you have been taught by the Spirit.