1 John 2:19-21 // March 16, 2025
Application
1) Submit to Jesus and be a part of “us”, His body, the church.
2) Persevere in truth-filled, faithful, humble, obedience to our King
o Hebrews 3:14 “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our
original confidence firm to the end.”(see also Mark 13:13)
Not because salvation is the reward of endurance, but because
endurance is the hallmark of the saved.
o Continue to submit to truth. There are 27 books in the NT. 26 of them
contain warnings about false teaching. (Philemon is the oddball.) Why so
many warnings? Wrong thinking > Wrong feeling > Wrong action. Be
vigilant to persevere in right thinking and doctrine individually and as the
Church.
3) Learn to discern “them”
o Remember characteristics 1) depart the true body, 2) deny the true Christ,
and 3) deceive the flock
o Once discerned:
1) Continue to love “them”
2) Continue to speak the truth in love to “them” but discern casting
pearls before swine
D L Moody “One evening I went out with a shepherd to collect
his sheep. After they had been gathered together, and were
being driven off the moor, I observed that there were some
among them who did not belong to his flock. I particularly
noticed, also, that he paid no attention whatever to these
wandering strangers, urged forward, though they were, by the
barking dog, further and further from their rightful companions.
At last, thinking I must have been mistaken in supposing they
were not his, I pointed to one or two of them, and said, “Are
those your sheep?” And he answered, “No.” I said unto him,
“Why, then, do you not separate them from the flock?” And he
answered, and said, “They will find out directly they are not of
us, and then they will go away of themselves.””
3) Let them leave or send them away if they refuse to repent
1 Corinthians 5:11-13 “11 But now I am writing to you not to
associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is
guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler,
drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For
what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside
the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those
outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.””
This may seem very harsh and not keeping with love, but, in
fact, we are not loving them if we do not lovingly confront
someone with their sin who otherwise claims Christ – nor are
we loving the rest of our brothers and sisters by allowing a wolf
to remain amidst the sheep
o Jesus outlined a process for this in Matthew 18, and it
must be followed to allow the body of Christ to remain
healthy and bearing good fruit.
4) Do not justify or rationalize their wandering/leaving
It may hurt deeply. Like Paul, with tears, we may need to
recognize them as enemies of the cross.
It is ok to be grieved and saddened, it is not ok to blame
yourself and think you have failed in some way.
5) trust “them” into the hands of the Lord and His sovereign plan
Only the Lord knows our hearts – no one is too far gone -while
they still live. Until someone draws their last breath, there is still
a chance.
Be reminded that our God’s sovereign plan ends in His
maximum glory which is achieved by the most possible number
of people being saved.
Amen. Amen.