Welcome to the Grace Abounding broadcast brought to you by the congregation of the Shreveport Grace Church meeting at 2970 Baird Road in Shreveport, Louisiana. My name is Ken Wymer. May the Lord God bless this message preached to the hearts of those He has purposed to hear and for whom the Lord Jesus laid down His life on the cross to pay their complete sin debt and justify them before God the Father. Please stay tuned. My text today is taken from 1 John chapter 2 and verses 18 through 20. And the subject that I want to address is this. Are we in the last time? This is a question that I get often from people who hear preachers talking about the end times, the last time. Even the media, Hollywood, tend to emphasize this through movies and other documentaries. And of course, this year in particular, with the Mayan calendar having ended, a lot of people are speculating as to whether This is the year that the world is to come to an end. Well, in any matters concerning this world, or God, or the future, I turn to the Word of God, and I let the Word of God speak. And here in 1 John chapter 2 and verse 18, we read this inspired word of the Apostle John, who lived in the first century. He said, It is the last time. And as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But, this is verse 20, but ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. So the answer to that question, are we in the last time? The answer is yes. John wrote this in 1st John chapter 2 and verse 18, way back in the first century. And so many ages have passed since the death of John that some might say, well, this prophecy then must not be true. But we have to understand this in the way that the Lord directed John to write it. First of all, he was declaring that all things are accomplished. In other words, nothing is prophesied, nothing is typified or promised concerning redemption and concerning the salvation of the Lord's people that has not already been fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. There remains nothing except for the final coming of Christ to gather His own that is yet to be fulfilled. So this is indeed that last time. But secondly, If the eternity of God's kingdom is kept in mind, both before the cross and afterwards, then the time between Christ's death and Christ's return will appear to us to be just but a moment. Remember the scriptures say that a thousand years is as a day unto the Lord, and a day is a thousand years. The important thing to understand, however, is that when the Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth back in 30 A.D. and lived and died and rose again and ascended on high, the last time was ushered in. All of the prophecies, all of the types, all that was promised in the Old Testament concerning Christ came to pass in that time. And so, it is the last time. Now the warning here, however, to those that John wrote these words to, and to us, leading them today, is to beware. We're warned that Antichrist will come. Those who suppose that he would only be one man like we hear today. And this is where people go wrong when they hear the word Antichrist. They start looking for one specific man to rise on the scene. But John clearly says here, and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists. whereby we know that it is the last time. The scriptures clearly show us then that we're not to be looking for any one specific man who is the Antichrist and when he arises then will usher in the last time. John even back in the first century declared that many Antichrists had already arisen and would arise and therefore we know that it is the last time. What he's speaking of here is more of a spirit of Antichrist, not only that would prevail in the world, but that we can expect will prevail in Christendom or in religion that professes Christ. in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 7, the Apostle Paul writes to the church saying, for the mystery of iniquity doth already work. So when the scriptures speak of Antichrist, it's speaking here of a mystery of iniquity, a spirit of iniquity that is already at work in and among professing Christians. You say, what is that spirit? Well, we'll read on. It says, only he who letteth will let. The word let there means to restrain until he be taken out of the way. So we see here that from the time of our Lord's death until now, we can expect the era to be moving toward apostasy as the day of His return approaches. These are indeed last days. I know there's a lot of talk today about revival and about a growing church. Well, there's a growing religion. There's a growing profession with regard to Christ. But the Scriptures declare that as time goes on, the proof and mark that we're in the last day will be this mystery of iniquity, this man of sin. Now, he's described here in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 4, "...who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, for that is worshipped." So, this very spirit of Antichrist is the exalting of man above God. The exalting of self in worship. And it doesn't take much to look around and see what goes on in the name of Christ by way of worship today to see that it's nothing but an exaltation of man. To the point, it says in verse 4, that he as God sitteth in the temple of God showing himself that he is God. So in other words, the focus and attention is on men and on works, religion. either for gaining or maintaining salvation, and not upon the work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. That's why it's called the Spirit of Antichrist, because God the Father, where He indeed is working, He exalts His Son through the preaching and in the hearts of those people that He has purposed to save, and for whom the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world. And it says here in 2 Thessalonians 2.8, Then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. So until Christ comes again, we can expect times to worsen. It says in verse 9 of 2 Thessalonians 2, even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. Herein is where men are deceived because they see a man standing up there holding a Bible and preaching and mentioning the name of Christ and talking about salvation. But if you listen and watch carefully, What that man does is put salvation in the hands of man. You'll hear preaching such as, God has done all he can do, but now the rest is up to you. Or God is waiting for you to take the first step, and then he'll carry you the rest of the way. In other words, they put the key in the hand of man. Dear friend, I don't know how to tell you any plainer than that that is the spirit of Antichrist. Paul wrote to the Galatians in Galatians 2 and said, if righteousness come by law, any obedience to the law, any rules or obligations imposed upon man, if that is the way of righteousness, then Christ is dead in vain. And so you can see we're in the last time because that's the type of preaching that is prominent. And it is of this that John writes here in 1st John 2 in verse 18. And then he describes even further in verse 19, those that went out from us. Now the Lord raised up these apostles. to declare plainly the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And as they went around, the Lord raised up congregations, places of worship where they met around the doctrine of Christ. And there were some that would profess Christ for a time and then withdraw. And of them, John writes, they went out from us, but they were not of us. How many are there in the world that have other-mindedness with regard to the Scriptures and with regard to Christ or the Gospel or salvation as it's set forth in the Word? And they're just waiting for the right opportunity to declare themselves. They're not truly born of God. And they can sit and listen for some time. At a given moment, these will rise up and they will go their way, much as Judas Iscariot declared himself. The Lord knew him to be what he was all along. He called him the son of perdition, but it was in the Lord's time that he manifest himself and revealed himself for what he was. This is the type of person of which John writes here. They went out from us, but they were not of us. These are false professors. I might even be speaking to some right now. The Scriptures call you antichrists. You found your way into a congregation and for a time you keep up the masquerade and you live and act under false pretences. If it's a place where The gospel is clearly preached, but sooner or later you fall away and you depart from that fellowship of the gospel and the church. And that departure clearly reveals that you were never one of the members of the body of Christ, never truly regenerated, never truly in love with Christ in the gospel. Now there are some congregations that are in place where you ought to run, you ought to leave, because there is no gospel being preached there. But John here writes of those places where the message is clearly that of Christ and Him crucified, and the message of how God can be just to justify is clearly set forth in that place. Beware in ever leaving. Beware of any departure from the faith and the fellowship where the Lord Himself is exalted. If the hearts of such had been truly turned to Christ and were truly regenerated, John says they would have remained. Why would you leave? You know there are many things for which you can get upset. with other sinners over this thing or that, but to leave because of the gospel message, to leave because there is a difference in your mind and heart and an unwillingness to bow and a rebellion against a message that gives Christ all the glory. Dear friend, there's no greater danger than that. And this is who John addresses here in 1st John 2 and verse 19, it says that they went out, that they might be made manifest, that they were not all of us. But now, as if to draw a clear line of distinction in this writing, John says in verse 20, but, it is a contrast between those that have gone out, those who are false, those who have been left to their own reprobate minds, and those who are truly the Lord's. You say, well, how do I know if I'm truly the Lord's? 1 John 2 and verse 20 says, But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. Here it's addressing those who have truly been taught of the Lord, in contrast to many who profess to be Christians, who have their head filled with knowledge. In other words, they might even be able to quote scriptures, but the reality is, dear friend, Satan quotes scriptures. They have the knowledge, but their heart is still in darkness and there's no true love for Christ from the heart. What is knowledge without love? Even Satan could say of Christ, I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. That's what Those demons declared of him when Christ entered into the synagogue there in the Gospel of Mark. And there was a demon-possessed man there, and the demons cried out, I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Were those demons saved because they made that confession? No. In fact, being lost, they had a more distinct knowledge of Christ and believe more of Him than those people that we're meeting in the synagogue or many that meet today that give lip service to Christ and yet deny Him His glory because they value themselves or their works more than they do the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The devils could declare, what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth? And so you cannot just look at what a man professes or says he knows to say that he is the Lord. There are many who have been catechized and taught what to say. And as I mention often to my congregation, even a stopped clock can be right twice a day. You can teach a parrot to say salvation is of the Lord, but that does not mean that there's any true understanding or believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. And there are many in that state. But those who have this unction, here in 1 John 2 and verse 20, ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. These are those that have been taught of the Spirit and know the Lord Jesus Christ to be who He is as the eternal Son of God and have had their hearts drawn to Him, to worship Him, to exalt Him and glorify Him in all things. And secondly, they know of His work, that redeeming precious blood that was shed there at Calvary, which was necessary for the putting away of sin, and for God to be dressed to declare righteous those for whom Christ died, to put to their account that very righteousness which the Lord Jesus Christ came and worked out. This is the testimony, this is the plea of those who have truly been taught of the Spirit of the Lord. We have no other righteousness but Him. We have no other salvation but Him. We have no other justification but His perfect righteousness. And we have no other salvation but what He finished by His life and His death. And so, clearly, my friend, this is the description of those that have received this unction. Now what is it to have an unction? I remember growing up as a kid we used to sing that song, give me unction in my gumption, let me function, function, function. We were singing things that we had no clue as to what they meant and even now as I think back on it I shudder to think that someone taught me as a child to be giddy about things that are of such vital importance to the soul as revealed in the scripture. So let me see if I can answer a couple of these questions here in the time that remains. Here John says they have an unction. What does that mean? Most people when they read that they think of some feeling or some power within themselves. No. This is a declaration when it says they have an unction, they have the Son of God who is the anointed one of the Father. That word unction means an anointing. And so if someone were to ask one of these, what is it that gives you a right standing before God, their answer would be, we have an unction. We have an anointed one. We have a representative who is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whom God has anointed and set forth to be the Savior of sinners. That's clearly what John is describing here in this portion of Scripture. And if you go to Acts chapter 4, In verse 27, as I read it for you, you'll see this comparison. These of the first centuries, they lifted up their voice unto God, said, for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed. Both Herod and Pontius Pilate were the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together. to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." That word anointed there in verse 27 is the same word as we have over here in 1 John 2 and verse 20. But we have an unction, we have an anointed one. And so all whom God the Father has chosen to salvation and for whom the Lord Jesus Christ as the Anointed One came, lived, died and rose again, they have an anointing in Him. Picture the high priests of the Old Testament who were anointed and who would go in once a year with the blood of bulls and goats and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat. It wasn't everybody they represented running in and out, but once a year they went in on behalf of that people. And so they had an unction in that high priest. They had an anointed one. And based upon God's acceptance of that blood that was shed and sprinkled on the mercy seat, they enjoyed God's forbearance for one more year. Every year it had to be done. But all of that was forward-looking to the day when the Lord Jesus Christ, the High Priest of His people, those that the Father had given Him, He should enter in to the holiest of holies, not with the blood of bulls and goats, but with His own precious blood. And there, in one time, in one place, put away sin. and accomplish all that was necessary for salvation to the satisfaction of God the Father. Over in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 21, Paul reminds the readers of that church. Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God. So again, coming back to John's declaration, but ye have an unction from the Holy One. He's not talking about a touchy-feely experience. As people do, they feel, they say, the presence of God, the presence of the Spirit, and they run on feeling. Dear friends, feelings come and feelings go and feelings are deceiving. Now here is a declaration that we have before the Lord in Christ. anointing that He has come and that He has fulfilled all righteousness on behalf of His people. And that's connected to the second declaration that John makes in this verse. He says, you have an unction from the Holy One. Now this is a title, the Holy One, which is used in Scripture to describe our dear Savior's name. He is often called the Holy One, the Holy One of Israel. Now, none but God is holy, so in that it declares Him to be God. Christ is the Holy One, therefore He is God. Now remember, you, if you're the Lord's, are a disciple of a Holy Savior. Holiness is in Him. He is the holiness of His people that the Father has given Him. And this unction is from the Holy One. In other words, from this One who came, lived, died, rose again, who worked out all righteousness on behalf of His people. We cannot have any holiness in ourselves. It is in the Holy One. And as the Scriptures declare in John chapter 1 and verse 16, that we receive out of that fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ, all of the graces of the Spirit are manifest to such as we are as sinners because of the Holy One, because of His being anointed. All spiritual blessings in heavenly places are because of Him. And so we receive all grace out of that fullness. We receive an eye to see what the Scripture calls the faith. We could know nothing of Christ or salvation or our desperate need other than that coming from Him and Him giving us the grace to look to Him. Any hope for Our souls to be steadfastly fixed on Him is to be fixed on the Holy One, the One who is our righteousness. We have none but Him. And so, those that are His distinguish themselves from those who go out in that their one glory, their one praise is for Christ, the Holy One who is our unction. And the third declaration then, to close, is that ye know all things. Now when John states that, in my heart I have to bow and say I know nothing. I'm weak and I'm ignorant. But what he's talking about is with Christ as our representative, with Christ as that Holy One. our unction before God the Father. We need no other knowledge. We need no other hope. As a poor, lost, hopeless, helpless sinner, salvation has been accomplished in the Savior. There's been a reconciling of sinners unto Himself. And the Lord Jesus has finished that salvation. And in that sense, we need not know anything else. There are a lot of people who like to speculate, talk about things in the Scriptures. But if we have Christ, and He has been revealed to these desperate, sinful hearts in truth, then we know all that there is to know. That's all we need. He's all I need. And he's all I want. Is that your testimony? You have been listening to the Grace Abounding broadcast brought to you by the congregation of the Shreveport Grace Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. For more information about our assembly, times of worship, and other Christ-honoring messages that you may follow online, please visit our website at www.shrevegrace.org. Plan to join us each week at this same time for another Christ-honoring message. To Him be all the glory.