What Happens When Someone Walks Away (Part 1 of 2)

Children, it is the last hour and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 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 it might become plain that they all are not of us.

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. Then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you, but the anointing that you receive from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

1 John 2:18–29 (paraphrased from transcript)

John's Black-and-White View of Christianity

The Book of 1 John describes what it means to be a Christian using simple terminology. John explains what a Christian is and what a Christian is not. His theology is black and white. There are no gray areas.

John says there are two types of people: Christians and non-Christians. No middle ground. A Christian spends time with God and walks with Him. A Christian does not keep practicing sin or maintain a habit of sin. Anyone with a constant, ongoing practice of sin is not a Christian.

Previously, John commanded: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The lust of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life are not from the Father but from the world. The world illustrates what not to do as a Christian.

Too often, Christians emulate the world rather than eliminate it. There must be a fundamental distinction in how Christians look, act, believe, and behave compared to the world. Christians are often swept into worldly trends without a second thought—profile picture changes after tragedies, non-offensive terminology like "sending thoughts," or entertainment like shows with nudity.

John simplifies it: People who give in to the lusts of the flesh and eyes are not living in salvation. This is the backdrop for our text.

Why People Walk Away: Three Indications

John wrote this largely for a youth context, explaining why people walk away from Christianity. Statistics show about 80% of youth walk away from the faith by age 25. John tells us why. There is urgency to preach the gospel now to break that statistic.

There are only two types of people: those genuinely saved, trusting Christ's death entirely, or those who are not. John gives three indications of what happens when someone stops professing Christianity. Note: True Christians cannot lose salvation.

1. People Walk Away Because They Are Antichrists

In verses 18–19, John says it is the last hour because many antichrists have come. They went out from us, but they were not of us. If they had been of us, they would have continued with us. "They" refers back to the antichrists.

Antichrists come from the Christian community but were never true Christians. God reveals this by their departure. Like the parable of the soils, some hear the word but fall away in times of testing.

Christian community is attractive: loving, sharing resources (Acts 2), tasting heavenly gifts (Hebrews 6). But it identifies you with a persecuted group. Testing—pressure, pain, suffering—reveals authenticity. Only those with hope in Christ endure.

History shows martyrs who faced burning at the stake unwaveringly. Today's "persecution" like unfriending on social media is mild. Antichrists (anti-Christos: against or in place of Christ) leave at the slightest antagonism, gaining credibility to oppose the gospel from within.

Like wheat and tares (weeds that look identical until maturity), the difference shows over time. You know you are of Christ because you stay.

2. True Believers Don't Walk Away Because They Are Anointed

Verse 20: But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. John writes because you know the truth, and no lie is of the truth.

Who is the liar? He who denies Jesus is the Christ. The test: Do you genuinely believe Jesus is the Messiah who saves from sin? Not just saying it here, but in your heart.

The liar practices sin, denies the Son, and thus the Father (John 17:3). The anointing—marking by the Holy Spirit for devotion—confirms Jesus as Savior.

Examine your private life: Habitual sin shows denial of Jesus as Messiah. True knowledge of salvation—from sin's ruin, eternal wrath, to eternal joy with God—makes you cling tightly. No wonder you won't walk away.

3. True Believers Abide in Christ

The anointing abides in you and teaches you everything, including to abide in Him (John 15). Abide so that when He appears, you have confidence, not shame.

Christ's return judges antichrists and rewards His own. Those hiding sin fool no one—Jesus knows. Abiders confess sins (1 John 1:9), are cleansed, and face Him with confidence as children of God.

Abiding is ongoing. Spend your time—most of it—abiding in Him and the truths heard from the beginning. The Bible won't read itself. Read, study, hear, and meditate on it regularly to abide.

Chewing on Manageable Chunks of Scripture

We preachers and pastors don't spend the entirety of the week preparing sermons just for entertainment. It's because we're genuinely concerned about your soul. We believe these are the words of eternal life, and we're giving them to you to hold onto and chew on until we meet again.

When we prepare sermons, we're giving you small chunks of Scripture. It's like eating steak—you don't shove a two-pound ribeye down your throat; you take it one bite at a time. The preacher's job is to grab pieces of information, even chew them up for you, so you can savor the Word of God. These small bites we give every week are beneficial and essential for your life. Every bite has immediate ramifications.

I'm not doing this just to scream at you. The purpose is for you to grab manageable chunks of Scripture and focus on them for the rest of the week. That's not too much to ask—it's incredibly efficient.

Investing Time Wisely in God's Word

As you go into this next week, think about—and maybe journal—how much time you actually spend doing religious things versus how much you waste. I used to play a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, a superhero game where we'd pretend to fight crime. I spent an inordinate amount of time on it—four to eight hours a day on average. I'd set up multiple computers, stock up on McDonald's, sunflower seeds, and Code Red Mountain Dew, and grind away.

I wrecked a lot of opponents, led top groups on both hero and villain sides. But then I became a Christian and felt conviction about the time wasted. Friends would invite me out, and I'd make excuses to play instead. I wondered: what if I put that same time and energy into studying the Bible instead of something that doesn't even exist—just ones and zeros?

So I quit cold turkey and redirected that time to the Word and theology. I even transferred to a Bible college. That's when I grew the most as a Christian in the shortest time. Pastors remarked on it. Next thing I knew, I became a pastor and devoted my life to the gospel.

I'm not prescribing that exactly for you. But dare to ask: what if you put just a little more time into your Christianity and studying God's Word? See what happens. You might give up sports, extra activities, or even some relationships. Pursue it and see. My life was flipped upside down, and there's nothing I'd rather do. I dare you—let me know what happens.