Our Responsibility In Obedience To The Gospel

John continues to warn. Please note that John talks about the antichrist that is coming, but warns us many antichrists have already appeared. This has grown worse and the man of sin is surely close to appearing. 

In verses 20 & 21, John told those he was writing to "you have an anointing from the Holy One and know all things" and told them they know the truth. But, then in verse 24, he warns them that what they heard from the beginning must abide in them. This reminds me of 2 Peter 1:10:

• "So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for if you keep on doing this you will never fail."

1 John 2 ISV

18Little children, it is the last hour. Just as you heard that an antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They left us, but they were not part of us, for if they had been part of us, they would have stayed with us. Their leaving made it clear that none of them was really part of us.

20You have an anointing from the Holy One and know all things.f 21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because lies don’t come from truth.22Who is a liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Messiah?g The person who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father. The person who acknowledges the Son also has the Father.

24What you have heard from the beginning must abide in you. If what you have heard from the beginning abides in you, you will also abide in the Son and in the Father. 25The message that the Sonhhimself declared to us is eternal life. 26I have writteni to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27The anointing you received from Godj abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you this.k Instead, because God’sl anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not a lie, abide in him, as he taught you to do.m

28Even now, little children, abide in him. Then, when he appears, we will have confidence and will not turn away from him in shame when he comes. 29Since you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by God.n

Are not the warnings that John is giving a repeat of what Jesus told him before he was crucified?

 John 15 ISV

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vintner. 2He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit in me, and he cuts back every branch that does produce fruit, so that it might produce more fruit. 3You are already clean because of what I’ve spoken to you. (Note: In verse 3, Jesus is talking to his disciples, not us.) 

4“Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in hima produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Unless a person abides in me, he is thrown away like a prunedb branch and dries up. People gather such branches,c throw them into a fire, and they are burned up.

7“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you can ask for anything you want, and you’ll receive it. 8This is how my Father is glorified, when you produce a lot of fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. So abide in my love. 

10If you keep my commandments, you’ll abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 

11I’ve told you this, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.