Distinguishing truth from lies

I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:26-27 NLT

John continues to remind the believers from the text to do not neglect what they have learned regarding the gospel. By doing this, they would be able to fend off the attack of the enemy in promoting lies for they know what is the truth and they have the Holy Spirit to help them be guided “to all the truth” (John 16:13). This means that believers should be ready to be engaged in a battle with the deceiver. The deceivers will try to teach false teachings which the believers do not need for they already knew about God and His salvation that they possessed because of their relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior. Believers who are continually growing in their faith through their regular devotion in prayer and study of God’s Word will be more equipped to face the attacks of the false teachers. Since every believer received the Holy Spirit in their lives, they do not have to rely on professors of theology or clergies in order for them to understand the gospel for it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that they would be able to discern the truth from lies. Every believer is commanded to “remain in Christ” (1 John 2:27). Remaining in Christ is to abide in His Word and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Divine providence has its counterpart in human responsibility. God provides his Spirit to teach the believer all things necessary for salvation, but God also expects the Christian to remain in Christ so that he may have constant fellowship with the Father and the Son. Let us not buy into the notion that has become widespread in our culture and society that there are no more absolutes. Christ claims exclusivity for there is no substitute to Him and the salvation He provides. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Blessings,