Living in the Last Hour - Part 2

Today's exposition of 1 John 2:19-20 continues to confront us with a sobering reality: we are living in the last hour, an age marked by profound deception and counterfeit Christianity. The passage addresses a painful church split that occurred in the early Christian community, but the lessons transcend time and speak directly to our current moment. We discover that not everyone who claims to be a Christian truly belongs to Christ—a shocking truth that challenges our modern assumptions about faith. The text reveals that these defectors were never genuinely part of the body of Christ, despite their church attendance and outward religious activity. Their departure, though painful, served a divine purpose: to make plain who the true believers really are. This isn't merely about church membership or saying the right prayer; it's about abiding—that continuous, persevering relationship with Christ demonstrated through ongoing obedience to His Word. The passage reminds us that true faith always perseveres, always continues, always abides. When we understand that genuine belief is inseparable from faithful endurance, we gain clarity about our own spiritual condition and protection against the many deceivers who have gone out into the world. This teaching calls us to examine whether we are truly abiding in Christ or merely making empty claims of belief.