Keep Walking in the Truth - The Background to John's Letters

When the apostle John wrote his letters, he was concerned about false teachers who had come into the congregation and were trying to mislead Christ's followers. Both the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter had warned this would happen.  (Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Peter 2:1-3) These false teachers may have been influenced by Greek philosophy.  Some apparently claimed to have received a special, mystical knowledge from God.  But their teaching contradicted Jesus' message and encouraged selfishness and a lack of love.  So John calls these teachers antichrists, or those who teach against Christ. - 1 JOHN 2:18. 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK IN THE TRUTH?

To walk in the truth, we need to know the truth found in God's Word, the Bible. In addition, we must "observe [Jehovah's ] commandments,"  that is, we need to obey them. (1 John 2:3-6; 2 John 4, 6.) Jesus set the perfect example of obeying Jehovah. So one important way that we obey Jehovah is by following Jesus' steps as closely as possible. - JOHN 8:29; 1 PETER 2:21.

To keep walking in the truth, we must be convinced that Jehovah is the God of truth, that everything he tells us in his Word, the Bible, is true. And we must also be convinced that Jesus is the promised Messiah.  Many today doubt that Jesus has been anointed  as King of God's Kingdom. John warned that there were "many deceivers," who could mislead those who were not prepared to defend the truth about Jehovah and Jesus.  (2 John 7:11) John wrote: "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?"  (1 John 2:22)  The only way we can avoid being deceived is by studying God's Word. Only if we do that will we come to know Jehovah and Jesus.  (John 17:3) And only then will we be convinced that we have the truth.

Next time: Keep Walking in the Truth - WHAT OBSTACLES DO WE FACE?

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