1 Jn 2:22-23 “Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?”
This is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. Those who do not live a life worthy of the children of God and the members of Christ deny the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and the Father; they are antichrists, that is, opponents of Christ. They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him. Whoever denies Christ by deeds is an antichrist.
“I do not listen to what a man says,” but “I see how he lives.” Deeds speak—why do we seek words? What wicked person does not wish to speak well? But what does the Lord say to such people? “Hypocrite, how can you speak good things when you are evil?” You bring your voices to my ears; I inspect your thoughts. I see an evil will, and you show false fruits. I do not gather figs from thorns, nor grapes from brambles. For each tree is known by its fruit.
The antichrist is even more a liar who with his mouth professes that Jesus is the Christ but denies him by his deeds. He is therefore a liar, because he says one thing and does another. If, then, we look at deeds, we find not only that many antichrists have gone out openly, but also many who are not yet manifest and who have not gone out. For all whom the Church has who are perjurers, fraudsters, evildoers, adulterers, drunkards, usurers—these are contrary to the doctrine of Christ, contrary to the word of God. But the Word of God is Christ; whatever is contrary to the Word of God belongs to the antichrist.
Let each person examine his own conscience. If he is a lover of the world, let him change and become a lover of Christ, lest he be an antichrist.
If someone calls him an antichrist, he becomes angry and thinks an injury has been done to him; perhaps he threatens prosecution if he hears from an opponent that he is an antichrist. Christ says to him: “Be patient. If you have heard a falsehood, rejoice with me, for I too hear falsehoods from antichrists. But if you have heard the truth, consult your conscience; and if you fear to hear it, fear even more.”
1 Jn 2:24 “Let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, you too will remain in the Son and in the Father.”
What we professed in Baptism, what we heard, what we promised to observe—let us strive to keep and fulfill. Let us remain in the grace of adoption as children of God which we received in the beginning; and if we have unhappily fallen away from it, let us endeavor to recover it by true penance. Whoever has faith devoid of charity and good works does not remain in the Son and in the Father, and will not attain the eternal life promised by God to the faithful members of Christ and co-heirs.
1 Jn 2:25-6 “And this is the promise which he himself promised to us: eternal life.”
A heart occupied with the expectation of so great a reward will not be corrupted by any enticement of the world; no adversity will terrify or break it. Fear what the Almighty threatens; love what the Almighty promises—and the whole world becomes contemptible, whether it flatters or threatens.
1 Jn 2:27“And as for you, let the anointing which you have received from him remain in you. And you have no need that anyone should teach you; but as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
There is no new revelation after the Gospel and the Apostolic writings, but only the declaration and exposition of the doctrine which the Church received from the Apostles, the Apostles from Christ, and Christ from God the Father. The sum of the Christian religion is to believe and to do what God has written in our minds and hearts through the Holy Spirit in Baptism. His anointing causes us to act through charity, and causes us to believe by enlightening us through faith.
They are unlearned in the Christian religion whom the heavenly Teacher does not teach inwardly. External teachings are certain aids and admonitions; he who teaches hearts has his chair in heaven. Therefore he himself says in the Gospel: “Your teacher is one, Christ.” The interior Teacher, therefore, is the one who teaches—Christ teaches; his inspiration teaches. Where his inspiration and anointing are not present, words resound outwardly in vain: they strike, but do not enter souls.
Speak, therefore, Lord, to my heart, for your servant hears. By the anointing of your Holy Spirit, teach me all things, that I may know your will and fulfill it; that I may know what I lack, and may ask it of you by prayer.
1 Jn 2:28 “And then, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.”
Let us faithfully preserve the Spirit of God. This is the treasure of the Christian, the foundation of his confidence on the day of judgment, the pledge of eternal happiness. Let us be faithful to the word of God, and the truth will set us free, as Christ himself promised. For now our salvation is in hope, not yet in possession. We do not yet hold what has been promised, but we hope for what is to come. Yet he who promised is faithful: he does not deceive you—only do not fail yourself, but wait for the promise. Truth does not know how to deceive.
Do not be a liar, that you may profess one thing and do another. You keep faith, and he keeps his promise. But if you do not keep faith, you have defrauded yourself, not the one who promised.
CONTINUE
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