As we have discussed previously, the Gnostics believed they were better than everyone else. They believed they were the special, enlightened individuals who held secret knowledge only elites such as themselves were privy to, and from this secret knowledge they could unlock the mysteries of the universe and become gods themselves. Their very name Gnostic comes from the Greek word for knowledge, gnosis.
In his ongoing battle against the heretical Gnostics who denied that Jesus came in the flesh, the Apostle John, the beloved disciple of the Lord, wrote in 1 John 2:20-23 [RSV], 20. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know. 21. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth. 22. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
John goes on the offensive quite strongly here in defense of the true gospel of salvation found only in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The word translated “know” above comes from the Greek word ginosko. This word ginosko is gnosis on steroids for it means to come to understand completely. John uses ginosko 40 times alone in 1 John to drive home his point: Have nothing to do with those Gnostics for you know better. There is no secret mystery yet to be revealed to only a select few. That mystery “was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven, things into which Angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12 [RSV]) when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14 [RSV]). As the Apostle Paul put it, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by Angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16 [RSV]).
God has given us all we need in order to have complete knowledge of where our salvation lies. It is this knowledge, this coming to understand completely, that gives us assurance, just as it did the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:7-8), of our final and eternal salvation in Christ as long as we, too, remain “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10 [RSV]) whereby we will receive “the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10 [RSV]).
Finally, because we know Him in Whom our salvation lies we also know true love. As John writes, “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16 [RSV])
In his ongoing battle against the heretical Gnostics who denied that Jesus came in the flesh, the Apostle John, the beloved disciple of the Lord, wrote in 1 John 2:20-23 [RSV], 20. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know. 21. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth. 22. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
John goes on the offensive quite strongly here in defense of the true gospel of salvation found only in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The word translated “know” above comes from the Greek word ginosko. This word ginosko is gnosis on steroids for it means to come to understand completely. John uses ginosko 40 times alone in 1 John to drive home his point: Have nothing to do with those Gnostics for you know better. There is no secret mystery yet to be revealed to only a select few. That mystery “was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven, things into which Angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12 [RSV]) when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14 [RSV]). As the Apostle Paul put it, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by Angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16 [RSV]).
God has given us all we need in order to have complete knowledge of where our salvation lies. It is this knowledge, this coming to understand completely, that gives us assurance, just as it did the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:7-8), of our final and eternal salvation in Christ as long as we, too, remain “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10 [RSV]) whereby we will receive “the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10 [RSV]).
Finally, because we know Him in Whom our salvation lies we also know true love. As John writes, “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16 [RSV])
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