They Went Out From Us

“They went out from us” because they are not of us. ‘Denying Christ and His Father’ does not mean to deny him like Peter did. What Peter did was but a shadow and type of what we do whenever we claim to know Christ, yet we don’t love our brother. That is how ‘they’ deny the Father and the Son. In other words ‘antichrist’ will use the name of Christ and loudly proclaim Christ and thereby deceive more. just look at this verse:

Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Now look at this verse:

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

So when we get the sum of God’s Word, this is what we have:

Mat 24:5 For many [antichrist] shall come [are already in the world] in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

So there are “many” who claim to know Christ who are in reality denying Him and His Father. How are they doing this?

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

What is it that undergirds all true works of God? What is it that reveals an antichrist quicker than anything else?

1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Which is why both Christ and John give us this same litmus test:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good [Christ is available to us all], and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust [The Word of God is also right there for us all. But not all who claim to keep it, really keep it].
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?

So we are right back where we started. Many preach the gospel in the name of Christ. But when we apply the litmus test of love, here is what is manifested:

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

“They went out from us”, but they always deny this and claim that we went out from them. So the only way to make it clear is to expose them Biblically. And that Biblical exposure is their “works” which Paul calls “fruit”.

Tit 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Of course Paul learned this from his Lord who told us how we can detect any fraud:

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

“These sayings of Mine” are Christ’s doctrine. Good fruit and good doctrine cannot be separated. Evil fruit and evil doctrine cannot be separated. Nevertheless, many will say “we have done many wonderful works in thy name” thinking that loving those who love them is ‘good works’. However, good works are manifested only in the sum of “these sayings of mine.” Truly ‘good works’ are manifested only in those who do what cannot be done naturally. The litmus test of love is not whether you can love your friends, family or a total stranger and all the help you give them. That kind of “good works” just makes you feel good about yourself. The real litmus test of love is can you:

Mat 5:44 Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.