1John 2:26

1 John 2:26 says, These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.  John said he was writing this so that people might not be seduced by putting their faith in worldly things instead of being led by the Holy Spirit.  The world always stands ready to seduce people by promising worldly desires, but as followers of Christ, we should never give in to this seduction but should be led by the Holy Spirit. 

Verse twenty-seven adds. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.  John then said we should be taught by the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.  He added that the Holy Spirit would teach us everything we needed to know about God.  This doesn't mean that we aren't supposed to go to school and learn about things of this world, but that when it comes to things about God, the Holy Spirit will lead us to an understanding.  We can only find God by faith in Jesus Christ, and until we put our faith in Him, we cannot be led by the Holy Spirit. 

Verse twenty-eight continues. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.  John then references little children, calling for them to abide in the Holy Spirit.  I believe this applies to all people of all ages.  He said if we abide in the Holy Spirit that we can have confidence and not be ashamed when Jesus Christ returns. 

Verse twenty-nine concludes. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.  John then tells us if we know that Jesus Christ is the only righteous One, then we know that everyone who lives righteously is born of Him.  We will never be righteous by our own merit but can only be made righteous by accepting the righteousness of Christ to redeem us and make us holy in God's sight.

1 John 2:22

1 John 2:22 says, Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  John said that someone was a liar if he denied that Jesus is the Christ, or Savior of all mankind.  He added that anyone who denied the Father and the Son was antichrist.  We cannot deny that Jesus is the Christ, the only Messiah, without being antichrist. 

Verse twenty-five adds, Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.  John said anyone who denied that Jesus was the Son of God also denied God the Father.  The two are One and we cannot profess to believe in one without believing in the other.  He also said that the opposite was true. If we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, we also acknowledge God the Father.  Though John doesn't say it in these verses, we also must acknowledge the Holy Spirit as the completion of the one God. 

Verse twenty-four continues, Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.  John seems to refer to the Holy Spirit in this verse, since that which is in us from the beginning if we are a child of God is the Spirit of God.  It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we remain faithful to the Father and the Son. 

Verse twenty-five concludes, And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.  John said if we put our faith in Jesus Christ that we have everlasting life by God's forgiveness made available by the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins.   We are then sealed to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:18

1 John 2:18 says, 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.  John once again addresses little children, but this applies to all followers of Christ, no matter how old they may be.  He said they had heard that the antichrist would come in the last days, and then said there were already many antichrists, and because of this, they could know they were in the last days.  Since the beginning of the church, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, people have believed that they were in the last age, and this is true.  It doesn't matter if His return happens in our lifetime or not, it is always near and we should live as though we believe that.   

Verse nineteen adds, They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.  John said that some who had professed to be Christians had left the church, because the never were believers to start with.  John said they made it clear that they weren't part of the church, by their actions I believe.  Not everyone who professes to be a follower of Christ is, and their actions will prove this.  I don't believe that this means a Christian who sins again, but those who live guided by sinful actions every day without seeing this as being wrong.   

Verse twenty continues, But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.  John said that the followers of Christ had a spiritual knowledge that comes from God and allows them to know all things that they should do.  We as Christians may not understand everything about the world, but we should know everything that we need to know to follow God faithfully. 

Verse twenty-one concludes, I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  John said he hadn't written to them because they didn't know the truth of God but because they did.  He added that there was no lie in the truth of God.  If we are a follower of Christ, then we know His truth and we need to live by faith in that truth.  

1 John 2:12

1 John 2:12 says, I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.  John said that he wrote to little children because if they put their faith in Jesus Christ I believe, their sins were forgiven.  It could also be seen as meaning that before little children are old enough to know right from wrong that they are saved by Jesus Christ.  Either way, we must acknowledge that John tells us that little children can be saved by faith, and we should not discourage them from putting their faith in Jesus Christ once they are old enough to know right from wrong.  

Verse thirteen adds, I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  John then specified three ages that he was writing to.  He wrote to fathers whom he said had known Jesus Christ who was from the beginning.  He said he was writing to young men because they had overcome the wicked one, not by their own ability, but by faith in Jesus Christ.  He said he was writing to little children because they had known the Father, which once more we can understand as knowing that they are known by God before they are old enough to understand right from wrong, or that they know the Father because they know the Son after they are old enough.  

Verse fourteen continues, I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.  John then spoke to the fathers and young men, but not the little children, I believe because they were more capable of doing the work of God.  He said the fathers had known Jesus Christ, Who is the One Who was from the beginning, or eternal.  So, this would apply to fathers who had put their faith in Him.  John said he wrote to young men because they were strong and the word of God lived in them, so once more, this would apply to young men who were Christians.  Older Christians should have more understanding about God, but younger Christians may have a greater strength to carry out His work, but both are needed. 

Verse fifteen states, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  John warns Christians that we aren't to love the world.  I believe this means that we aren't to put a desire for the things of this world above our desire to do God's work and that we are to live by His standards instead of the world's standards.  John then says if we love the world or live by worldly desires instead of faith to God, that God's love is not in us. 

Verse sixteen adds, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  John then gives some examples of loving the world more than God.  If we live guided by lust for the things of the world and self-pride, then we live by standards that are not from God. 

Verse seventeen continues, And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  John then said that the world and the lust for it will pass away, but the will of God will last forever.  Only the things that we do for God will have any lasting value when Jesus Christ returns in judgment.