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.  

1 John 2:6

 1 John 2:6 says, He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.  John tells us that people who profess to put their faith in Jesus Christ should walk as He walked.  It is not enough to just say we believe in Jesus Christ if we continue to walk, or live, by the standards of the world.  

Verse seven adds, Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.  John said he wasn't writing a new commandment but a commandment that they had heard from the beginning.  Jesus Christ was not an afterthought as a way to salvation but has been the only way from the beginning.  Even when people were under the law looking ahead to the coming of Jesus Christ, they weren't saved by the law but by faith in God.  

Verse eight continues, Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.  John then said he was writing a new commandment to those who had put their faith in Jesus Christ.  This was not a commandment for all people, but only for those redeemed by faith in Jesus Christ.  

Verse nine states, He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.  This new commandment was one that Jesus Christ had given, and that is that we are to love our brother as ourselves.  John said that if we profess to live in the light of God and don't love our fellow man, then we are still in darkness.  We are to love others as Jesus did, being willing to lay down our lives for them to be saved, and this applies to all people.  Jesus died even for those who were crucifying Him, and this is the love that we as Christians need to have for others.   

Verse ten adds, He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.  John said that if we love our brothers that we live in the light and there is no reason for stumbling in our faith if we do.  

Verse eleven continues, But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.  John then said that the opposite was true.  If we hate our brothers, then we live in darkness and we don't know where we are going spiritually.  We cannot profess to love God while hating other people at the same time.  If we hate others, God's light no longer guides us.