The first thing that John says about this heretical movement is that its adherents are numerous and that they are actively going out into the world for propaganda purposes. When John says that the deceivers “are entered into the world,” he may mean that they have left the Christian congregation in which they originated in order to found their own movement. This was apparently true of the situation reflected in 1 John, for the apostle wrote that “they went out from us… that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (2:19). On the other hand, the sentence may also indicate that these have gone out into the world in the sense of embarking upon a parallel program of evangelism. This seems to be the preferable interpretation.
From their own perspective and in their own eyes these men were probably Christian missionaries. Undoubtedly they made significant Christian confessions. Yet from the viewpoint of the apostle they were dangerous heretics and imposters because they did not hold to the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. In particular, they did not hold to the truth that Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh. John says that a teacher who is in error at this point is both a deceiver and the antichrist. Having told of the threat without and having warned against it, John now gives instructions by which the danger itself may be countered. His instructions have two parts. First, he challenges the believers to be on their guard, particularly where their own thoughts and attitudes are concerned. “Look to yourselves” is what he says, for (as an immediate problem) they may be deceived and (as a result of that) they may well lose all they have worked for.
The nature of the deceit is suggested by the term translated “goes ahead” (RSV) in verse 9. In Greek it is the word proagon, from the two words “forward” and “to lead.” The only truly idiomatic translation of the word in English is “progressive,” but we must understand that the word is used both in irony and in one sense only. John is not saying, we must note, that there is never to be any form of progress in Christian circles. Clearly much of the Bible is written precisely to that end, and even this letter is written to encourage progress. On the other hand, there is a type of “progress” which is not progress at all. It is movement which is actually a movement away from the basic truths of the faith and which is therefore devilishly detrimental. It is against this that John warns. Moreover, this is precisely the reason why he expresses the warning so strongly. For the movement presents itself as a great step forward and may, therefore, entrap the very people who most want to go ahead spiritually.
There is a true progress in the Christian life, but it is progress based upon a deeper knowledge of the historical, biblical Christ. Progress on any other ground may be called progress, but it is a progress that leaves God behind and is, therefore, not progress at all. This truth is extremely relevant to today’s religious scene, for the danger today is in precisely this area. The danger is not so much in secularism, still less in communism or any other obviously anti-Christian system. The danger is in that which goes by the name of Christianity but which excludes the true Christ. It is in religion without the true God and that one mediator between God and man, the God-man, Christ Jesus.
