We are of each other.

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. In the previous verse, John addressed one of the signs that they were in the last hour or times—there were many antichrists. In this verse, he continued exposing them. These antichrists, although at one time were in their midst, because they were from the world, they left the fellowship of those who fellowship with the Father and with the Son. Remember what he wrote in vs. 3. “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” We talked yesterday about the fact that this is also true today. This encourages us as we live to love with Jesus to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together for the purpose of stimulating one another to love and good works as we read in Heb. 10:24-25. We can expect that there will be some in our churches who will go out from us because they are not really of us. As I mentioned yesterday, there is a flood of people leaving the church today who say they are “deconstructing their faith.” That is exactly what they are doing—desconstructing their faith. They think and believe, “I am my life.” Their idea of Christianity is based upon what they think, believe, and do. That’s the essence of antichrist. For those of us who are living to love with Jesus, we realize that one can’t deconstruct the faith of Jesus. If Jesus dwells within us, we live by His faith. We believe what He believes. His life is our life. One can’t deconstruct the life of Jesus. Instead, one recognizes His presence and life and conforms to His life and thinking. As I’ve said in recent days, a Christian is one who experiences the satisfaction of his deepest desires through Christ. He knows he knows God and that God knows him. I hope this encourages you to seek fellowship with others who are in fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We must remember, that the church is not life, Jesus is. Living to love with Jesus is not a solo exercise. We are the body of Christ in this world, and we need and desire fellowship together. We are “of each other.” Those who go out, go out because they are not of us—yet. We can leave the administration of them God as we live to love with Jesus.