[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 John 2:19[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]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.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]To the reader: this verse is used to prove that if anyone departs from the faith, then in actuality, they were never of the faith in the first place. Whatever the case might be, let us break down this verse for a fuller understand and then each can decide him/herself as what is being said in this verse:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I believe that they were antichrists from the beginning, and were never saved to begin with, as evidenced by their departure. Humor me as I explain my point.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The verse doesn’t say either explicitly or implicitly that believers cannot fall away. It simply says that certain antichrists departed from the Church, and were not of them. This speaks volume to the adage 'wolves in sheep clothing' who sneaks in as false brothers so that they can spy upon our liberties to our harm, even to the harm of those not of the Church. Neither does it say that these antichrists '[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]were never of us'[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif], but simply 'were not of us'. Understanding the word G1537 (of) does imply 'source/origin' and not G575 (departure) , we can see it saying (notes after double dashes should be read as one continuous though), [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]'they went out from (source) us -- they left the Church, they came from the Church[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]but they were not from (source) us -- but we did not sent them[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]seeing that if they were from (source) us, -- because, if we sent them[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]they would have continued among us -- then they would have continued in our assembly[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]But nevertheless -- But because they did leave our assembly,[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]they went out so that they might be made manifested -- God, in His providence, permitted their departure, so that[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]in that, they were not all from (source) us." -- it might be known they were not sent by us (the Apostles).[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]If we continue to the next verse, we see that the writer is saying that whatever the antichrists were saying to them was a lie, because the Spirit who is inside tells us the Truth. And because they were lying, these antichrists were not sent by them. And if we connect that to Matthew 7:23, then certainly, Christ never knew these antichrists, because they are (actively) workers of iniquity. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Conclusively, from this understanding, the infallibility that all believers will persevere, cannot be concluded with this verse. [/FONT]