John now presses his readers to identify what the false teachers really are, and from whom their errant doctrine of Christ comes: the lying Serpent of old, the enemy of God and so of them! John drives a wedge between his dear readers and the false teachers and doctrines, to split them so there is no fellowship at all there. He also gives them great encouragement: They have the Holy Spirit, the true teacher! And he gives them a goal: Abide in Christ so you can have confidence of approval and full reward at the Bema.