1 John 2:18-3:3.    Some time in the first century, there was apparently an exodus from the Church.  A number of people who were thought to be Christians left, and started their own groups.  Then they sought to convince those who stayed to leave as well.  John called these people antichrists.  He chose a word that connoted an appropriate sense of fear and repulsion.  He wanted to remind the believers how serious it is to defect from the body of Christ.  He wanted to encourage those who claimed to be Christians to stay with (abide in) Him.

LORD, we want to stay with you.