Kenneth, how can you be so stubborn as not to admit that the Bible teaches that believers in the Savior (not the "mere chance-giver") have eternal life as a present possession. I posted you the proof positive. As an example, 1 John tells believers that they presently have eternal life -- it is not just an award in the future.
As there is a doctrine of separation in the Bible, it follows that Christians are to determine who seems to be a Christian and who seems not to be.
From all you have posted, it appears to me that you do not trust Christ as Savior, but regard Him as a chance-giver; moreover, you have endorsed salvation by works, like water baptism. I have only good desires for you. If I understand you right, you are much as I used to be, a religious church member who thought he had "accepted Christ." But as I had no assurance of going to Heaven when I died, and as I had been indoctrinated on Mat 25 being the "plan of salvation" (tho not in those terms), I think I understand you. And I see that you do not trust Christ to get you to Heaven; for you it is uncertain and depends on yourself.
I commend you for noticing that antichrist is in context, though the emphasis is plural, antichrists. But when the text says
"if they had been of us, they would have continued with us," that cannot mean that antichrists would have continued. Prophet John is not saying that if the antichrists had been of us (and they could have been), the antichrists would have continued with us. It is obvious that no antichrists were in the Body of Christ. What the text is saying is that true believers continue, and if someone leaves it implies they were never part of the Body of Christ. The antichrists are an example of that.
"Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us."
And note the strong affirmation of eternal security: "they would have continued."
"The ones that fall do to trials and tribulations they face in life and don't endure through them are not forms of antichrists. They do not pervert or corrupt the gospel as antichrists do, they lose their faith."