Antichrists Among Us
1 John - Signs of Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
Illustration - Mafia
Correlation
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 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 it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
John has known, the other believers have known, they all have been told that antichrists are coming
John knows that the presence of antichrists indicates the last hour
John identifies certain people as antichrists and states that we are in the last hour.
FOR STARTERS, who were these antichrists? You’ve probably heard of THE antichrist? Is John talking about him or is this something different? Normally we hear of end times and the antichrist together; and John just referenced the last hour and antichrists. Was he thinking that the end had come?
A Study of “The Antichrists”
“The spirit of antichrist”
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
The “ultimate” Antichrist
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
John also talks about and describes this person in Revelation.
Many Antichrists: So who is John talking about when he says “many antichrists”?
These were liars who denied that Jesus is the Christ
These were liars who denied the Son, as well the Father
Perverting the truth about who Christ is as fully God and fully man
Perverting the truth about who we are as sinful people guilty of sin against God
Perverting the truth about the gospel; how to be cleansed from our sin, how to walk in the light, in the truth, in fellowship with God
Their goal was deception. They denied Christ and were leading people astray.
When THE Antichrist comes, he will do this on a global scale and will set himself up as “god” and demand worship. He will lead many people astray, he will deny Christ and His work.
What these people are doing around John and his church is similar to what the antichrist will do, it’s the same spirit just on a smaller scale.
So John says: it’s the last hour. We know it’s the last hour because many antichrists are here. They had heard that antichrist was coming, many are here working in that same spirit, it’s the last hour.
So again, is John talking about THE end times, the tribulation, etc.? If so, he must have been confused because it’s been 1900 years and Jesus still hasn’t come back. So is he wrong or what did he mean?
Last Hour Word Study
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
THEN, Jesus continues into explaining THE tribulation, THE end, THE antichrist, etc.
It’s like a TV series with multiple seasons. You’ve been told that the last season will have lots of battles and the last episode will have one large epic battle where the main character epically destroys the entire enemy...
In the same way, John started to see antichrists, false prophets, in the spirit of the antichrist and so John affirms to his readers that they were in fact in “the last hour.”
1. Cultivate a discerning mind.
1. Cultivate a discerning mind.
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 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 it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Emphasize
Went out FROM
Generic term, could be implied
- they were going out joyfully
- they were sent out as missionaries
- it is not a hostile term
- they went out from the group, they separated
Were not OF
- John then clarifies the nature of “went out from us”
- They were separating from the community
- They left because they were not truly part of it
Would have continued WITH
Apply
Who are the antichrists now?
Prosperity Gospel (Jesus is the way to health, wealth, and prosperity)
Self-help Gospel (Jesus is your therapist; it’s all about you)
Political Gospel (thinking that politic work is kingdom work)
Social Gospel (take care of their physical needs before you help their spiritual needs)
“All roads lead to God”
“Faith AND” gospel (add works)
“Faith WITHOUT” gospel (keep on sinning)
Deconstruction
What do we do with this info? You may be asking...
Well what if we’re wrong? What if we’re missing something and others are right?
We live in an age where the world pursues “the new;” but as God’s people we go against the world by pursuing the true.
We live in an age where the world pursues “the new;” but as God’s people we go against the world by pursuing the true.
John writes to these churches saying “you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge, I write to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it and because no lie is of the truth.”
John Reassures — of their anointing by the Holy One
19 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 it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
What is the anointing?
The Holy Spirit that we receive at the moment of conversion
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Who is the Holy One?
Christ
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
God the Father has given us the Holy Spirit in the name of Christ
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
WHY IS THIS ENCOURAGING TO JOHN’S READERS?
If your salvation was up to you, if persevering was up to you, if this was up to you, would you be reassured?
NO.
But, our assurance is found first and foremost in God
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
In the OT, priests were anointed with oil; and then continued in service to God.
In the NT, these Christians were anointed with the Holy Spirit; and then continue in service to God
BUT, John doesn’t stop there.
John Reminds — of their knowledge of the truth
He reminds them that “they all have knowledge”
What is the knowledge?
20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
The Truth
27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Knowing God
Knowing His ways
Knowing how to live as God intended us to live
He’s given us everything we need for life and godliness
This anointing leads to understanding—salvific understanding (KNOW)
11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
The Spirit helps us to know the truth so that we can live in the light. This is knowledge that leads to action.
Don’t doubt Christ and the gospel because other people leave and separate from it. This does not bring the gospel into question but rather exposes the flakiness and fakiness of those leaving.
John’s community was intent on upholding Christ’s incarnation and his redemptive work. People who separated from that community revealed their true colors of not believing and upholding those truths.
2. Hold fast to the truth with an enduring commitment.
2. Hold fast to the truth with an enduring commitment.
20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
What does it mean to hold fast?
“The phrase “Hold Fast” traces back to Norwegian and Dutch sailors who had the saying “houd vast” meaning “hold tight”. Upon first impression, the meaning of hold fast seems obvious, but to a sailor, “fast” is a term meaning to make tight. If a sailor was to make fast the line, it would mean to make the rope tight. Sailors being a superstitious group began to tattoo “hold fast” on the four front-facing fingers of each hand. This was done for good luck while holding the lines and as a reminder that no matter what, the sailor would not let go.”
What they saw in their time, and what we see happening today is...
People falling away
false teachers and antichrists
evil spreading
There is the temptation to
doubt
fall away
love grow cold
10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
THIS STUFF MATTERS
MY PRAYER IS THAT ALL OF US WILL ENDURE TO THE END; THAT ALL OF US WILL BE SAVED
HOW DO WE DO THIS?
Assurance in our Anointing
Romans 8 - Walk in the Spirit, rely on the Spirit
Ephesians 1 - the Spirit is our hope, our guarantee
Eph 5 - Fill yourself with the Word
Col 3 - Fill yourself with the Word
Hold fast to the truth
The Holy Spirit will use God’s Word to guide you and help you
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
APPLICATION
PERSEVERE/HOLD FAST
Practice holiness
Discipline yourself for godliness
3. Live with the end in mind.
3. Live with the end in mind.
22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
John has reminded his readers, we are living in the last hour.
I want to remind you, we are living in the last hour.
Antichrists are out there. People denying the Son, with their words but also with their lifestyles.
SOME OF YOU, are antichrists right now.
People are falling away from the faith.
People are letting their love grow cold.
The stakes are high, the pressure is on.
Live your life with this in mind, you want to have the Father, you want to have the Son.
CONFESS CHRIST
The people who deny Christ don’t have the Father, they don’t have the Son, they don’t have the Spirit, and they don’t have the truth.
The people who deny Christ don’t have the Father, they don’t have the Son, they don’t have the Spirit, and they don’t have the truth.
Denying Christ
THE CONSTANT DANGERS OF OVER OR UNDER EMPHASIZING THE DEITY AND HUMANITY OF CHRIST
If Christ isn’t God
He doesn’t live a perfect life
He doesn’t conquer death sin and hell
He doesn’t resurrect to live, reigning forever
He doesn’t intercede on our behalf
If Christ isn’t man
He can’t be our substitute
He doesn’t intercede on our behalf
He doesn’t truly pay for our sin
He doesn’t give us an actual example to live by
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
So I ask you...
Are you an antichrist? Are you denying Christ in your words and/or in your actions?
Are you denying that Christ is truly God and man, the one you will answer to, your only hope of salvation?
Are you professing Christ with your words but denying him in our actions? Disobeying, and unfit for any good works?
Are you ashamed of Christ and the gospel message?
Repent. Turn away from this spirit of the antichrist and turn to Christ, receive the Holy Spirit and live in the truth.
For those of you in Christ:
Find assurance in the Holy Spirit
Keep knowing the truth better and better
Persevere to the end
Withstand the false teachers, the persecution, people deserting you.
Hold Fast to Christ
CLOSING
CLOSING
Summarize
Thesis
Prayer