Those Not Among You

1 John 2:18–29 ESV

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. 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. But 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. 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. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 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. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

Who is the antiChrist? The antiChrist is the embodiment of evil. He is the world power at the end of times who will direct all worship to himself. This being’s sole purpose in life is to seek to rob God of His glory. The antiChrist’s strength comes from the devil, but it is allowed by the Father. The devil sought to take God’s throne from Him millenniums ago, and he failed. In the future, the antiChrist will strive to divert all worship in the earth to his name. The devil will try to finish what he started all those years ago, but he will inevitably fail.

What is an antiChrist? An antiChrist is anyone who rejects the Lord. One who denies His existence (Atheists), ones who deny His sovereignty (agnostics) or people who believe in His existence but reject who He is as the God and Savior of the world (Other religions)

Let me ask you something. As a church grows, what should become more available to the church? Money. More heads, more tithes, more money. Now, what should you do with that money? Maybe put more money into a ministry that is doing well so it will do even better? Maybe start a new ministry that you previously could not have participated in because the funds were not there? Maybe you would give more money to the less fortunate?

— Should the pastors line their pockets? That is the issues I have with NL. They line their pockets with money. Now, I like money just as much as the next guy. I keep an eye out for the future, for my retirement, for my hopes and dreams, all of that such and that is not sinful. But how bad would it be if my pockets were so lined, yet my congregation was hurting? What if I could afford lavished dinners everyday, while people in the church were having to strategically skip meals? What kind of minister would I be? NL is like this. A quick google search of the issues of NL will give you what you need to know about the organization.

— They also do this, 90% fun and 10% feeding. This means that they draw people with their lights, and their games, and their activities, but they leave them spiritually malnourished. Church’s who draw people with fun, yet leave them unchanged when the events are over are not a biblical church.

But anywho, you guys are going to face anti-Christ’s. They come in many shapes and fashions. They may wear nice suits, or they may dress just like you and I are dressed tonight, but they are dangerous. As you grow older it is imperative that you understand your word and that you shy away from people who would preach and teach contrary to what is in the Bible. An antiChrist is skilled in making their words sound appealing, but it is just as such so that they may lure you in and arrest your attention for however long they might.

Now, antiChrist’s in your life. These are people who live contrary to the call of Christ. They could be atheists, they could be agnostics (Believe in higher power but do not acknowledge that it is God) they could be simple friends or classmates who might be nice people, not claiming to be atheistic or anything, but their lives detract from the gospel.

If you are saved then you have the HS inside of you that will guide you in your decision making. When it comes to church, when it comes to relationships, when it comes to work, when it comes to friendships, all the decisions you make will be governed. Let me make something known to you guys. Everything does not have to be taken before the Lord. What you are eating for breakfast does not have to be decided on by God. His Spirit will not guide you to pick pop-tarts over Wheaties. But He may convict you of the clothes that you pick out for the day. When choosing friends it may be harmless at first, but then they may start exhibiting behaviors that are not Christ-like and He may press on you to either leave the group or see that it changes.

— What John is calling for here is that you guys stand firm in your belief. When someone claims to stand for God, but their speech does not fully align with His word, then it is a false preacher.

— When you guys engage in life with other people and they deny your Christ, you stand firm for Him.

— When your friends (boyfriend/girlfriend) begin making decisions that lead you away from Christ, then you gotta make some decisions. Either see to it that they are corrected, and life can move on and both of you can grow in Christ, or you need to distance yourselves from them.

If you are going to live right, you must make difficult decisions. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it, and as always, I am here to listen to your problems, your frustrations, they will stay between us, and I can help you navigate life’s troubling waters.