62-10 For Christ Or Against Christ—Pt 1

1 John 2:18-27

Since its beginning-church faces the dangers of those contrary to God. There are those who stand as opponents of God and opponents of Christ-therefore opponents of the church (those saved). It is a danger that we face today.

Acts 20:28-30

2 Peter 2:1-3

Jude 3-4, 17-21

The dangers of false teachers and those who stand contrary to God & church pre-dates Pentecost.

OT-God's standard for a prophet was strict

Dt 13:1-5; 18:20-22

Those who claim to speak the Word of the Lord are held to a greater accountability-James 3:1 "let not many of you become teachers ... knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment."

Opposition to God had to begin somewhere. God's creation was very good-so at some point opposition entered the creation-it began with Satan. From him it entered the Garden of Eden and into humanity. Satan is the chief instigator of opposition, evil and hostility toward God. He often uses human emissaries to carry out his will during past and present ages.

Satan tried to use Job (but he was righteous). Used Judas Iscariot in his opposition toward God and the plan of redemption.

He will ultimately focus on one man in the future to be the seat of opposition to Christ. Satan is a master mind of evil and influences people today to oppose Christ and the church.

That's why it is imperative for the elders of this church to be supremely qualified to test doctrine, teaching, refuting error to protect you from ungodly men who would attempt to lead you astray from the purity of the gospel.

John, just like Jesus leaves little ground for a middle position. Jesus said Luke 11:23 "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters."

Are you for Christ or against Christ? The HS thru John has revealed a series of tests that a believer can have assurance of his/her fellowship with God. Doctrinal/moral tests-2: 18-27 he develops a doctrinal test which many have failed giving evidence of their opposition to the Savior.

These vv have divided numerous ways-2, 3, 4 parts ... I prefer 2 sections or 2 major themes (Description of those against Christ, Description of those for Christ). Several weeks to study these vv--so be encouraged as we mine the depths of the wisdom and knowledge of God.

1 John 2:18-27

I. The Description of those Against Christ

This is given as a warning call, showing the danger and nature of the opposition we face as believers.

"children"-John has already used this term-"treasured believers" he sees himself on terms of fatherly intimacy with these readers. He knows them, he knows their spiritual condition, he knows the spiritual conflict they face as God's people and he eagerly desires to see them avoid the dangers that face them.

A. The nature of the times

"it is the last hour" 2x in this verse (nowhere else in NT)

Last-eschatos-eschatology. The word is 1st in the phrase giving emphasis to it. John uses here to refer to the present evil age.

NT outlines 2 ages: the last age & the age to come.

Last age, equivalent to "last days" encompasses the time from the birth of Jesus to His 2nd coming.

Matt 12:32; Mark 10:30; Eph 1:21

It is clear that we are in “the last”: 1 Cor 10:11; 2 Tim 3:1; 1 Pt 1:20

Age to come-encompasses the time from 2nd coming including Millennial Kingdom and all eternity.

For John the "last hour" is a time of crisis. There is a sense of urgency. For Christ may return at any moment. John had this expectancy during his own lifetime (as did all the apostles and early Xians)-vs 28

Just because Jesus hasn't returned didn't mean John was wrong-simply means he understood the Lord's teaching that no man knows the day but His return was nonetheless imminent.

What is characteristic of these last times?

2 Tim 3:1-9

A basic description of this last hour:

Men love themselves

Wear the name Xian deny its power--charlatans

Captivate weak women-prey on those who are spiritually and emotionally weak

Oppose truth--declare war on the truth

It doesn't take us long to come up with a list of how we see these things in our own time.

John says "it is ... " we are living in it-we're right in the midst of this specific time just before the 2nd advent of LJC.

B. The Characteristics of the Antichrist

"You heard ... "

"antichrist" transliteration of the Gk antichristos. Compound word anti-"against, or in place of' Christos-Christ. Against carries the idea of opposition ( against establishment of labor union-antiunion). Preposition can also carry the idea of"in place of' instead of-substitute.

Antichrist means that which is against Messiah or replaces Messiah or in this case probably both. John is the only writer to use this term. Antichrist does not appear outside of John's writings.

He says "you heard that antichrist is coming." “heard" denotes listening, perceiving, comprehending-by means of previous revelation/teaching. John's readers were familiar with the concept of antichrist coming.

Basic idea of antichrist is widespread:

Matt 24:5,15,24 pseudochristos-same idea replacement Paul taught that false teachers would infiltrate the church and lead many astray-opposition.

2 Thess 2:1-12 he fully develops the concept of the antichrist, a coming apocalyptic figure would be the ultimate opponent of JC.

vv 1-2 (expecting relief but suffering persecution) people were becoming discouraged b/c the Thess were eagerly waiting for the return of Christ beginning with the rapture and some were teaching that they had missed it. That was shaking their faith.

Vs 3-2 things must take place before the Day of the Lord ( encompasses the time of Tribulation). First, the apostasy this refers to a deliberate abandonment of a previously held position. There will be a remarkable defection from the faith at some point just prior to the Day of the Lord. Paul is very specific-the apostasy. We are living in a time when we see a general apostasy happening. People who once claimed to be part of the church are defecting. There will be an actual event yet to come when countless people will defect.

The second event is the revealing of the man of lawlessness. He has 2 names here-man of lawlessness referring to his character as being without law~sin:' The second name is son of destruction referring to the certainty of his doom.

This person is also called "the little horn" (Dan), "the beast" (Rev) and he is a real man-not a force of evil but a living human. He is not Satan but Satan is definitely the force of opposition driving and enabling the Antichrist.

vv 4-6 sets himself in the temple as God and will demand worship from everyone. Daniel indicates this is the mid-point of the Trib-Jesus refers to it as the "Abomination of desolation" (Mt 24:15).

Vs 7-"mystery of lawlessness" previously hidden and undiscoverable but now revealed and made known. Lawlessness is not simply disorder and violation of God's law but a definite aim of Satan to overthrow God's law and establish his own. This individual has not yet been revealed b/c of the supernatural restraining ministry of God and HS.

Hiebert "so monstrous will be the depths of iniquity plumbed by the man of lawlessness that human thought would never have fully conceived of such depths apart from divine revelation."

Vv8-12 he will be endowed with supernatural powers for a short time even working powers ...

Over time there have been innumerable people that have received the label "the antichrist"

Antiochus Epiphanes-prefigure 168 B.C., Nero, Pope, RCC, Napoleon, Benito Mussolini, Hitler.

The person we know as Antichrist (b/c of John) is coming. That is clearly taught in NT that a human being will arise with characteristics that define his opposition and substitution of JC.

Back to 1 Jn 2-"even now ... "

The reason we know we are living in the last hour is b/c of the presence of many antichrists.

At the birth of Jesus-a titanic battle began that had not been seen before. Satan stepped up his opposition to God doing everything he could ( to his own peril and demise) to thwart God's plan of redemption. The spirit of Satan that will ultimately be responsible for enabling the Antichrist is already at work in its opposition to Christ thru many individuals.

In our day (as in John's) the spirit of opposition to God and the truth is pressing forward seeking to establish Satan's rule over this present creation-"have appeared" have come-already here.

There are 3 activities John highlights of those against Christ.

1) Depart from the fellowship (vs 19)

"from us" "of us" are the same 2 Gk words.

From us speaks of the location-they went out-departed from the fellowship of the faith. John indicates they left on the own accord.

Of us speaks of their character. Those who had departed did not share the same spiritual life-they had nothing in common.

Those who once professed Christ but left--either as false teachers are adherents to their teaching only gave evidence they were not possessors of eternal life.

John clarifies the meaning-"if they ... "

Remained: this becomes a test of assurance of eternal life-if you are born again you will remain in the fellowship of believers.

Burdick "Those who willfully turn from the truth show that a work of grace has never been begun within them. Those who persevere do so because God has regenerated them and continues to work within them." Phil 1:6

Why does God allow false teachers to infiltrate the church? Partly to purify the community of believers. Eventually false teachers will draw out the false brethren who bring harm to the fellowship.

1 Cor 5:6-13; Gal 5:9

Those who are contrary-against, threaten the purity and effectiveness of the church so God allows the process of defection to purify the church. What Satan tries to accomplish for his purpose ultimately works to confirm God's sovereign purposes.

"they went out to show ... "

All Xians persevere, stay true to the faith till the end and do not depart the fellowship of believers.

But when departure happens, God is using it to show the true character of the antichrists. Those who oppose the truth and apostatize have no real salvation- 1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Pt 2:1-9;

Jude 10-13

We need to ask the question "where do they go?" Not speaking of going from this church to that church. We need to be careful not to think that just because someone leaves our fellowship doesn't mean they're not saved.

Departing the fellowship because of opposition to truth results in one of 2 things:

1) following the false teachers often leading into cultic religions. Satan's program is to counterfeit the truth and draw in people to keep them from light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. Some join cults.

2) more often-there is apathy toward God, Christ & truth. When people leave it is often b/c they are uninterested in spiritual truth.

You have absorbed a lot this morning (2 more characteristics next time).

True believers do not defect/depart.

Col 1:21-23; Heb 3:14; overcomers of Revelation

Paul assured the saints in Colossae that they would endure to the end-persevere until the return of Christ. That has been the hallmark of every genuine believer-they stay the course until the end.

Trials that we face in our lives and the activities of false teachers cannot cause a fatal loss of our salvation because we will stay true to God-that's His wonderful promise to those who are redeemed.