Warning: Pay Attention

Today I want to talk about that a word that many Christians are familiar with, but not many Christians fully understand, and a word that John is very concerned with in all of his writing- the word is Antichrist.

For many Christians the word antichrist is associated with the end of time- the second coming of Christ. Their image of antichrist is influenced by the Left Behind series and apocalyptic preaching. They consider the antichrist to be a man who comes and leads people from Jesus during the end of the world. They have spent their lives being warned about being on guard against this man. Now, please hear me, that is one of the ways that the Bible talks about antichrist, but it is just that ONE of the ways. In today’s passage John focuses in on this idea of Antichrist and builds a helpful understanding of the term.

Now, please hear me, that is one of the ways that the Bible talks about antichrist, but it is just that ONE of the ways. In today’s passage John focuses in on this idea of Antichrist and builds a helpful understanding of the term.

So, let’s work through this a little bit. First, let’s remember the reason for John writing this letter, because that will help us understand what he means by antichrist. Remember, John is writing to his friends to keep them from accepting a false doctrine concerning the nature of Jesus.

Also, I think we need to consider what the term Antichrist really means. Many times the prefix anti means opposite of directly against. Consider terms like antifungal- something designed to oppose fungus. Or anti-gun is someone who opposes guns. These people of things stand in direct opposition to something. But that is not quite the same with the word antichrist. In fact, the Bible uses 2 different words to talk about the one word we use antichrist. The first is antichristos meaning one who tries to overthrow the authority of Jesus. But there is another word, psuedochristou. Translated “Replacement Christ.”

But that is not quite the same with the word antichrist. In fact, the Bible uses 2 different words to talk about the one word we use antichrist. The first is antichristos meaning one who tries to overthrow the authority of Jesus. But there is another word, psuedochristou. Translated “Replacement Christ.”

This seems to be the better understanding of John in this passage- after all, his use of “antichrist” is plural. John says in verse 18 that they had heard the antichrist was coming, so, he says, many antichrists have come.

John is not merely warning us about the antichrist the person, but the spirit of antichrist- or anything that seeks to be a substitute Jesus, an imposter, a counterfeit. You see, the challenge is this, someone or something that is directly opposed to Jesus is quite easy to spot. If someone tries to pay you with Monopoly money it is easy to spot. However, real counterfeit money is quite different, that is why they make special pens and money readers, because the counterfeit can look so much like the real thing. In fact, in just a few chapters in this same letter, in 4:1 we are going to read John’s encouragement that we test every spirit to make sure it from God.

You see, the challenge is this, someone or something that is directly opposed to Jesus is quite easy to spot. If someone tries to pay you with Monopoly money it is easy to spot. However, real counterfeit money is quite different, that is why they make special pens and money readers, because the counterfeit can look so much like the real thing.

Friends, the reality is that there are always false doctrines out there. In John’s day. There was a form of legalism that insisted that OT sacrifices and laws had to be obeyed, there was a section of people that refused to accept the Gentile believers as Christians, and then there were the Gnostics that taught that everything in this physical world was evil and needed to be avoided. So, false doctrine is nothing new.

Now, let’s think through this for a moment, because there is a difference in false doctrine and a variance in belief; and we would do well to know the difference.

Let’s think through one example. I have friends who are Methodists- good people, good friends, good Christians. One of the major differences in CoB and Methodists is concerning baptism. Methodists baptize infants, but CoB does not. Now, I do not consider this a false doctrine but a variance in belief and practice. For Methodists they want to baptize children into the church early and solidify their relationship with the church, but as Brethren we focus more on the personal choice of being baptized and encourage kids to make their own decision, not one made their parents. So, if you told me that your cousin, or your neighbor, or your parents were attending a Methodist church I would warn you of them? No! I would be pleased and supportive.

But what if you told me that your cousin or your neighbor, or your parents were going to a Mormon church? Completely different story. You see, Mormons do not believe that Jesus is equal with God- they deny part of the Deity of Jesus Christ. This is much more than a variance of belief because it compromises the entire fabric of the New Testament.

Or what if you told me they were attending a church that does not hold a high or traditional view of the Bible? They did not accept the Bible as the Inspired Word of God? That is false doctrine.

Here’s the thing, friends, no one woke up one morning and decided to be a heretic. No, heretical teaching is a slow fade into a dark place. Normally what happens is that Satan finds a weak spot in someones theology and begins to whisper a slight distortion of the truth in their ears. Soon, what starts a slight deviation from the Gospel becomes heresy.

I love how John addresses the heresy though- he names it plain and simple flat out- 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.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves from this spirit of Antichrist? I want to share a few thoughts about that in closing today.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

1- Be in the Bible on your own- I know we touch on this one a lot, but the importance of individual Bible study cannot be downplayed.

2- Be in the Bible with a community- I find it no coincidence that heresy rises when the church is disconnected. We need one another. We need to have relationships with other Christians that allow us to talk and converse about what we are seeing and believing in the Bible. When we disconnect ourselves from one another we can easily fall into a trap. It is the concept. We were never meant to study the Scriptures in a vacuum. The Bible is a book meant for community. It is not surprising that one of the hallmarks of cults is separation- they pull people away from their homes and communities and surround them with other people from the cult- that is the complete opposite of what the Bible teaches. The Bible asks us to go out into the world, and to invite others alongside of us. The Bible encourages us to not merely follow the voice of one leader, or only to follow the inner voice of ourselves- the Bible tells us to study the Bible alongside others and allow ourselves to be taught by others.

3- Ask the hard questions of leaders- So, technology is a wonderful thing! I love that we can spread the Gospel in so many ways. In fact, some of you may not know this, but I live stream my sermon almost every week and most weeks between 50-100 people watch them- it is great to be able to minister to people that way, especially some of our shutins. However, there is some caution that comes with this kind of technology too. Now we can livestream, Youtube, and podcast sermons and teachings on any Scripture or topic we want from almost any pastor in the world. When I was writing this sermon I quickly Googled “sermon on salvation” and I got About 30,800,000 results (0.51 seconds)  Now, I am betting that not all of those sermons say the same thing. Here’s the danger- many people will listen to a sermon, or read a book, or hear an opinion of a church leader and accept it and never consider “who are they?” “What do they believe?” A few months ago I had someone send me a sermon they wanted me to listen to- not anyone in our church, someone else I know. They heard my teaching on a particular topic and they sent me a link to this pastor’s sermon who basically argued against my point of view- fair enough. They sent me the video, and coincidentally I know of the pastor and their theology, so I asked them if they knew anything about this guy- no they said, I have listened to a few of his sermons, I really like him. So I pulled some of his quotes, articles, and bios and sent them back; quotes where this person denied that Jesus was God’s Son, he said that he was spiritually superior than other people, and denied that all people sin- they were shocked.

Here’s the thing, many times we fall in love with a pastor or a leader because we listen to 1-2 sermons and decide they are great, and we never ask the hard questions. A few times in my ministry I have been taken to lunch or invited over to a home and I have been grilled by people about what I believe- they want to attend church here, but before they sit under my teaching, or have their kids come and learn from me they want to know what I believe and teach about important theological issues- I commend them for that.

4- Hold leaders to standards- . The Bible lays out standards for our church leaders, and we should hold them to these standards. As a pastor I want accountability- I want people to talk to me if they disagree with something I preach on or a decision I have made. As the pastor of this church I have a unique relationship- I am the Spiritual leader or shepherd of this church, but I am also a servant and an employee- can I just admit that this is a very hard tension to live in and handle. But here’s the thing- I need accountability and standards. It’s the reason that I give the board and council itemized reports of my activities when we meet- I tell them how many visits and counseling sessions I have done- no names or situations, just numbers. When I have big decisions to make I lean on their counsel and ask for their help- just the week I stopped by Gerald and Sandra’s house and we talked about some decisions that need to be made.

Pastors are not prefect and we need standards and accountability. So, if you have a question about something I am doing, or not doing, please reach out to me. We should talk. For example, I had someone come to me and ask me why I had not visited their mother in the hospital, she had been in for a few days and I had not been in- why? Because I had no idea she was in there! You would be surprised how often that happens. I had someone else who stopped coming to church, so I called them to ask about them, they shared that they were upset that our church had stopped giving money to the pregnancy help center, oney to. I was confused we did, in fact, give money to them, then I realized what happened, the pregnancy help center changed their name to AVA care. Sometimes we just need a chance to talk.

5- Abide in Christ, not in a person. I love you all. Just the other day I was talking with someone about my 9 years here at Mt Zion and I told them how blessed I am to be here and how much I love you all. In fact, when I thought about the idea of not being here I got a little teary eyed. But I want to remind you, I am just a man, a sinful man just like you all. Don’t try to abide in me, or any other pastor. Don’t place any person in the seat of Jesus.

Heresy is a big deal, friends, and we need to take it serious. We need to