Many Antichrists Have Come

“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.” (1 John 2:18-25 ESV)

What does it mean to be “antichrist”? The prefix “anti” means “against or opposite” of something or someone. So, to be “antichrist” is to be against or opposite of Jesus Christ. And someone who is antichrist can even profess faith in Jesus Christ, for “against” Christ is not in words only, but in our deeds. And when you think of the term “wolves in sheep’s clothing” that describes those who give the outward appearance of being followers of Jesus Christ but who are, in reality, against Christ in actions and in intentions. 

Now, when this says that “they went out from us, but they were not of us,” first of all we must define who “us” is. And in this context, the “us” being spoken of are those who are of genuine faith in Jesus Christ, who have died with Christ to sin, and who have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteous. We are those who are following Jesus Christ with our lives, in truth and in righteousness, and not in fakery. So we are for Jesus Christ.

And when it says that “they went out from us,” “that it might become plain that they all are not of us,” it doesn’t necessarily necessitate a physical departure from us, though it may, but it definitely is a spiritual departure from among those who are of genuine walks of faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. And they may do that even while they are still physically among us, and even while pretending that they are of us. So just because they may still be among us, it doesn’t mean that they are truly of us.

Also, this is not speaking of gatherings of the institutional market-driven incorporations (businesses) under the state that are being called “church” here in America. Just because someone attaches the name “church” to a gathering of people, it doesn’t mean that those who are part of those gatherings are genuine followers of Jesus Christ or that those who gather together are operating at all as the biblical body of Christ. So if you leave such a gathering, that doesn’t make you antichrist. You may be for Christ.

So, the real departure that we need to be concerned about here is a departure from biblical faith in Jesus Christ. And many of these market-driven businesses called “churches” have definitely departed from biblical faith in Jesus Christ and from the biblical body of Christ and its purpose, and from how we are to operate as the biblical body of Christ when we gather together with one another. And our gatherings can be anywhere appropriate, at any time of day or night, on any day of the week, and still be biblical.

Body of Christ: [Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Php 2:1-8; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]  

And now this asks the question: “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?” But, again, when you think of “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” they are those who may give lip service to the Lord but by their actions they deny him. So they will pretend that they are of us so that many people will believe them and put their trust in them, so that they can deceive them, which is their goal and purpose. And there are many among us who give lip service to Jesus Christ but who by their actions deny him.

Now, granted, there are many who deny Jesus Christ with their lips, too, but I am just making us all aware, hopefully, that some who deny Christ do give lip service to the Lord, and this can be for many reasons, one of which is to hide their own sinful practices and to put on a show of righteousness so that others will think they are good Christians. But there are many among us, too, whose goal is to deceive and to lead us away from our pure devotion to Jesus Christ and to lead us to follow after a false christ and a false gospel.

So, again, denial of Christ doesn’t have to be in words at all, but it is definitely in actions, for our actions speak louder than words. But if we are teaching a false message of the gospel in order to tickle itching ears which want to hear and embrace the lies, then we are denying Christ both with our lips and with our actions. So it is not enough to just make professions of faith in Jesus Christ with our lips. We must deny self, die daily to sin, and follow Jesus Christ in obedience to his commands (Luke 9:23-26).

Now the instructions given by John to the Christians of his day were for them to let what they heard from the beginning abide in them. But in our day and age, with so many people teaching lies in the name of Christianity, what we heard from the beginning may not be the truth of the gospel. So we need to let the truth of the gospel, as taught by Jesus and by his NT apostles (in context) abide (live, remain, continue) in us, and then we will abide in Christ and in God the Father, and we have the hope of eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Hebrews 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Only in Him  

An Original Work / February 19, 2014

Based off Isaiah 30

Woe to those who look to man’s help;

Who turn away from Jesus Christ;

Forming an alliance not in step with God;

Making their own plans, and praying not.

Willing not to listen to truth,

They close their ears to what is right.

Pleasing words are all that they’ll hear;

Feel good messages that bring cheer.

Trust in your Lord; turn from your sin.

Put your faith now ONLY IN HIM.

Do not turn to idols. They’ll not satisfy.

Jesus will save you. That’s why He died.

Your Lord will be gracious to you.

He cares all about you, ‘tis true.

He forgives you all of your sin

When you give your life up to Him.

Oh, how truly gracious He’ll be

When you bow to Him on your knees;

Turning now from your sin; walking in his ways.

He’ll lead and guide you all of your days.

Now you will sing praises to Him.

He delivered you from your sin.

You’ll tell others now of His grace,

So they may see Christ face-to-face. 

https://vimeo.com/87181019