Confessing Jesus in the Face of Antichrist (1 John 2:18-27)

Intro

When church first began, “no one is going to leave.” Some for good opportunities; some sinful. Tendency is for us to scatter. So, what is Jesus’s plan to keep us following/his church together?

Revelation

John continues to write to this church about the dangers they face from the world (the fallen culture)

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.

·        “Children” = intimacy and affection; “last hour” = all that’s left is return of king[1] (but so long ago!). “antichrist” = opposes God (who?). “antichrists” = deceived by antichrist and act like him.

·        When opposition to Jesus fiercest… our confidence that Jesus is coming back strongest.

·        What did attacks look like?

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.

·        Attack = deceiving and dividing the church. “They” = deceived by antichrist/became antichrists.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist (2 John 7).

·        Departure clarifies not true followers; Persevering following confirms a true follower (till return).

·        Beware: Antichrist wants turn us antichrists. Leaving Jesus and his community often same coin.

·        Will use worldly philosophy; hurt; discontentment. Don’t let him deconvert you![2]

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.

·        Different destiny than deconversion. False king/people; True king/people. “Holy one” = Jesus.[3] “anointed ones” = his people. “Anointed” = oil on kings and priests. God’s life and energy.

·        “Christ” = anointed one:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18)

·        We have same life and energy as Jesus (Spirit). From Jesus! Not like those who forsook Jesus.

·        “knowledge” = what’s most important (“you know it”). Jesus said this way,

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

·        True things we need: who Jesus is, who we are. We need the Spirit. Heart over book work.

·        They didn’t need world to teach them most important things and neither do you!

·        John will return to same ideas to clarify them:

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 clarifies two paths/identities: a denier of Jesus or confessor. Antichrist or anointing. Nothing or everything. Don’t need him or only hope. No halfway in/halfway out.

·        That’s why antichrist is subtle, adds or takes away from Jesus. No neutral. Lord of all…

24 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. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

·        All out devotion antichrist is trying to take, “abiding.” = “living in deep/permanent connection.

·        Abiding is the experience of God in us and us in God (intimacy). God’s truth in us/ we in God.

·        Shared intimacy = eternal life. New creation is the place we fully experience. Already have.

·        Antichrist wants to steal/kill/destroy. Wants to take this away from you and from us.

·        John summarizes everything he’s said so far:

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive 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.

·        John repeats what he said for far: Deceivers trying to destroy us, yet Sprit from God.

·        Our response: cling to the one who gives the Spirit: abide in him.

·        In other words: cut out what’s taking you away and pursue intimacy with God.

·        If you don’t want God, you’re not going to want the truth. You’ll justify to get what want.

Application

·        Who or what is influencing you more than Jesus is?

·        Antichrist just means “instead.” Deception = something else can give more life than Jesus.

·        My flesh, idol of comfort. Rest and enjoyment not wrong (but wrong Gods). Stop pursuing what matters most: my God, my family, my church. Slowly and subtly separates me from life.

·        I observed: much division in churches and people leaving (sometimes faith). Political and cultural issues. Politics more than public policy but religious commitment (right/left). Not donkey or elephant, but lamb. Beware if feeling cool toward church over not sufficiently same page.

·        Related: cultural trend, “deconstruction.” Journey toward “deconversion.”[4] Okay to ask questions, struggle with doubt. Yet, don’t do it outside Christian community. World/church.

 

·        If embraced identity of “anointed ones,” we would defeat deceptions in us/others. How? Gather regularly proclaims Jesus and his promises are true; Gently but boldly point out lies; Remind to abide. Let’s become place where the deceptions of antichrist have no sway.

[1] John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries on Hebrews, 1 Peter, 1 John, James, II Peter, Jude, trans. Henry Beveridge, vol. XXII (Grand Rapids, MI: BakerBooks, 2009), 189.

 

[2] I got the phrase “deconvert” from a sermon Scott Hubbard preached at All Peoples Church

[3]  Colin G. Kruse, The Letters of John, ed. D. A. Carson, Second Edition., Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2020), 111.

 

[4] See https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-does-deconstruction-even-mean