Tag: 1st John 1-5
Beware of ‘Antichrist’!
Scripture reading for December 19th: 1st John 1-5
John, the Apostle, wrote this letter to the church to counter some false teachers called “gnostics” who were saying that Jesus was just a ‘spirit’. These false teachers were telling church people that it did not matter what one did with his body because our spirit was all that mattered. But Jesus Christ did come in a human body lived in obedience to the Father. He taught us to live by grace through faith. When we break God’s law with our bodies, that is sin and we must confess and repent. (1st John 1:8-9) If we say we have no sin, we are living in deception, just like the false teachers.
We do not live in a dual world where we can separate the actions of our spirits and bodies. This popular teaching was drawing away a number of Christ’s followers. The problem was that it was taking them to Hell! John called the false teachers “antichrist”. (1st John 2:16)
The church evidently knew about “the Antichrist” that was to come in the last days. This person would be a world ruler who would deceive many with false signs and wonders. (2nd Thessalonians 2:8-11) Paul described him as the “man of lawlessness”. John further stated that many “antichrists” had already gone out into the world at the time of his writing. These false teachers had come from within the church. They left the church and drew a following of people who were deceived by their lies and loose living.
“Antichrist” is a term that literally means “one set over against Christ”. In our language today we would likely use “counterfeit” to describe them. They used scripture to justify their doctrines. They often used the name of Jesus Christ but lived in rebellion to what Jesus actually taught and stood for. They were legalistic and manipulative and lacked the love of the Lord. These types are still around today!
The best remedy against deception is to know the real thing and be filled with the Holy Spirit. John told his readers that they had a real anointing that would teach them all things. (1st John 2:20, 27) The Holy Spirit would keep them from deception. The One who lived in them was greater that the deceiver in the world! (1st John 4:4)
Christ vs. AntiChrist
Scripture reading for December 19th: 1st John 1-5
John wrote this letter to the church to counter some false teachers called “gnostics” who were saying that Jesus was just a spirit. They denied that Jesus Christ came in a human body. Since they believed that the body was not “spiritual”, it didn’t matter what was done in the body. To them, there really wasn’t any sin a person could commit in the body.
But Jesus was a man and lived in obedience to the Father. Jesus calls all men to repentance. Breaking God’s law is sin and we must confess and repent. (1st John 1:8-9) If we say we have no sin, we are living in deception, just like the false teachers.
We can not separate the actions of our spirits and bodies, doing what we please here on earth and still expect God’s mercy! John used a word to describe these false teachers who worked among God’s people. He called them “antichrist”. (1st John 2:16) These teachers were proposing an alternative Christ that was simply a spirit. This false teaching took people away from Christ.
The early church knew about “the Antichrist” who was to come in the last days. He would be a world ruler who would deceive many with false signs and wonders. (2nd Thessalonians 2:8-11) Paul described him as the “man of lawlessness”. John further stated that many “antichrists” had already gone out into the world at the time of his writing. These false teachers had come from within the church but left the church.
“Antichrist” is a term that literally means “one set over against Christ”. In our language today we would likely use “counterfeit” to describe them. They use the name of Jesus Christ but live in rebellion to what Jesus actually taught and stood for. They were legalistic and manipulative and lacked the love of the Lord.
The best remedy against deception is to know the real thing and be filled with the Holy Spirit. John told his readers that they had an anointing that would teach them all things. (1st John 2:20, 27) The One who lived in them was greater than the deceiver in the world! (1st John 4:4) Take a moment today to reflect on the truths of John’s epistle. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with His anointing. Confess that the greater One lives in you!
Unashamed at His Coming!
Scripture reading for December 20th: 1st John 1-5
I find it interesting that so many of the Apostles who walked with Jesus wrote so often about Jesus’ return. They evidently heard something from the heart of Jesus that made a deep impression. They were willing to suffer and die, many of them martyred for preaching the Gospel. John the Apostle is another of Jesus’ inner circle who wrote about Jesus’ return and encouraged the church to be ready!
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1st John 3:1-3)
John is the apostle of love. He is always talking about the love of God and how God has lavished His love on us as human beings. Through Jesus Christ, we are now adopted into God’s family and have the privilege of being called His children. To the world, we look no different than anyone else. The people of the world don’t recognize us as children of God because they do not know Jesus.
But when Jesus returns, things will change in an instant. We will be instantly made to be like Him in His glorified body. We will see Him in all His glory and be transformed. Those who have faith in Christ, have this hope in their hearts and it causes a change in behavior and attitude. We separate ourselves from the sins of the world and the flesh and live a pure life by faith in Christ. We prepare for Christ’s sudden return and our transformation!
John stresses that those born of God will not continue to sin because God’s seed (sperm–the living word of God) dwells in him. (1st John 3:9-10) We who are born again love others and choose to do what is right according to God’s word. There are only two types of people in the world: those born of God and those who are children of the devil. Are you ready for His coming?
Christ vs. Antichrist
Scripture reading for December 19th: 1st John 1-5
John, the Apostle, knew Jesus Christ intimately. He was the youngest of the disciples and was in the inner circle that was closest to Him. He begins this letter by proclaiming his eye-witness knowledge of Jesus as the Son of His Father in heaven. John wrote this letter to the church to counter some false teachers called “gnostics” who were saying that Jesus was just a spirit. These gnostic teachers were telling church people that it did not matter what one did with his body because our spirit was all that mattered.
Well, Jesus Christ did come in a human body. He was a man and lived in obedience to the Father. He taught us to live by grace through faith. When we break God’s law, that is sin and we must confess and repent. (1st John 1:8-9) If we say we have no sin, we are living in deception, just like the false teachers.
We can not live in a dual world and separate the actions of our spirits and bodies, doing what we please here on earth and still expecting God’s mercy! It was a popular teaching that drew a number of followers. The problem was that it was taking them to Hell! John used a word to describe these false teachers who worked among God’s people. He called them “antichrist”. (1st John 2:16)
The church evidently knew about “the Antichrist” that was to come in the last days. This person would be a world ruler who would deceive many with false signs and wonders. (2nd Thessalonians 2:8-11) Paul described him as the “man of lawlessness”. John further stated that many “antichrists” had already gone out into the world at the time of his writing. These false teachers had come from within the church. They left the church and drew a following of people who were deceived by their lies and loose living.
“Antichrist” is a term that literally means “one set over against Christ”. In our language today we would likely use “counterfeit” to describe them. They used scripture to justify their doctrines. They often used the name of Jesus Christ but lived in rebellion to what Jesus actually taught and stood for. They were legalistic and manipulative and lacked the love of the Lord. By the way, these types are still around today! Beware!
The best remedy against deception is to know the real thing and be filled with the Holy Spirit. John told his readers (us, today) that they had a real anointing that would teach them all things. (1st John 2:20, 27) The Holy Spirit would keep them from deception. The One who lived in them was greater that the deceiver in the world! (1st John 4:4) The Holy Spirit would reveal the love of the Father to them and through them, showing the true children of God.
Take a moment today to reflect on the truths of John’s epistle. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with His anointing. Confess that the greater One lives in you!