GUARDING AGAINST THE ANTICHRISTS : I JOHN 2:18-23

INTRODUCTION

There are seven test that one really knows God;

1. keeping God’s commandments.
2. Loving one’s neighbor.
3. Growing spiritually
4. Loving not the world .
5. Guarding against the Antichrist.
6. Letting the gospel abide in you.
7. Abiding in Christ

Today we are discussing the 5th test or proof that we really know God. Are we guarding against the Antichrists? The word Antichrist is in plural. It means false teachers and preachers. We must guard ourselves from false teachers .

Let us learn:-

I.  THE WARNING AGAINST ANTICHRIST. (I John 2:18)

• We as believers in Christ are facing and living in critical period in history.

1. Believers must know that it is the last times, last days.

• This is the “Midnight” of the historical day. The hour is about to strike for the end of the world.
• It is the last hour of the last day.(2 Peter 3:3)

2. Believers must know that it is time for the antichrist.

• We must be alert that the Antichrist -(Satan) can now appear personally into the world anytime.
• The bible teaches about a personal Antichrist,
• The Antichrist is a man of sin, A personality that is to appear on the face of this earth-A world Leader, a Political / economic leader.
• The Antichrist, A world leader is going to exalt the state, and world government above all worship of God.
• Believers must know that the Antichrist will come (Matt 24:15, II Thes.2:3-9)

3. How do we know that it is the last time, that the world is coming to an end and that Jesus Christ is about to return?

• There are many Antichrists today, many who oppose and stand against Christ.
• The Antichrist has his forerunners, just like Jesus Christ has the prophets.
• Many false prophets and teachers have flooded the world scene today.
• There as many ,false leaders, teachers, professors, prophets, preachers, churches that deny Christ.

* They are denying His deity– That Christ is the Son of God.

* They are denying His sinlessness.

* They are denying His death and resurrection.

* They are denying His Lordship and His return to Earth (Mark.13:22, I Tim 4:1-2)

II.  THE ORIGIN OF ANTICHRISTS (I John 2:19)

• They come from church it self ! They hold positions of leadership within the church.
• They went out, they did not continue, their going out means they did not belong.
• Many ministers, Pastors, Bishops, Bible teachers today do not believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the Savior of the world ( Matt.7:15-23, II Cor.11:13-15, I Tim.4:1-2, 6:3-5, II Tim.4:3-4)

III. THE PROTECTION AGAINST THE ANTICHRIST. (I John 2:20-21)

• God gives the believer two protections;

1. God gives us the Savior’s anointing. The word “unction” (Chrisma) means anointing. God anoints the true believer with the Holy Spirit. (II Cor. 1:21-23, John.14:26)
2. God gives the true believer the truth

• Jesus is the truth (Jn.14:6)
• The word of God, the scripture is a protection (2 Tim.3:16)

IV. THE FALSE TEACHING OF ANTICHRISTS (I John.2:22-23)

• False teachers deny that Jesus is the Christ.
• False teachers deny the Father by denying the Son (Matt.11:27, John 12:44-45).
• The point is very clear, any person who denies Jesus Christ is denying God as well.
• Any one who denies that Jesus Christ is the son od God is a false teacher, a forerunner of the Antichrist. (Matt. 10:33, Mark 8:38, John 5:23, 43, 2 Peter 2:1, II John 7-11)

CONCLUSION.

¨ The Antichrist is soon personally coming into the world

¨ The Antichrists are very many now in the world and in churches.

¨ You have been given power to defeat the antichrist.