God's Man | 1 John Part 8

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. - 1 John 2:17

Boom

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.  They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. - 1 John 2:18-20

There are 2 ways to look at the word prefix anti as it relates to the word antichrist.  The common understanding of how we use anti is to talk about something that is against something else.  In this case an antichrist is someone or thing that is against Christ.  Another way to use anti is in something that imitates something but is not of the same nature.  A False Christ.  I don’t have time to get into this but if you go to Revelation 15 you will see two types of antichrists.  The first is the dragon which Satan raises up out of the sea .  Clearly that is Against Christ.  The second is the beast that looks like the lamb.  I hope that we will do a walk through Revelation soon.

John ends this passage with a reminder that we have an anointing called the Holy Spirit that allows us to know the truth.  

Did you know that the word Anointing here comes from the Greek word Charisma which means to smear on?  Smear On?  Gives you a new perspective when someone is said to have plenty of Charisma.

I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist–he denies the Father and the Son.  No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. - 1 John 2:21-23

This is a shot at those who had begun to allow the idea of some secret knowledge steal away the sufficiency of Christ.  This was a reminder to those who were flirting with Gnosticism that that was leads to destruction.  That there is no way to access the Father except through the acceptance of the Son.

See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us–even eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in him. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. - 1 John 2:24-28

Don’t forget your first love.  John is reminding us about what we have known from the beginning.  Remember back in the first chapter we talked about how he is referring to the incarnation of Christ, His Life, His Death and Resurrection.  Remember the Gospel.  The Holy Spirit will confirm these things for you.  Continue to examine yourself and your walk in light of you growing exposure to the light of God.  Walk with Him and continue to deepen your relationship with Him.

I hope that you are being blessed by my notes from 1 John. See You Next Week. Enjoy the Free Friday Videos.