The Nice Antichrists Series

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1 John 2:18-29

“The Nice Antichrists”

When John writes his Epistles it is very clear there has been a division within the church. The division has resulted in a “them” group and an “us” group.

In 1 John 2:18-29 John tells us who the “them” and “us” are.

18 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. 19 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.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 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. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist – denying the Father and the Son.

23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

24 As for you, 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. 25 And this is what He promised us – eternal life.

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 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.

28 And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.

29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.

Right through history the sad reality is that divisions happen within the church.

That division can happen for many reasons.

Many years ago when I was a theological student I regularly preached at a church in country Victoria.

The church started at 11:00am. They did this because, when the church first opened, many of the members were dairy farmers who had cows to milk.

But now there were no more farmers. So the leadership, along with a majority of the church, believed it would be good to start church earlier … at 10:00am … to give time to have fellowship after church, but also so families can get home for lunch.

It caused a division. You can’t make church start earlier.

In response to this change a group of people left and went to the church down the road … whose service started at 10:00am.

Division.

Times when brothers and sisters in Christ have different perspectives.

And they go different ways

… still recognising that they are brothers and sisters in Christ.

… but also recognising the wisdom of worshipping in a different part of God’s kingdom.

A division which results in a “them” … and an “us”.

That is not the sort of “them” and “us” division John is writing about in these verses.

18 Dear children, this is the last hour

The last hour is the time in the days between the first and second coming of Jesus. Also known as the “last days”.

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. 19 They went out from us

In the last hour there are two types of antichrists.

There is the antichrist. A single individual. In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul calls him the man of lawlessness. He will be revealed at the appointed time. He still is coming.

Scripture tells us that he has already lost.

John is not primarily focussing on that individual.

The focus of John is on the many antichrists … those who were already around in the first century church.

What are the characteristics of these many antichrists?

Let’s read all the Scripture verses which specifically describe “the many antichrists”.

We have already read two of the verses this morning.

1 John 2:18-19

18 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. 19 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.