It's good to be back with you to study what God has to say to us from the words of the apostle John. This week has been unbelievably hot. The temperature has been as high as 107 degrees, and the weatherman says it's only going to get hotter. I'm praying for cooler weather. I am very thankful to God that it did rain at least a little two nights ago. We need some more.
When we studied I John last time, we learned that a true follower of Jesus does not love this world or the things that are in the world. We learned that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are characteristics of a worldly lifestyle. The world is passing away. Our focus should be doing the will and purpose of God.
Today, John focuses on the concept of antichrists. He begins in verse 18 by stating, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, whereby we know that this is the last time."
This verse introduces two interesting concepts. First of all, John refers to the last time. There is a great deal of teaching in Christian circles about the end times and the last days. One thing I've found interesting is that the Bible refers to the last days as beginning with the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy about the Spirit being poured out upon all flesh at the Day of Pentecost. John says that believers were living in the last time in his day because there were antichrists about. Jesus said that in the last days many would rise up and say that they were the Christ. Jesus warned His followers not to heed the messages of these fake Messiahs.
I try to keep my last day focus tempered by the idea that we've been living in the last time for 2,000 years. No matter what anyone tells you, no one knows when Jesus will return to earth again. Jesus Himself said that no man knows the day or the hour. Only the Father knows when He will send Jesus to establish His Kingdom that will have no end. Our duty as Christians is to live every minute of our lives expecting Jesus to return at any moment. The Bible says that Jesus' coming will be like a thief coming in the night. No one will know when to expect it.
Now to the subject of antichrist spoken of by John in this passage. John is not speaking here of the same antichrist that he will refer to in the book of Revelation. Some people believe that the antichrist in Revelation was a reference to a Roman Emperor possibly Nero or Domitian. Others believe that the antichrist will come on the scene after the rapture.
When it comes to the end times, I usually limit what I like to say by what I call the eschatology of Jesus. Jesus taught clearly that at the end of time He would send the angels to separate the righteous from the unrighteous. This will happen when Jesus comes back to earth again. Jesus will judge the people and the nations of the world. Those who followed Jesus will be rewarded with an eternity with Him. Those who rejected the Lord and His teachings will go into eternal punishment.
When John speaks of antichrists in our passage, he is referring to those in the church and outside the church who deny the deity of Christ or deny that Jesus is the Messiah. John clearly states in verse 22 that, "Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is an antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."
There are millions of people today who in various ways deny who Jesus is. First of all, millions just flat out reject any of the claims of Jesus, and in many cases are adherents of entirely different religions. In fact, 70 percent of the world falls into this category as only approximately 30 percent of the world's population makes any claim to being a part of the Christian faith. These individuals reject Jesus and have chosen a different religion or none at all.
Unfortunately, many people who call themselves Christians deny the deity of Jesus Christ. I've actually heard ministers preach about how that Jesus was just a good man and we should follow His example.
Many in the church today hold a belief about Jesus called adoptionism that teaches that Jesus was just a man that God decided to adopt as His son either at Jesus' baptism or resurrection.
Jesus was very clear, and the testimony of Scripture is very clear, that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the Messiah. It is also clear that Jesus is God come in the flesh. He is the Word made flesh and He dwelled among us. Jesus is the God-man, the second person of the Holy Trinity. To deny this belief is to deny the message of Jesus and to deny the entire basis of the Christian faith.
Believers today need to be on guard against the teachings of many pastors who deny the historic doctrines of the Christian faith. We must test all things by the Scripture.
If anyone is debating the deity of Jesus, I would direct him to read the first chapter of the Gospel of John. Also read John 5:17-47 and John 8:54-59. I would also recommend that you read Revelation chapters 1 and 5. May God bless you. Amen.
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