“Many Antichrists: Be Vigilant!”
1 John 2:18-19, 22-23a (1 John 2:18-29)
Introduction
· Pretenders of the Faith
· A Review
I. The Antichrist (v. 18a)
· A Sign We are in the “Last Hour” (Matthew 24:24)
· Who is he?
· Sets Himself up to be God (2 Thess. 2:3-10)
· “The Beast” (Rev. 13 & 17)
II. Many Antichrists (vs. 18b-19)
· Come from within our midst (v. 19a; Acts 20:19, 20)
· Their True State Revealed When They Forsake the Faith – “Not of Us” (v. 19b)
· Did Not Continue with Us, as being of Christ (v. 19c; Psa. 37:28; 125:1-2; John 10:28-29)
III. The Character of Antichrists - Liars (v. 22)
· Denies that Jesus is the Christ (v. 22)
· Denying Jesus Christ Goes Deeper – Not Rightly Acknowledging Him as He is Revealed in Scripture
o Examples Down Through History
o Including Those Who Hold to Free Will (Psa. 14:2-3; 51:5; Rom. 3:1-18; 8:7; Eph. 2:1-10)
IV. Deny the Son – Do not Have the Father (v. 23a)
· Christ, the Fullness of the Godhead (Col. 2:9)
· The Knowledge is Communicated through Christ (John 8:12; Heb. 1:1-3)
Conclusion and Application
· Pray with Vigilance; be diligent in Studying God’s Word to Grow in Your Knowledge of Christ to rightly Know Him & Rightly Confess Him