LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Responding to Present Needs (5)
A fourth matter that the apostle John deals with in his First Epistle is the antichrist. The Lord Jesus had warned the disciples: "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many ... For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. I have told you before" (Matt. 24:4-5; 24-25).
Then, as he has done with other warnings of the Lord, the apostle John also takes up this one, and says: "Little children, it is the last time; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even so now many antichrists have arisen; by this we know that it is the last time" (2:18). The news that John gives is, in a certain sense, alarming: many antichrists have arisen, because it is the last time. It is not the antichrist himself, but those who follow in his footsteps. These came from among the disciples themselves, but they turned away from the truth.
Now, how do God's people recognize the antichrist? John points it out clearly: "This is antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either. He who confesses the Son has the Father also" (2:22-23). Do you know those who deny the Son? They blaspheme against the Son of God by lowering Him to the status of a created being. They do not believe that Jesus is the Christ. They are already in the world, and are preparing the way for the antichrist. But the communion of the children of God is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 1:3).
John comforts the brethren by saying that the Anointing they have received is true, and that it enables them to know all things. One who has the Anointing (the Holy Spirit), will not be deceived, because the Anointing will guard him and warn him of danger.
In chapter 4, the apostle returns again to this matter to give the key to recognize the spirit of antichrist: "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of antichrist" (vv. 2-3). This teaching is faithful and true, and you can test it whenever the occasion arises.
Then John again encourages the brethren, saying: "Little children, ye are of God, and have overcome them: for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world". If the spirit of antichrist, which is in the world, is powerful, He who rests by His Spirit in the hearts of believers, is superior. Therefore, the beloved of God can have peace and security.
Finally, John puts his own rubric to his teaching, adding: "We are of God; he who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (4:6).
As we see, God's provision is marvelous and all-sufficient for such a dangerous time as the one we are living in. We have within us the One Who teaches us, and He is more powerful than the antichrist. He will not leave us at the expense of the lie, nor of the liars. Hallelujah!