With this background The Apostle John wrote to the church to help them identify, and reject these counterfeits of Christianity and to encourage them.
These are my notes to a presentation made to a Thursday prayer group which I pray every week.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 NLT Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
Today, “the secret power of lawlessness is already at work”
The Antichrist of the end times will embody all the deception and perversion of truth that the spirit of the antichrist has always promoted.
The same spirit that will empower the Antichrist of the last days is currently operating in the world to bring confusion and deception to the issue of Jesus Christ’s person and work.
1 John 4:3 (NLT2)3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
2 John 1:7-9 (NLT2)7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.8 Watch out that you do not lose wat we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.
Deity - a god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion); divine status, quality, or nature; the creator and supreme being (in a monotheistic religion such as Christianity).
Antichrist denies the deity of Christ
1 John 4:3 (NLT2)3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
It’s vital to understand the context of John’s statements. A predominant worldview when he wrote this letter suggested that diverse spirits were at work in the world. John, in his letters,presented a definitive solution for wading through this variety of beliefs and teachings. He instructed his readers to pay attention and test the spirits:
(1 John 4:1) “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” But how do we test the spirits? How can we discern which teachers are imparting truth? How do we recognize the spirit of the antichrist?
These “spirits” John spoke of were not merely disembodied, supernatural beings. John taught that a prophet or teacher was the actual mouthpiece for a spirit. Spiritual doctrines are promulgated through human spokespersons.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 NLT Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.
(1 John 4:2) “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God”.
So we can ask, does the content of the person’s teaching acknowledge that Jesus Christ—fully God and fully human—has come in the flesh?
If the answer is yes, then we know the Spirit of God inspires that person. If not, his entire teaching ought to be rejected. This particular test was especially apropos in John’s day, as the heresy of Gnosticism was becoming prevalent; Gnosticism taught that Jesus only appeared to have a human body but was not actually a flesh-and-blood person.
Next, John says,
(1 John 4:3) “But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist”.
Anyone who does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Bible presents Him is inspired by the spirit of the antichrist.
The Bible directly states that Jesus is God in a number of passages.
John 1:1 NLT In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 20:27-29 NLT Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
Romans 9:5 NLT Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
1 John 5:20 NLT And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
Hebrews 1:8 NLT But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.
Other passages include John 13:3, 17:5, Colossians 1:15–19, 1 Timothy 3:16, and Hebrews 1:3
Taken by themselves, these verses provide enough evidence for the church to believe in and teach the deity of Jesus Christ. But the indirect evidence of Scripture is equally compelling.
The names of God are often applied to Jesus. He is called "the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father" and "Immanuel" (meaning "God with us").
Let's look at a few of those:
Isaiah 7:14 NLT All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).
Isaiah 9:6 NLT For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Matthew 1:22-23 NLT All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
Jesus is called "The Lord (Jehovah) our Righteousness,"
Jeremiah 23:5-6 NLT “For the time is coming,” says the Lord , “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.
Isaiah 40:3 NLT Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord ! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!
All letters in Lord are capitalized which indicates When the word “lord” is written in all upper case letters (LORD), the Hebrew behind this word is the name of God, יהוה (YHWH).
The Bible ascribes the characteristics of deity to Jesus Christ. He is described as eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent and immutable.
Eternal
John 1:1-2 NLT In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.
Omnipresent
Matthew 18:19-20 NLT “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Matthew 28:20 NLT Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Omniscient
John 2:24-25 NLT But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
John 16:29-30 NLT Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
Omnipotent
Philippians 3:21 NLT He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
Revelation 1:8 NLT “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
Immutable (unchanging)
Hebrews 1:10-12 NLT He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 NLT Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Jesus is worshiped as God.
John 20:26-29 NLT Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
Acts of the Apostles 7:59-60 NLT As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Hebrews 1:6 NLT And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.”
Christ performed works which only God can do.
He is the creator.
Colossians 1:16 NLT for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
Hebrews 1:2, 10 NLT And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
He forgives sin.
Matthew 9:2-7 NLT Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home!
Even given the pervasive influence of the spirit of the antichrist, there is no need to fear. As John reminds us, the Spirit of truth indwells all believers and provides protection from the spirit of the antichrist:
(1 John 4:4) “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world”
We have some practical ways to distinguish the false spirit of the antichrist from the true Spirit of God:
(1 John 4:5–6) “[False prophets] are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood” . Those who are influenced by the spirit of the antichrist are of the world. They have the same values as the world; therefore, the world listens to them. Those who acknowledge Christ have His Spirit of truth, and they embrace the apostles’ message. The gospel the apostles preached is never popular in the world, but it is that very gospel that holds the power to save, through God’s Spirit of truth (Romans 1:16).
The believer’s job is to test the spirits carefully
1 John 4:1 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
(Matthew 10:16, ESV) We must be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves”
We should not automatically embrace the message of any preacher or teacher simply because of his or her reputation or credentials; rather, we must listen cautiously to what they say about Jesus.
Antichrist denies the atonement which is the reconciliation of God and mankind through Jesus Christ.
2 John 1:7-9 (NLT2)7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.
The particular denial in view here is not just a denial that Jesus is the Messiah but a denial of the incarnation. Confession of the incarnation is essential to orthodoxy and a vital way by which we are assured of salvation
John 1:1-4 NLT In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
Many false teachers teach and may believe that instead of viewing the Christ as the eternal Son of God who became incarnate, these heretics believe Jesus remained a mere man His entire life, only possessing the “spirit of Christ.”
Today many people are willing to call Jesus “the Christ,” but they deny His incarnation. Muslims, for example, accept Jesus as the Messiah but deny this means He is the incarnate Son of God.
1 John 2:20-23 NLT But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Coram Deo
One cannot truly acknowledge Jesus as the “Christ” unless this title is defined biblically. In our day, many continue to sing praises to Christ but deny essential truths about His person and work, including His deity and the necessity of the substitutionary atonement. When we confess that Jesus is divine and is a member of the Trinity, as is the Father and Holy Spirit we affirm that He is no mere man but the incarnate Son of God. Incarnate means to embody or represent (a diety or spirit) in human form or (especially of a diet or spirit) embodied in flesh; in human form.