Sermons from 1 John Ken Trivette

A seventeen-year-old high school student, in order to graduate, had to write an essay on a religious subject. He chose the subject of the union of believers with Christ, according to the Gospel of John. Let me share with you just a portion of that essay: "Our heart, reason, history, and the work of Christ convince us that without Him we are doomed by God, and only Christ can save us." These thoughts from a seventeen-year-old reveal one with spiritual wisdom beyond his age. They are words from one that had been baptized at age six into the Lutheran Church, and confirmed at age 16. The name of this young man: Karl Marx. Just nine years after writing those words, he abandoned any Christian commitment he may have had at one time. He would go on to become one of the most influential atheists of history. His ideas would spawn through the Soviet Union and the Communist movement, one of the greatest epics of human misery and death in history. (Pulpit Helps, March 2003)

As we continue working our way through the first epistle of John we find the one of the characteristics of the age in which we live is that there will be those who will abandon their faith and the faith. We read:

“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 it is the last time" (1 John 2:18).

At the very beginning let me explain what John meant when he spoke of “the last time.” We usually use these words in referring to the days that signal the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice carefully that John described himself and those to whom he was writing as being in the “last time.” You may ask, “How could John have been living in the last times more than 2,000 years ago? The words actually refer to the time between the first coming of the Lord Jesus and His second coming.

You could divide time into two divisions. There is the time that led up to the Cross of Christ and there is the time that leads up to the Coming of Christ. We are living in the time that leads up to the coming of Christ. This is the time that John describes as “the last time.”

As you study the Bible you find that this last time grows in intensity as we near the actual arrival of the Lord Jesus. There is much to tell us that the last time is in its last times. Or to put it another way, we are living in the last days of the last days. We look back at His first coming with adoration. We look forward to His second coming with expectation. He could come back at any moment.

One of the characteristics of this period of time and this age is the presence of false teachers and false prophets, even those who claimed to be the Lord Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 24:5:

“For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

On many different occasions Jesus warned us of these false teachers and prophets. Jesus said in:

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you" (Matthew 24:4).

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them" (Luke 21:8).

In fact, the Bible teaches us that the closer we get to the return of the Lord Jesus, the more these false teachers and false prophets would appear. We read in:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1).

In 1 John 2:18-27, John speaks to us about such false teachers and false prophets. In verse 19 he carefully and clearly distinguishes the false from the real. Several different times he speaks of “they” and “us.” “They” speaks of the false believer and “us” of the real believer.

I want us to study these verses in two parts by first examining them in light of the “they.” In our next study we will consider these verses in light of the “us.” Let’s began by considering those John called “they” and see those that are guilty of denying the Christ, departing the Church, and deceiving the Christian. Notice with me first of all:

1. THE PERSON THEY DENY!

In verse 18 we see that those that John identifies as “they” he calls antichrists. Who are these antichrists? The prefix “anti” means “against” and “in place of.” This suggests that these antichrists serve in a dual capacity. First, they stand against Christ. Secondly, they claim to be a substitute for Christ. They operate as Christ and stand in opposition to Christ.

The first thing we see about these antichrists is that they deny the Christ. We read in verses 22-23:

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. -- Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

The word “denieth” means to, “contradict, disavow, reject.” John tells us that these antichrists deny that Jesus is the Christ. It is not so much that they deny there was a Jesus, but that He was the Christ – the eternal Son of God. They deny the eternal relationship that exists between the Father and the Son. They deny that Jesus is co-eternal, co-existent, and co-equal with the Father.

The Jehovah Witnesses are a good example of this. They believe in Jesus, but do not believe that He is the eternal Son of God. In the Jehovah Witness Bible John 1:1 reads, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and was a God.” The real Bible reads:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

There is a big difference between “was a God” and “was God.” I remember several years ago when a couple of ladies knocked on my door. I looked out the window and saw them with their magazines. I knew that were not selling Avon. I opened the door and let them give me their little talk (I never told them I was a preacher). After hearing what they had to say I asked if I could ask them a question. If you really want to identify a false teacher simply ask them what they think about Jesus Christ. I did not invite them in but did say to them, “I’m so glad you came by. I have been thinking about Jesus all morning and I want to know more about Him. Tell me what you think about Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.” They rattled on for a few more minutes and then I asked, “Do you believe that Jesus is the eternal Son of God?”

They began to explain to me that Jesus was a son of God but was not eternal. I then asked, “Do you believe that God is an eternal Father.” They quickly said yes. I then said to them that what they had just said did not make sense for if Jesus was not an eternal son, God could not be an eternal Father. I then asked if either of them had any children. They said yes and then I asked when they became a mother? “When my first child was born,” one answered. I said, “In other words, you were not a mother until your first child was born, is that what you are saying.” “Yes,” she replied. “Let me get this clear. You were not a mother until you had a son?” “That’s right.” “If that is the case, God could not have been a Father unless He had a son. Does that make sense?” “Yes.” “If He could not have been a Father without having a Son, then if He is an eternal Father, which you said He was, then He must have an eternal Son.” She started to say something but I looked at the lady and said, “Since you don’t know what you are talking about, I don’t think it would do me any good to talk with you,” and closed the door.

John said that anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ and denies the deity of Jesus Christ is an antichrist. In fact, he calls them a “liar.” The truth is not in them. He even goes a step further and says that one who denies the deity of Christ – that Jesus is the Christ is not saved. Notice verse 23 again:

“Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the father.”

I think of the Bishop John Shelby Spong, the retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, N.J., who has written several books in which he denies the deity of Jesus Christ, such as the virgin birth, substitutionary death of Christ, body resurrection, etc. In a letter to Jerry Falwell attacking him for his stand on homosexuality, at the conclusion of his letter he wrote:

“I, like you Jerry, was raised in a Southern fundamentalist church. I got over and I hope you can, too.”

I would say that in the case of Bishop Spong, it was not a case of getting over something. It is a case of never having something. To deny that Jesus is the Christ is to be a liar! It is to be an antichrist! It is to be lost!

Speaking of these antichrists that deny Jesus is the Christ, you will notice in verse 18 that John speaks of “that antichrist” and “many antichrists.” Let me explain the difference between the two. First, we see:

A) The One Antichrist That Will Come

John says, “Ye have heard that antichrist shall come.” John is speaking of the antichrist that will one day come and rule over the earth. The Bible describes one that will one day come claiming to be the Christ. A description of this antichrist is given in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4:

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

He is called the “man of sin” and the “son of perdition.” His method will be to operate as Christ. He will come one day claiming to be God, swaying and deceiving the world by his power and miracles (Cp. Rev. 13). He will be a satanic-superman that will seemingly have all the answers to this worlds problems and all as Revelation 13:8 tell us, all that dwell upon the earth will fall down and worship him.

The antichrist, as John said, “shall come.” He is a future antichrist. But John adds, “even now are there many antichrists.” John not only speaks of the one antichrist that will come, but also of:

B) The Other Antichrists That Have Come.

Even in John’s day there were those who were denying that Jesus is the Christ. Our day is no different. There are many antichrists, false teachers and prophets who deny that Jesus is who He is – the Christ. Their method is opposition of Christ. Like John Shelby Spong, there are those who not only deny that Jesus is the Christ, but attack such teachings.

These are the antichrists that John describes. Secondly, notice with me not only the person they deny, but also:

2. THE PLACE THEY DESERT!

We not only see that these antichrists deny the Christ, but they also depart the church. We read in verse 19, “They went out from us.” Let’s look take a closer look at these words. First, we see:

A) The Fellowship That Is Abandoned

By their going out, they were abandoning the fellowship of the church and with true believers. I think it would be important for me to explain that this is more than a case of getting out of church. This is a case of getting away from the Church. This is not a case of a backslider. This is the case of an apostate. This is someone turning their back completely on Christ and the Church.

Jerry Vines in his book on 1 John describes how there are three ways one can desert the church. First, there can be a physical desertion. These are those who have affiliated themselves with the church but no longer attend. Secondly, there can be a moral desertion. These are those who live their lives in a moral contradiction of all that the church and stands for and believes. Thirdly, he describes that there can be an intellectual desertion. This is what John is talking about. These are those who profess to know the Lord and have been a part of the church, but then later deny the fundamentals of the Faith.

Several years ago, McCall’s magazine reported on a survey of 3,000 Protestant clergymen. The McCall article stated, “A considerable number rejected altogether the idea of a personal God. God, they said, was the Ground of Being, the Force of Life, the Principle of Love, Ultimate Reality and so forth. A majority of the youngest group cannot be said to believe in the Virgin Birth or to regard Jesus as divine in the traditional way in which most Protestants were brought up.”

Those described in such a survey are the intellectual deserters of the Church. They have turned away from the truth and the fellowship of the saints. As John said, “They went out from us.” They abandoned the church and its Biblical beliefs and doctrines. Yet, as you continue to look at verse 19 we see there is a reason for such desertion. Notice:

B) The Faith That Is Absent

John says the reason they went out from us is because, “they were not of us.” That is another way of saying they were not saved in their first place. They had a profession, but they did not have a possession. They were religious, but they were not saved.

John adds, “for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.” If they had had the real thing, they would not have taken the path they took. We when hear and read about those who once embraced the teachings of the Bible, but now deny its truth (especially about Jesus), you can mark it down, that they were only religious. They may have talked about God and Christ, wore clergy robes and held clerical positions, but they had never really been saved. If they had been really saved, they would have never forsaken the truth.

John tells us that their leaving was but the proof they had never been saved: “but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” They never had been a real believer to start with.

Once again I remind you that John is not talking about a backslider. I know people that are out of church, but they have not abandoned their Faith. They are out of church. The people John is describing are more than out of Church. They walked away from the Church and the truth of God.

The final thing John tells us about these antichrists is found in verse 26. Thirdly, we see:

3. THE PEOPLE THEY DECEIVE!

These antichrists not only denies the Christ, desert the Church, but they also deceive the Christian. We read:

"These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”

Even though they deny the fundamental truths of the Bible, they don’t always cast away their religious garments. Instead, they become what I call religious con-artists. They are involved in a religious con-game. Their purpose is to deceive. John writes in 1 John 3:7:

Little children, let no man deceive you.”

Jesus said in Mark 13:5:

“And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you.”

Believers are repeatedly warned about these religious charlatans and con-artists, yet every day someone is sucked in by them. Let me say two things about these religious con-artists. First, think with me of:

A) Who They Want

John speaks of how they seek to seduce “you.” They want to lead astray those who are saved, especially the weak Christians and members. The ones that get drawn in by these con-artists are those who are not strong in the Lord and rooted and grounded in the truth.

In Ephesians chapter 4 Paul speaks of believers growing and maturing. A reason he gives for spiritual growth is so:

“That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14).

We are to be strong in the Lord and grounded in Bible doctrine. I hear people say all the time, “I’m not interested in this doctrine stuff.” You had better be interested in doctrine. You need to know what the Bible says. That is one reason I am such a firm believer in Bible preaching – preaching through the Bible and not just from the Bible. Weak members are prey of these religious con-artists.

Secondly, we see:

B) How They Work

When you listen to these antichrists you will hear them talk about God, Jesus, the Bible, etc. They will say enough truth to deceive you. As I said, they do not always lay aside their religious garments. No, they often parade as men of God, prophets of God, etc. Paul said in Ephesians 5:6:

“Let no man deceive you with vain words.”

The word “vain” speaks of that which is “empty.” Their message has a religious ring to it, but in essence is empty and without truth. Notice 2 Peter 2:1-3:

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Peter spoke of the false prophets and their “damnable heresies.” He states that many shall follow, “their pernicious ways.” The word “pernicious” speaks of their destructive ways. How do these false prophets draw people to them? Verse 3 tells us it is by their “feigned words.” The word “feigned” speaks of that which is artificial and fictitious. They sound religious, but their message is vain and artificial.

Peter makes an interesting statement in verse 3: “they make merchandise of you.” They are spiritual peddlers. Their objective is not to help people, but to pad their own pockets. They use people for their own selfish gain.

They are sneaky and deceptive. They say enough to make you think they are right. They say it in such a way to get you to listen and suck people in. They deceive the Christian.

Listen to what John says about them. They are liars! They are antichrists! Don’t be deceived by them! In our next study we will learn how to keep from being deceived by these antichrists.