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1 John: The Last Hours, Antichrists & You Don’t Need Anyone to Teach You. (1 John 2:18-29)
Scripture References: 1 John 2:18-29, Matthew 24, John 15, 1 John 4.
Intro:
- Introduction, highlighting the timely topic of antichrists near Halloween.
- Overview of the sermon's structure: clarifying statements, signs of antichrists, and safeguards.
Key Points:
- Clarifying Statements:
- "It is the last hour": Refers to the period between Jesus' first and second coming.
- Purpose is to promote urgency and readiness, not fear or panic.
- "Antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come": Emphasizes present danger, not just future.
- Antichrist means "opposed to Christ" or "instead of Christ."
- "You have no need that anyone should teach you": Addressed to counter Gnostic claims of special knowledge.
- John reinforces the sufficiency of apostolic teaching and the Holy Spirit's anointing.
- Signs of Antichrists:
- Deception: Actively leading others into false teaching (1 John 4:1).
- Denial: Rejecting Jesus as the Christ, denying His deity and humanity.
- Departure: Leaving the community of believers, indicating they were never truly part of it.
- Safeguards Against Antichrists:
- Christ According to the Apostles: Abiding in the teachings from the beginning.
- Emphasizing the authority of the apostolic witness.
- Anointing from Christ: Relying on the Holy Spirit's anointing for knowledge and empowerment.
- Recognizing the cognitive effect of the anointing.
- Abiding in Christ: Making Christ one's home, dwelling in Him.
- Drawing from Jesus' teaching in John 15 about abiding in the vine.
Conclusion:
- The "last hour" calls for urgent, righteous living.
- Antichrists deceive, deny, and depart, posing a present threat.
- Safeguards against them are apostolic teaching, the Holy Spirit's anointing, and abiding in Christ.
- Abiding in Christ, as taught by Jesus, is crucial for bearing fruit and resisting deception.
Call to Action:
- Live with a sense of urgency, knowing we are in the last hour.
- Be discerning, testing spirits and teachings against apostolic truth.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit's anointing for knowledge and guidance.
- Abide in Christ, making Him your home and dwelling in His presence.
- Hold fast to the teachings from the beginning, resisting novel doctrines.
- Embrace the community of believers, rejecting the notion of isolated faith.
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