The Dangers of False Religion
1st John 2:18 - 27
Jeff Hughes
I. Introduction
a. Tonight, we are going to look at 1st John, Chapter 2, verses 18 through 27. Here we see another warning for the church from John the Apostle. Last time, in verses 15-17 John warns that a love of the world can be a danger to our faith. Tonight’s warning is concerning the lure of false religion that draws people away from the saving faith in Christ.
b. To illustrate this warning, in these nine verses, John has three main thoughts, which we will look at tonight. First, we see the Antichrist, the father of false religion and those in his spirit. Second, John commends those who are free from false religion, and gives us some help in identifying the apostate or false church. Last, we will see how to avoid the dangers of false religion, by abiding in Christ.
c. 18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
II. Illustration
a. The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience thinks this is the most amusing turn of the evening, and cheer thunderously. The manager again implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it. "And so," concluded Kierkegaard, "will our age, I sometimes think, go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators."
b. I would submit to you that the reason why the audience is cheering is because they have been deceived.
III. Study
a. The Antichrist and the spirit of the antichrist – v. 18 -19
i. End or last – Eschatos - Greek for last in line or order. We get our word Eschatology from it today, which means “the study of the end times”. Right now, Pastor Ron is covering this in depth on Sunday mornings, in the book of Revelation.
ii. Antichrist – notice here that it is capitalized. It is used as a proper name here. Many would lead you down the path to thinking that the Antichrist is a world system or a political body or group. I think that if we believe this, we are playing into the devil’s hands.
iii. While researching this point, I came across this bit of information:
iv. Nearly two out of three adults—62%—agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” This response has remained relatively consistent throughout the Nineties. Among the more surprising findings, however, are that a majority of people who say they are born again Christians deny Satan’s existence (52%); nearly three-quarters of Catholics say the devil is non-existent (72%); and women are more likely than men to reject Satan’s existence (64% vs. 59%).
v. I am of the mindset that Satan, and the Antichrist mentioned here by John, are real individuals. Satan’s trinity is made up of himself, he is called the dragon in scripture, the Antichrist also called the man of sin, and the False Prophet. We are told in scripture that he (Satan) will draw many to himself in these days. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 4 details this for us.
vi. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
vii. The falling away Paul mentions here is the apostasy or defection from God by the would-be church. We are going to look at this more in depth later tonight.
viii. Let us Go back for a second to my earlier point about the “a” being capitalized in antichrist: Clearly, scripture tells us here that this is a man, a single being, not a system or body. If we begin to spiritualize scripture away, and generalize Satan into a symbol of evil, we are chipping away at the very foundation on which we live. The Word of God, which is embodied in Jesus Christ
ix. So, what are we to do? Peter gives us good instruction in 1 Pet 4:7; But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
x. Now, a little further down we see in verse 18, John uses the word antichrist not capitalized, to imply that this usage is not a name of a specific individual, but a group. I believe that John is describing those who seek to draw followers to themselves with the lure of false religion, in the spirit of the Antichrist. He goes on to describe them in verse 19.
xi. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
xii. Remember back in verse 7, where John told them about a new commandment, which was also an old one, to love one another. This warning in verse 19 is similar. John is warning the church about something they had been warned about from the beginning.
xiii. We see here that John is describing those who have fallen into apostasy or false religion. I am going to use that term apostasy tonight quite a bit. It is interchangeable with false religion. He says here that though they went out from us, they did not continue with us. So, are these believers? I would say no, because once we are saved, we can’t be plucked out. However, the sobering truth is that many people who offer a false or opposing Jesus came from the true body of Christians.
xiv. Verse 19 tells us that these went out to spread false religion or apostasy. They did not continue with us.
xv. NT warning – Paul warns us in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
xvi. OT warning – Deut. 13:12-16 12 "If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell in, saying, 13 ’Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods" ’--which you have not known-- 14 then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you, 15 you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword--utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. 16 And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the Lord your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again.
xvii. I want to wrap this up with a thought. Notice the punishment here for apostasy in the Old Testament – utter destruction. The same holds true today in the last days, we see this in the Book of Revelation – but the destruction now comes from a divine source.
xviii. Let us move on and look at John’s second thought.
b. Anointing – How to identify the Apostate Church – v. 20-23
i. So, who are these anointed ones? Let us read verse 20 and 21 in the text and get a better idea.
ii. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
iii. Here we see that John is commending his readers. He tells them that they have an anointing from the Holy One, and that they know the truth.
iv. I also think here though, John is giving us some clues as to how to identify those following the spirit of the antichrist, the apostate church. John gives us three distinct identifiers in this text.
v. Let us look at John chapter 8 starting in verse 31: 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
vi. Hold that thought about abiding in verse 31; we will be visiting it last tonight. What I want to focus on here is verse 32, “the truth shall make you free”. Free from what? Sin and death.
vii. So then, a lack of biblical truth is the first identifier of a false church.
viii. Let us move on from when the New Testament speaks of anointing, it speaks of it as the common property of all believers, though not all believers may be walking in the anointing God has given them. The New Testament does not speak of a "special" anointing given to particular individuals
ix. Because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit given to all believers, they possess the resources for knowing the truth - though part of that resource are the reminders given by teachers like John
x. In verse 20, John uses a different word for know than he has mostly been using before. Before, John would use the word meaning knowledge by experience; here he uses the word meaning knowledge by intuition. We know some things intuitively by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
xi. John further expounds this concept in verse 21. His readers know the truth of God’s Word through the anointing and knowledge given by the Holy Spirit.
xii. Now, if a group does not have that anointing of the Holy Spirit, to know God’s truth, they are practicing false religion. Here is the second identifier of a false church – a lack of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It goes hand in hand with the first identifier, and falls right into place for the third, as you will see below.
xiii. Let us look at verses 22 and 23. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
xiv. Here we find a third identifier of a false church. It identifies itself by its denial of Jesus, and its denial of the Father; remembering that Jesus and the Father can be denied even by those who speak well of them both
xv. We can deny Jesus while praising Him with our words; we can deny Him by offering a substitute Jesus, or by ministering in a manner which denies the character of Jesus.
xvi. If we do so, we cross the line between orthodoxy and apostasy.
xvii. Can you think of any movements today that deny Jesus or offer a substitute one? Mormons, JW’s, Christian Science, the list goes on and on.
xviii. Conclusion – the big three in identifying a false or apostate church are:
1. A lack of Biblical truth
2. A lack of the anointing of the Holy Spirit
3. A denial or substitution of Jesus.
c. Those Abiding – Protection from false religion - v.24-27
i. We see that John has given us a way to identify the false church, but how do we protect ourselves from it? I’m glad you asked!
ii. First, let’s read through the text again - 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
iii. We protect ourselves against the spirit of antichrist by abiding in the original, core Christian message - that which you heard from the beginning. As we walk in the simplicity and power of that message, we will not be led astray
iv. Paul communicated the same idea in Galatians 1:6-9, where he warns against going after a new gospel, and emphasizes the importance of continuing on in the original gospel that Paul taught
v. It is difficult, because we are tempted to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:14); we often itch for something "new" and "exciting" even if it departs from that which you heard from the beginning
vi. Abiding in this doesn’t mean just knowing it, but living in it - the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ must be in our lives, not just our heads; and as we do this, His promise of eternal life will be real for us - remembering that eternal life refers more to a quality of life than a duration of life
vii. John uses repetition again to emphasize a point: we have, as Christians, a common anointing of the Holy Spirit - and as we walk in that anointing, God will give us discernment and the ability to walk in the simplicity of the true gospel, living (abiding) in Jesus
viii. It is only by this will we walk free from the trappings of false religion. Think again of how many started off within the church, but left to spread false teachings. Also, think about how many are led astray into false doctrine after having a thirst for God. I think the direction is clear, we must abide in His Word, being taught by the Spirit, or we can be deceived.
IV. Conclusion
i. I want to wrap up our look at the Antichrist and those in the spirit of the Antichrist with a thought. Many people hear antichrist and think that everything this individual goes about doing will be opposite to Jesus. I think here again, Satan has succeeded to confuse us in this area. They think that where Jesus went around doing good, this individual will go around doing evil. I think nothing could be further from the truth. This individual will do much good, working miracles, and bringing peace, as the Bible tells us. He will disguise His false religion with charity, love, and good works. It will be attractive to those on the earth. Think about this; what makes the Mormon church so attractive? Do they tell you on their TV commercials that they believe you can become God? Do they tell you that the believe Jesus and Satan to be spirit brothers? Do they tell you about the “new revelation” Joseph Smith got in the book of Mormon? The answer is a resounding No! They talk about love, prosperity, and happy families. In the same way, but I believe even much more effective, will this false religion be. Jesus warns us in Matthew chapter 24, starting in verse 4 : 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ’I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. Now, Look down at verse 23 and 24: 23 Then if anyone says to you, ’Look, here is the Christ!’ or ’There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
ii. Consider this, if John thought that he was living in the last hour, we must be living in the last minutes, indeed, the last seconds. I want to close with the simple warning Jesus gives us in Matthew 24:4 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
iii. Pray that others around you would not be deceived, but come to the truth.
